The word poultry applies to all domestic fowl raised for their eggs，meat or both.Poultry includes domestic chickens，turkeys，ducks，geese，guinea fowl，pheasants，quail and pigeons.Domestic chickens by far are the most popular poultry raised today.Poultry production has an important economic，social and cultural benefit and plays a significant role in family nutrition in the developing countries.Poultry contributes to improved human nutrition and food security and is a leading source of high quality protein in the form of eggs and meat.It serves as a key supplement to revenue from crops and other livestock enterprises.It has a high potential to generate foreign exchange earnings through export of poultry products to neighbouring countries.Eggs and poultry meat are a substantial contributor in relieving the protein insufficiency in many African countries.Almost 80% of poultry production in Africa is found in the rural and peri-urban areas，where birds are raised in small numbers by the traditional extensive or semi-intensive-low-input-low-output systems.Similarly，village chicken production in Ethiopia represents a significant part of the national economy in general and the rural economy in particular and contributes about 90% and 92% of the national egg and poultry meat production respectively.The low productivity of local birds coupled with the infancy of the commercial sector （only contribute about 10% of the total poultry products） has resulted a low supply of poultry meat and eggs to the nation（Tadelle and Peters，2003） .In Ethiopia the annual growth rates in egg and meat outputs were estimated at 1.0% and 2.6% respectively as compared to other Sub-Saharan African countries （5.7% and 6.8%） .The national per capita consumption of egg is 57 eggs and that of chicken meat is 1.87 kg （Getenet et al.，2003）.With the aim of improving poultry production and productivity，different exotic breeds of chickens have been imported and distributed to farmers and small-scale poultry producers by the government and different organizations （Solomon，2008） .However，this sector was faced with lack of improved management and facilities，shortage of feed in terms of quantity and quality，inadequate health program，limited records and information，inaccessible banking and market situation.Furthermore，lack of skilled man power in these areas is a real hindrance for the growth of the industry.TVET Training programmes in poultry management for secondary school graduates can go a long way in supplying these badly needed skills for the various integrated poultry operations.This student textbook is produced by senior instructors of Animal Science Department of Alage and Agarfa Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges（ATVET）.The textbook was given to Deans and Academic vice Deans of the colleges，instructors and professionals working in similar and related fields of study for further comments and review.Through all these processes and efforts we believed that we have done our best.The performance of poultry production could be increased through the use of improved breeds and management，housing，proper feeding and health care，and appropriate recording system.Thus，the text book is intended to provide adequate information on the knowledge and skill to implement poultry production activities.
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