Poultry Judging Practice Test

Compared to grow out operations, broiler-breeder operations are:

1. Less labor intensive

2. More labor intensive

3. Equally labor intensive

4. Not labor intensive

The correct answer is: More labor intensive

Broiler-breeder operations involve the management of parent birds that lay eggs for broiler production, and this process requires careful and extensive handling of the flock. These operations demand higher levels of labor intensity due to several critical factors. Firstly, breeding birds must be carefully monitored and maintained to ensure they are healthy and productive. This includes daily checks for signs of illness, ensuring proper nutrition, and managing reproduction cycles, which are more complex than simply growing out birds. Secondly, the egg collection and incubation processes require additional labor for both the collection of eggs and monitoring the conditions of the incubators to ensure proper development of the embryos. Moreover, broiler-breeder operations often involve more specialized tasks related to breeding management, which require trained personnel to ensure optimal genetics, fertility rates, and overall flock performance. These elements collectively contribute to the increased labor intensity in broiler-breeder operations compared to grow-out operations, where the focus is primarily on feeding and general care of the birds until they reach market weight.