The poultry industry of South Africa is of huge importance, both to the economy of commercial concerns as well as supply subsistence farmers and rural communities with a source of quality protein. These entities are geared towards assiting poultry breeders, as well as supplying the poultry market of South Africa with free-range eggs, poultry, quality meat and any items needed to start poultry farming.
SouthAfrica.co.za’s section on poultry farming and production in South Africa - written by industry experts - aims to help new farmers improve their farming methods by supplying information in all 11 South African languages.
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has turned into one of the world’s greatest disease threats...moreAvian Influenza Management
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a notifiable disease, so a suspected outbreak must be reported to a state veterinarian as soon as possi...moreBiosecurity in Poultry Production
Biosecurity is seen as the first line of defence in the fight against poultry diseases....moreBreeder Market Poultry
You need to be calculated if you want to make it as a poultry breeder, as the market for commercial lines is dominated by well-established b...moreChicken Breeds
Various chicken breeds are available in South Africa, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses....moreChicken Sexing
The most accurate ways of determining the gender of birds is through feather sexing, vent sexing and by waiting and seeing....moreClassification and Packaging of Eggs
Producers have to comply with Regulation no 725 administered under the Agricultural Product Standards Act, Act No 119 of 1990 if they want t...moreCooking with Chicken
The great thing about chicken is that almost the whole bird can be used, you can eat the highly nutritious meat and use the leftover bones t...moreDual Purpose Chicken Breeds
Dual purpose chicken breeds are suited for both egg and meat production, many breeds fall into this category, including Black Australorps, N...moreEgg Markets
Egg producers may sell their eggs directly from the farm, from door to door or via street hawking, producer markets or retailers....moreEgg Quality Maintenance
The eggs should also be kept at temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius and never be left in the sun or in a room that gets very hot....moreExternal Parasite Management
Whereas external parasite management might have been neglected in the past, it now forms an essential part in raising happy healthy birds....moreExternal Parasites and Lice
In the past, farmers might not have been too worried about external parasites, such as lice, mites, ticks, fleas and flies....moreFleas in Poultry
These biting parasites may be red, brown or black, depending on the species. Adults are 1,5 mm to 4 mm in length, flat and have well develop...moreFree Range and Organic Poultry Production
At the time of writing South Africa had no legislation governing the labelling of organic or free range poultry products....moreGood Hygiene in Poultry Disease Management
The combination of good hygiene, sanitation and disinfection, is highly efficient in removing disease causing agents from poultry production...moreIdentifying Poultry Problems - Look
Using basic stockman’s skills and your senses will help you to identify Poultry problems before they get out of control....moreIdentifying Poultry Problems - Senses
Besides using your eyes, farmers should use their other senses to identify disease and management problems in Poultry....moreIndigenous Chicken Breeds
Indigenous chicken are generally hardier and better adapted to South African climatic conditions than the commercial breeds, making them bet...moreMites in Poultry
It is more difficult to get rid of mites than lice on poultry, making prevention of this external parasite even more so important. Mites are...moreNewcastle Disease
Newcastle Disease is one of the most dreaded poultry diseases around the world, because there is no cure, suspected outbreaks should be repo...morePoultry Bedding
Most poultry birds are raised on a layer of bedding spread over the top of the floor. When managed properly, bedding helps to improve bird w...morePoultry Climate Control - Temperature
Climatic conditions can have a huge impact on poultry wellbeing and health, especially when birds are kept in housing....morePoultry Climate Control - Ventilation and Humidity
In addition to keeping chickens at ideal temperatures, ventilation and humidity levels in housing should be controlled....morePoultry Disease Management
Diseases are one of the biggest threats to poultry production, resulting in large-scale income losses on farms across the world....morePoultry Feeding Tips
Feeding is one of the greatest expenses of most poultry farmers, sometimes accounting for more than 50% of production costs....morePoultry Housing Tips
Before starting a poultry operation, consider the municipal by-laws on animal production in your region....morePoultry Litter Management
Litter that is too dry and dusty will cause dehydration and respiratory problems, while litter that is too wet will promote bacterial and fu...morePoultry Markets
Before starting a chicken venture, you need to think about what and where you are going to sell your produce....morePoultry Ticks
While chicken may help to keep certain tick species in check on other livestock, such as cattle and around the house, they are susceptible t...morePoultry Transportation
To avoid injuries and mortalities, chicken should be kept as comfortable and stress free as possible during transportation....moreStress Management in Poultry
Chicken may look like rather happy-go-lucky animals, but there is a whole range of factors that may stress them out and render them more sus...moreVaccination in Poultry Disease Prevention
While vaccination has become one of the most valuable weapons in the poultry farmer’s armour against certain diseases, it is not a foolpro...more