ABSTRACT
Like in many other areas, poultry has become one of the fastest growing meat sources in the Orient. For example, China ranked second in world poultry production, although the per capita consumption of poultry is still very low compared with those of further developed countries. Between 1985 and 1994, poultry meat production in China increased nearly fivefold, from 1.6 million tons to 7.6 million tons. During the same period, egg production almost tripled, from 5.4 million tons to 14.7 million tons (Anon., 1996). China has been the number one egg-producing country in the world for many years. In 1995, poultry meat and egg production reached 8 million tons and 15 million tons, respectively.
