Rural poultry production in Morocco

摘要

A survey has shown up wide variation in performance and management among small flocks of traditional chickens and turkeys. It also indicates that a few simple, low-cost and sustainable improvements would help this method of production to make an even greater contribution to the rural economy. Today, Morocco's population is estimated to be nearly 28 million people, 56 percent of whom are less than 20 years of age. Per capita consumption of poultrymeat and eggs in 2000 reached 8.0kg and 112, respectively. Total production has been estimated at 3.5 billion eggs and 250,000 tons of poultrymeat. Commercial poultry industry has reached an advanced stage in the country, which is considered to be self-sufficient, in that neither poultry nor meat nor eggsfor direct consumption are presently imported or exported. The "industrial" sector has developed very rapidly over the last two decades and seems to have reached a plateau at the current production levels. Significant advances have been made recently inmanagement and feeding practices, health controls and marketing strategies.