ABSTRACT
Per capita poultry production, on the global stage, has far exceeded expectations. In fact, poultry’s share of global meat production has more than doubled over the past half century. This growth is expected to continue as reflected in the world food consumption figures and projections to the year 2030 (FAO, 2003) and 2050 (FAO, 2012). Poultry production in the United States has continued to experience ongoing growth in both production and per capita consumption (National Chicken Council, 2016). Chicken meat consumption surpassed pork consumption in the mid-1980s and beef in the early 1990s. Total poultry consumption (chicken + turkey) is currently poised to surpass total combined red meat consumption (beef + pork). Much of this success has been due to the ability of the poultry industry to produce an affordable, quality protein product in a cost-effective fashion. Per capita egg consumption trends have been stable since 2000, averaging 253 eggs (American Egg Board, 2016). Egg prices have increased but have remained very competitive as a cost-effective protein/energy source.
