Canada's Poultry Industry
... at a glance
In 2003, Canada produced poultry products worth $1.8
billion, contributing 5% of cash receipts to farming operations.
In
2003, there were 2,851 regulated chicken
producers and 556 registered turkey producers in Canada.
In addition to the almost 5,000 commercial poultry and egg producers in
Canada, there are a large number of businesses associated with these production
activities.
In
2003, Canada's total commercial chicken and turkey meat
production totalled 1,081 million kilograms, eviscerated
equivalent.
In
2003, Canada produced 934.1 million kilograms
of chicken, 60% of which was produced in Quebec and Ontario. Domestic
consumption of chicken and turkey in 2003 was 34,5
kilograms, eviscerated basis, per person with the majority of consumption
being chicken at 30,5 kilograms per person.
Supplying
egg and poultry producers are 115 hatcheries, 131
feed manufacturers, 109 feed supplement suppliers and
47 drug suppliers — 402 suppliers
in total who depend on the poultry and egg industries for their business.
In
2003, Canada exported almost 17 million
chicks and poults (young turkeys), worth $34 million
to 25 countries. The United States was by far the largest
market (95%). Other countries included Japan,
Mexico, Colombia, Tunisia and Poland
That
same year, 135 million kilograms of poultry meat and
edible bi-products (fresh, chilled, frozen), worth more than $176
million, was exported to 68 countries, with the largest
importers being South Africa, United States and Russia. Other
importing countries included the Philippines, Cuba and Ukraine.
... in details
The
production of ratites - birds that have a flat breastbone and small or
rudimentary wings such as ostrich, emu and rhea - has been increasing
globally, and Canada is no exception. These birds are usually raised for
their red-coloured meat, and their hide and feathers. Oils from ratites
are used in the cosmetics industry.
Game
birds such as pheasant, partridge, guinea fowl, quail and squab are grown
commercially in Canada. This sector is well established and growing. Export
of these birds is small but consistent.
Getting
the bird from the producer to the grocery store requires coordination
and cooperation among producers, provincial and federal governments, inspectors,
processors and distributors. Three poultry producers’ organizations
- the Chicken Farmers of Canada, the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency,
and the Canadian Broiler Hatching Egg Marketing Agency - enable producers
to receive their cost of production plus a reasonable rate of return on
their investment while ensuring that consumers have a constant supply
at stable prices. This system is called supply management.
Poultry
production and processing are among the most highly mechanized sectors
in agriculture. One person can operate a unit of 50,000 broiler chickens
which, with seven lots per year, will provide 640 tonnes of meat annually.
Poultry processing plants in Canada are so mechanized that they are slaughtering
and preparing 25,000 broiler chickens per hour for market.
Probiotics
- often referred to as "friendly bacteria" - may provide the
solution to the problem of salmonella contamination of poultry products.
Salmonella is a species of bacterium often found in the intestines of
poultry around the world. These bacteria can be transmitted to humans
through consumption of animal and other products that have not been properly
stored (refrigerated) or cooked causing food poisoning with acute gastroenteritis.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Programs are in place from
‘farm to plate’ to ensure safe food production.
Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspectors across Canada monitor operations
and take random food samples for laboratory analysis at poultry processing
plants and cold storage facilities to verify compliance with food safety
regulations and grade standards. Processors, retailers and packagers must
conform to very specific regulations about labels they put on their products.
For more detailed information
contact:
Poultry Section,
Animal Industry Division
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1341 Baseline Road
Tower 7, Floor 7 Ottawa, Ontario Canada
K1A 0C5
Telephone: (613) 759-6284
Fax: (613) 759-6313
Email: poultrymi@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/poultry/
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