U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has released a new video that takes a look at how chickens and turkeys are raised in the United States. The video, which is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cVzxY6Enbg, takes a behind-the-scenes look at hatcheries and poultry farms and addresses areas such as sanitation practices, vaccination techniques, poultry diets, poultry litter management, and the safeguarding of natural resources and highlights the sustainability of the modern poultry industry.
The video answers many questions consumers have about poultry production. For example, the poultry industry is constantly asked the question: Are chickens and turkeys fed hormones? The answer is emphatically, NO! The poultry industry does not use hormones. Contrary to the popular myths that abound, growth-enhancing additives such as hormones or steroids are never used. The video explains how, through advances in breeding, modern animal care practices, and the efforts of the American farmer, we can produce poultry sustainably and economically to help feed the world.
The video also takes a look at the more than 40,000 family farmers who own and operate the vast majority of small poultry farms, helping to preserve the time-honored tradition of family life on the farm. It is through their efforts that a spirit of stewardship has been set that establishes the standard of care for animals and the land on which they are raised.
These standards extend all the way down to the poultry litter found at poultry farms for which nutrient management programs have been employed for more than a decade. Poultry litter is a valuable commodity to farmers who recycle the litter for application on pastures and crop lands, reducing the need for synthetic chemical fertilizers. Many farmers also sell litter to their neighbors to bring in additional income, which helps sustain the family farm.
Producing poultry for consumption is modern agriculture at its best, and addresses the world demand for food which is safe and affordable. The poultry industry is proud to provide one of the safest and healthiest food options available to consumers, and invites everyone to take a peek behind America’s dynamic poultry industry.
For more information regarding the video, visit www.poultryegginstitute.org/training/.
