Extensive and Intensive Systems of Poultry Production

Poultry has a major role in providing nutrition as well as employment to humans. The total Poultry population in the country is 851.81 million in 2019 which has been increased by 16.8% over previous census. The backyard poultry population of India is 317.07 million in 2019, increased by 45.8% over previous Census. Backyard poultry farming was initially limited to rural areas, but due to increasing demand of quality eggs and meat backyard/extensive poultry farming is expanding. Extensive poultry farming has several benefits which are quality of product (egg and meat), health of birds, welfare and economic input. Total egg production in the country is 129.60 billion and the total meat production in the country is 9.29 million tonnes for the year 2021-22, out of which maximum part comes from the intensive rearing systems. Increasing awareness about quality food in population drives poultry business towards extensive systems. In this article benefits of extensive system are discussed.