Chicken meat production in global comparison – production systems and economics

Global chicken meat production has continued to expand, reaching a record 103.8 million tons in 2023, representing a 1.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. Benchmarking and comparative farm-level analyses provide valuable insights for assessing performance at national, regional, and global levels. The agri benchmark Poultry Network applies the typical farm approach, working in collaboration with international research partners, producers, and local experts to collect and validate standardised farm-level data using harmonised procedures and a simulation model. This study analyses global chicken meat production systems and the conditions shaping them. It examines their economic aspects and identifies key critical success factors influencing production efficiency. The study reveals that high feed-use efficiency and farm performance in broiler production is often attributed to a combination of three factors which include: the rearing of high-quality chicks, the use of high-quality feed, and good animal husbandry practices. The study identifies feed and day-old chicks’ costs as the most important cost components for all typical farms included in the agri benchmark poultry network. A farm’s competitiveness in terms of production costs is therefore heavily dependent on its ability to effectively manage feed and day-old chick costs.