New Zealand's poultry has a superior health status

摘要

New Zealand has a relatively small but rapidly growing poultry industry. Poultry meat is gaining market shares at the cost of red meat and the industry has little or no major health issues. In fact, the health status of the country's poultry flock is unique and the industry has no major environment and welfare issues. The poultry industry is a dynamic section of New Zealand agriculture. Just 30 years ago, 4.6 million laying hens were required to supply a population of under 3 million people, whereas 2.5 million layers now supply a population of 3.8 million. In the mid 1960's, the production of poultry meat using specialist meat breeds was just beginning in this country, with per capita consumption of poultry meat under 1kg. For the year ending 2000, each New Zealander ate 29.2 kg of poultry meat. The main part of the commercial poultry industry is of course in chicken and egg production. New Zealand currently has around 560,000 breeding hens and 50,000 roosters, supplying day-old chick replacements to both the meat and egg industries. This sector will produce 67 million broiler chickens and 68 million dozen eggs this year. Annual retail sales of poultry meat and eggs now account for over NZ650 million dollar, with growth expected to continue, particularly in the poultry meat sector.