Description

---

Poultry is a rapidly growing industry in India. Poultry meat and eggs are a rich source of protein and micronutrients which contribute a useful component to the human diet. It is believed that the Indian Poultry Industry is five thousand years old but it has gained momentum during the last four decades. The growth rate of poultry production was 6% in the 1980s 11% in the 1990s and 19% in 1997-2002 in broiler chickens and 5-6% in egg production during this period (Mandal et al., 2005). With the annual production of 61.45 billion eggs (95.2% chickens, 2.5% duck, and 2.3% from other species) and 2.03MT of poultry meat, India's rank is 3rd and 5th in egg and meat production respectively in the world (BAHS, 2010). As per the 2007 census poultry population was 648.8 million comprising 617.7 million chickens, 27.6 million ducks, and 3.5 million other bird species. The per capita availability of meat in India is 3.43 kg against the requirement of 11.8 kg of meat out of which 1.73 kg of poultry meat and about 51 eggs against the requirement of 180 eggs per year (BAHS, 2010). About 3 million poultry farmers and 15 million agrarian farmers are employed in the poultry sector and contribute about Rs 26,000 crore to the national income (Annon, 2009a).
However, poultry keeping is one of the most suitable low-capital investments with rapid return and it is also an easily adaptable enterprise. But, due to lack of knowledge, shortage and rising cost of feed, and the outbreak of diseases, poultry farmers have to face lots of problems in the country.
The modern broiler has generally been selected for rapid gains and efficient utilization of nutrients. Broilers are capable of thriving on various types of diets but do best on diets composed of low-fiber grains and highly digestible protein sources. They can be successfully grown in many different geographical areas to provide low-cost complete protein. By dint of dedicated research and development in all spheres of egg and meat production, the poultry industry has attained the most dynamic position of fast expanding segment to fight with problems of malnutrition, poverty, and unemployment.