Poultry Farming in India: Types, Benefits, and Profitability Guide

In ancient times about 7000 to 10,000 years ago when the world was at the developing stage for proper civilization, most people survived on fruits, raw food, hunting, etc to fulfill hunger.

After some time people start raising domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese primarily for their meat and eggs.

This is called poultry farming and has deep-rooted traditions across various cultures, serving not only as a source of food but also as an integral part of community life and agricultural practices.

What is poultry farming?

Poultry farming refers to the agricultural practice of raising domesticated birds to eat meat and utilize their eggs for sustainability or commercial matters.

It is a part of animal husbandry which includes different types of birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese.

These birds are taken care of by the farmers with a suitable environment for ensuring their health and proper development and productivity that benefits farmers to harvest animal products efficiently.

Poultry farming is essential for the global food supply which provides a high-quality protein source contributing to the livelihood of millions of people worldwide.

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Types of poultry farming in India

The poultry farming industry is known for its high growth and low startup cost and ranges from small backyard operations to large-scale commercial installations. Here are 5 main types of poultry farming practices in India:

1. Broiler farming

• It is a specific farming of chickens particularly for their meat production. The birds are generally known as broilers that are red for fast growth that reaches market weight typically between 4 to 6 weeks.
• Most broilers are raised in a controlled indoor environment with suitable climate, temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Broilers are fed a high-protein diet designed to promote rapid growth that results in 300% of growth in 1st week.

2. Layer farming

• This farming is particularly focused on raising hens specifically for egg production which is used for commercial sale rather than sustainability.
• If we talk about India then it is the third-largest egg producer globally, with an annual production of approximately 75 billion eggs. In this farming hens start laying eggs at 8 to 19 weeks of age and continue to lay eggs until about 72 to 78 weeks.
• There are two types of layers of eggs produced. The first one is white layer egg which is known for its high efficiency and brown eggs that are generally larger than others.

3. Country chicken farming

This is also called desi chicken farming which is traditionally practiced in India. It is popular in India for its adaptation to local climate conditions, nutritional benefits, and sustainability.

Here are some popular breeds that are raised in farms, these are selected because of their hardiness, disease resistance, and ability to thrive with minimal resources.

• Aseel
• Kadaknath
• Naked Neck (Sirohi)
• Vanaraja
• Giriraja
• Gramapriya

This farming supports the ecology by reducing the need for commercial feed, as they can convert kitchen scraps and natural forage into nutritious meat and eggs.

4. Quail farming

• This farming is gaining popularity in the agricultural market vastly due to its low investment requirement, quick return, and health benefits of quail. Quails are primarily raised for their eggs and then meat for commercial use.
• Japanese quail is the common breed known for its rapid growth and high egg production. It requires less space for practice farming as compared to traditional poultry and reaches the market weight in 5 weeks.

5. Duck farming

• Duck farming supports the livelihood of rural areas by enhancing the small and large margins. Ducks contribute about 10% of the total poultry population in India.
• Main breeds are found in major southern, northern, and eastern states of India such as West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Orissa. Ducks are prolific layers, producing about 20-25 eggs per month per bird.

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Importance of poultry farming

Poultry farming supports the agricultural economy of India and provides numerous benefits from health to finance. Therefore there are some importance of poultry farming:

1. High nutritional value

• This farming offers numerous nutritional benefits to individuals that are an essential component of our daily meal diet. They are rich in high protein, which means they contain about 25-35% protein depending on the cut and preparation method.
• They are packed with all the important nutrients such as vitamin niacin (B3), riboflavin (B2), and vitamin B6, that help to increase nutrition. Low in fats and calories: Poultry is generally lower in fat compared to red meats. For eg skinless chicken breast contains approximately 3.57 grams of total fat per 100 grams, while providing around 165 calories.

2. Economic contribution

• Poultry farming plays a significant role in the Indian economy by contributing 1% to India's national GDP and about 14% to the livestock sector's GDP.
• Mainly supports rural development by providing a consistent source of income throughout the year, helping to alleviate poverty and improve living standards among rural populations.

3. Food security

• By increasing the availability of animal protein, poultry farming contributes to the food security of India.
• As per demand for animal-based food such as eggs, and meat helps to meet the nutritional needs of the country, especially low-income households that rely on affordable protein sources.

4. Low maintenance and less investment

• Poultry farming can be practiced with little care for raising birds as they do not require high maintenance.
• Small farming can generally start from ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. For medium-scale, it ranges from ₹1,50,000 to ₹3,50,000, while large-scale farms may require upwards of ₹7,00,000. Along with it, it gives quick results as 8 weeks are enough for introducing the product in the market.

5. Sustainable practices

• Poultry farming supports sustainability by enhancing organic poultry farming that is raising birds without any synthetic medicine such as pesticides, or antibiotics.
• Also, using environment-controlled poultry sheds helps to create living conditions for birds by regulating temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Utilizing the poultry litter into compost or fuel for energy production is a technique to support manure management that helps to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.