Juan Camilo

The Role of Poultry Production on Small Farms
D. H. Bushman
J ANIM SCI 1977, 45:402-409.

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T H E ROLE OF P O U L T R Y P R O D U C T I O N ON S M A L L F A R MS 1 ,2,3
D . H. Bushman 4

P oultry Research Institute, Karachi, Pakistan
S UMMARY

T he role of poultry production on small
farms is discussed as it relates to: 1) subsistence
farming; 2) only farm income with a high profit
margin; and 3) its maximum use with other
farm enterprises. Data are presented pertaining
to poultry production on small farms in Pakistan under eachclassification, but are applicable throughout the developing world. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of ducks and
their ability to produce high quality protein at
a very low cost for consumption by the farm
family.
(Key Words: Poultry, Ducks, Egg Production,
Small Farm.)
I NTRODUCTION

T he role of the small farm in current day
agriculture is very difficult to assess in the
minds ofagriculturists living in developed countries where production is geared to large scale,
mechanized farming. There is little doubt that
mechanization and other modern improvements
are important aspects for increasing food production. However, attempts to introduce modern equipment in developing countries have not
always met with success. This is especially true
in areas of southeast Asia and thesubcontinent
where agriculture is based upon very small farm
units coupled with the utilization of high
concentration of available manual labor. In
these areas it is quite possible that in the early

stages of development greater strides can be
obtained by improving the simple hand tools
now in use. In other areas if population growth
can be checked the potential to adapt to
mechanization ismuch greater.
Poultry, historically, have always played an
important role on small farms. They serve not
only to provide high quality protein for consumption by the farm family, but may also give
the farmer a small supplemental income. For
instance it was not too many years ago that
farmers in the United States had a few hens to
produce their own table eggs plus a few eggs to
sell. Whilethis type of production has passed in
most of the developed countries, and is becoming outdated in much of the developing world,
it still plays a prominent role in some of the
lesser developed areas. For example it is estimated that 75% of the poultry population in
Pakistan is composed of indigenous, nondescript breeds of birds known locally as desis.
T hese native birds account for 70% of thepoultry meat and 44% of the eggs produced in
Pakistan. Further approximately 20% of the
commercial or improved layers are found on
farms with flocks of fewer than 101 birds, and
over 50% on farms with fewer than 501 birds
(FAO/IBRD, 1974).
A DVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
RAISING POULTRY IN PAKISTAN

P oultry have several advantages over other
classes of livestock when thinking in termsof
production on small farms. The space requirement per bird is very low; ranging from six
i Published with the approval of the Project Managlayers per square meter on the floor to 12 birds
er, Poultry Research Institute, Karachi, Pakistan.
Invitational paper presented at the Symposium on per square meter with cage layers. With broilers
Livestock Production on Small Farms in Developing it ispossible to maintain 14 birds per square
Countries held during the 67th Annual Meeting of the meter, or more in areas where small birds of
American Society of Animal Science, Ft. Collins, CO,
1.15 to 1.35 kg live weight are preferred. The
July 27to 30, 1975.
aThe author expresses sincere appreciation to Mr. time required to receive a return on the
Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh and Mr. Iftikhar Aziz...