Global poultry production and its substantial contribution to nutrition, food security and poverty alleviation in many developing countries

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Yusuf L Henuk

University of Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

: J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Abstract

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Poultry farming and management is the process of raising domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for the purpose of producing meat and eggs for food. Globally, the distribution of the four main species of poultry farming (Figure1) are chickens (90.55%), ducks (5.53%), turkeys (2.09%), and geese & guinea fowl (1.67%). At a global level, three main types of poultry production systems can be considered: broilers, layers and rural backyard (Figure 1). Poultry production is the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector, especially in developing countries. It makes a substantial contribution to food security and nutrition, providing energy, protein, and essential micronutrients to humans, with short production cycles and the ability to convert a wide range of agri-food by-products and wastes into edible meat and eggs. Poultry also contributes to poverty alleviation in many developing countries. Poultry production is a major asset representing capital creation and in many cases, a source of income for farmers. Poultry can be sold in times of crisis and acts as household insurance throughout the globe. Many new farmers start with poultry, which can be a comparatively low-investment enterprise with a reasonably fast work time from investment to revenue. Around 70% of poultry meat and 65% of eggs are produced in intensive ways. Alternative to intensive poultry farming is free range and organic farming using lower stocking densities. Poultry represent the world’s major source of eggs and meat that supports a food industry in virtually every country. Chickens are now more popular than beef in the US and the UK. The world’s consumption of meat is divided among pork, poultry, beef and mutton at a ratio of 4-3-2-1, respectively. Intensive poultry production has historically played a leading role among agricultural industries throughout the world. This leading role has led to the development of a highly technified global industry integrated by large, automated facilities and marketing units versus other livestock production systems. There is an increasing demand for poultry meat mainly due to its acceptance by most societies, lack of religious restictions, low cost and positive health attributes such as relatively low cholesterol content. It has been predicted that the ratio of the world’s consumption of meat in 2025 will be as follows: (in 1,000 metric ton) poultry meat (131,255), pork (131,001), beef (77,766) and mutton (17,438).

Biography

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Yusuf Leonard Henuk is the Professor of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at University of Sumatera Utara (USU), Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia. He received a Bachelor’s degree (S1: ‘Sarjana’) from the Faculty of Animal Science, the University of Nusa Cendana in Indonesia from 1980-1984. He obtained a Master in Rural Science (M.Rur.Sc.) from the University of New England from 1991 – 1995 and continued with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from the University of Queensland from 1998 – 2001. Both in Australia. He participated in courses of “Arabic Language” and “Poultry Production and Health” organized by the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture (EICA), Cairo, Egypt. He was a twice Visiting Professor to the Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA. Prof. Henuk has published many articles in international journals such as Poultry Science, World’s Poultry Science Journal as well as presented in many International Scientific Meetings as a Keynote Speaker.

E-mail: yusufhenuk62@live.com