From the time of initial domestication of wild birds,
poultry have served humans as a source of food and
a subject of cultural use, similar to other livestock
species. The role of poultry production in global food
provision has been steadily growing since the nine-
teenth century. Different nee...
From the time of initial domestication of wild birds,
poultry have served humans as a source of food and
a subject of cultural use, similar to other livestock
species. The role of poultry production in global food
provision has been steadily growing since the nine-
teenth century. Different needs of humans have led
to a rise in poultry breeding and use of pure (fancy)
breeds, indigenous populations, laboratory lines, and
commercial poultry. Being notable for high efficiency
and rapid development dynamic, the poultry indus-
try now exceeds other livestock sectors in production
growth rate and efficacy. Intensification of commercial
poultry production has placed emphasis on selection
and improvement of breeds and strains and on the
development of novel lines and crosses. This, in turn,
has required new genetic and selection approaches
and technologies, and utilization of genetic resources
adapted to variable and diverse specific environments.
The importance of a deeper knowledge of avian biol-
ogy including heredity, variation, and genomics is
paramount. Substantial progress in poultry produc-
tion can be achieved through advances in several
areas, including selection, veterinary, nutrition, avian
genetics, and genomics.