(Karnataka Veterinary Animal And Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, 2009) SUDARSHAN, S.
Poultry meat production in India is 2.678 million tons which constitutes about 3 per cent of total world meat production and is ranked fifth in the world preceded by USA, China, Brazil and Mexico. The latest report on per capita consumption of poultry meat in India is 2.3 kg compared to 49.8 kg per person per year in USA. Poultry meat industry in India has shown tremendous growth from 1.08 million ton in 2000 to 2.68 million tons in 2009 and is forecasted to reach a figure of 3.24 million ton with a per capita consumption of 2.4 Kg, by 2018 (FAOSTAT, 2008). The popularity of poultry meat in India has been attributed primarily to its taste, health concerns and nutritional value followed by freedom from religious taboos, affordable price and easy availability (Fairoze, 2001).
