CHAPTER TWO

POULTRY FARM MANAGEMENT

INFORMATIOM SYSTEM.
LITERATURE REVIEW (SYSTEM STUDY)
2.1 Definition of a System

The word System is derived from Greek word Systema, which means an
organized relationship between any set of components to achieve some
common cause or objective.
A system is “an orderly grouping of interdependent components linked
together according to a plan to achieve a specific goal.” (1)

2.2 Literature Review

Introduction
A literature review discusses published information in a particular
subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area
within a certain time period.
A literature review can be just a simple summary of the sources, but it
usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and
synthesis. A summary is a recap of the important information of the
source, but a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that
information.
It might give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with
old interpretations. Or it might trace the intellectual progression of the
field, including major debates. And depending on the situation, the
literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the
most pertinent or relevant (2).
Literature review, the contributions of other researchers pertaining the
research topic in specific topic of research work undertaking. It is
presented in this chapter under the following headings:

2.2.1 Definition of Literature Review

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“A literature review is a piece of academic writing demonstrating
knowledge and understanding of the academic literature on a specific
topic placed in context.  A literature review also includes a critical
evaluation of the material; this is why it is called a literature review
rather than a literature report. It is a process of reviewing the literature,
as well as a form of writing” (3).
2.2.2 Purpose of a Literature Review
In a larger piece of written work, such as a dissertation or project, a
literature review is usually one of the first tasks carried out after
deciding on a topic.  Reading combined with critical analysis can help to
refine a topic and frame research questions. 
The purpose of a literature review is to gain an understanding of the
existing research and debates relevant to a particular topic or area of
study, and to present that knowledge in the form of a written report.
Conducting a literature review helps you build your knowledge in your
field (4).
Conducting a literature review establishes your familiarity with and
understanding of current research in a particular field before carrying out
a new investigation. After doing a literature review, you should know
what research has already been done and be able to identify what is
unknown within your topic (5).
2.2.3 Overview of Poultry Farm Management Information System
Adoption
Over the past decades, Educators have promoted Information record-
keeping by developing hand recording systems and software. Yet,
Poultry farm Information record-keeping is still found neglected as a
Poultry farm activity that was so important (Doye et al., 2000).
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Lasley & Agnitsch (2002) found that out of a sample of 1,960 farmers
polled in Iowa State, a third of them dislike record-keeping/paper work.
Hewlett (undated) noted that several options exist for handling Poultry
farm information system; which range from paper forms to be filled by
hand to computerized systems.
ThamAgyekum et al. (2010) established in a study of 50 poultry farmers
in GaEast Municipality in Ghana that 100% of the respondents kept
some form of Poultry farm record. Most farmers keep their Poultry farm
records manually (Jeyabalan, 2010). And one of the six respondents in a
case study research by Doye et al. (2000) was keeping records manually
before he purchased a computer.
Ryde & Nuthall (1984) stated that the majority (about 80%) of Poultry
farmers kept their records hand written, that is in books, ledgers, bills
and other loose leaves. Alvarez &Nuthall (2001) studied a sample of 290
Poultry farmers in Canterbury, New Zealand.
They found that: - “Poultry farmers kept both financial and production
records. No respondent kept financial records in human memory.
Additionally, 26.20% of the respondents kept a manual record. About
54.48% kept computerized records. About 20% stored feed records in
their memory whilst majority (48.97%) used manual recording for feed.
About 17% of the 290 respondents used computers for feed recording. A
meagre 1% stored livestock records in memory, whilst a majority of
41% used a manual recording for livestock. The second highest
percentage (35.17%) represented those who used computers to store
livestock records. Together, more than 60% of Poultry farmers used at
least one computerized information system, while only 10% used a
computer for all three areas.
Ferrer, et al., (2003) established that 97% of respondents owned
computers and applied it for Information record-keeping among other
uses. ThamAgyekum et al. (2010) concluded that a large proportion
(82%) of poultry farmers sampled, kept their Poultry farm records
manually, that is in books, sheets of papers and temporarily on walls to
later transfer into record books (Ledgers).
Only 2% adopted the computerized system, using mainly Microsoft
Office Word & Microsoft Office Excel and 16% are intended to use both
systems (manual & computerized). Indeed, Poultry farm information
systems include both manual and computerized Information records
(Doye et al., 2000).
A Computerized Information record-keeping systems improve the
timeliness and accuracy of decision-making & Future Forecasting.
Jayabalan (2010) noted that manual Information record-keeping is
usually time consuming, tedious to find important data and make
decisions successfully. Yet, ‘although all Managers, Cashiers,
Administrators in most case studies uses computers, hand records
remain key components in some instances’ Doye et al., 2000, p. 583).
Some Studies carried out by Batte et al., (1990), Batte et al., (1995)
found many Poultry farmers use computers for Information record-
keeping and financial analysis. In spite of the decision making advantage
of Information record-keeping Ryde &Nuthall, (1984), Carkner (2000)
and Doye et al. (2000) noted that Poultry farmers do not refer (Concern)
to the Information records daily, some as late as a month after. In fact, as
many as 78.9% of 660 respondents updated and checked records up to a
month. Devonish et al., (2000) and Okantah et al., (2003),
both cited in Tham-Agyekum et al. (2010) disagree on this.
2.3 Introduction to Information Management System
Management information system uses information technology for
collecting and communicating information a company uses to operate.
Every function of the business produces its own data be it financial or
operational and as a result, requires a separate information system of its
own to keep a track of it all. There are many types of MIS as the
functions of a company, but a few specific information systems are used
by all firms to operate smoothly.
The different types of Management Information System can be
identified through classification. Classification helps to combine similar
things, so they can be treated as a single unit. The classification of an
information system into various types is a technique for designing
Management information system and their application.
2.3.1 Types of Management Information System

Types of MIS depends upon how one creates their classification, any
number of different types of Information system can be found. Most
attempts to classify information system into various types rely on how
tasks and responsibilities are divided within an organization. Since the
flow of information runs in a hierarchy, most organizations tend to
follow the hierarchy. Also described as a pyramid Model, for the way
systems are arranged mirrors how tasks are found at various levels of the
organization. For example- a three level pyramid model based on types
of the decision taken by managers at different levels of the organization.

1. Strategic decisions: – Executive information system.

2. Tactical decisions: – Management information system.
3. Operational decisions: –Transaction processing system.

These 3 levels of pyramid shows the type of decision taken at different

levels (6).

2.4 Desktop Application

Desktop applications are software programs run locally on computer
devices. They are not accessible from a browser, like web-based apps,
and require deployment on a personal computer or laptop (7).
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Desktop apps are software programs that interact with the operating
system instead of web-based or mobile apps. They can be any program
so long as they run on a desktop computer and provide a user interface
for input and output.  Desktop applications are usually used in one place
but might have a “system tray” icon that remains visible on the screen.
The term is also used to define an app that runs only on the desktop
rather than being available through a browser or other means.    Some
desktop applications like word processing and media players allow you
to perform different tasks, while others, such as gaming apps, are
developed for entertainment.  Some examples of desktop apps are:
1. Photoshop
2. Skype
3. Discord
4. Microsoft File Explorer
5. Microsoft Word, Excel.

2.4.1 Desktop Application Development

Desktop application development is a process where developers build
applications that can be used on desktops and laptops. These apps are
usually built for Windows, macOS, Linux, or other desktop operating
systems. The list of software categories includes personal productivity
software (e.g., word processors), media creation and editing (e.g., video
editors), and entertainment (e.g., games).  
Desktop applications do not require any internet connection to run, and
users have to download and install them on their computers. The desktop
applications can be developed in different languages, including C/C++,
Java, Python, Ruby on Rails (ROR), PHP, Perl, etc., typically using
libraries like Qt or GTK+. 

2.5 Poultry Farm Management Information System

Is a system for ‘‘collecting, processing, storing and disseminating of
data in the form of information needed to carry out the operations
functions of the farm’’ (Salami, Ahmadi, 2010). Poultry farm
Management Information System tools helps poultry farmers to identify
areas of their operation that needs improvements and guidance on how
to address the issues focusing on the potential risk areas and
opportunities for improvement, the specific modules include poultry
farm (husbandry).
The Poultry Farm Information Management System approach is
designed to help poultry farmers better plan their management process,
access management performance and effectiveness of management
practices, identify for opportunities for improvement and efficiencies.
The Poultry Farm Information Management System is a step by step
approach, through the implementation of a poultry farm management
system, farmers can improve competitiveness by highlighting where
efficiencies can be made and maintaining procedures that streamline
management and record keeping. The accountability of poultry
management system process helps a poultry farmer to document and
demonstrate how the property of farming activities are being managed to
minimize impacts on the environment and to optimize efficiency of
natural resource use.
Poultry Farm Information Management System provides a process
enabling targeted investment to improve practices for better business,
using a systematic approach to agricultural business management;
farmers can identify and manage risks and opportunities arising from
their farming activity. Management attention is focused on
implementing recommended practices to address identified risks, and
then reviewing progress made against plans and desired outcomes.
Poultry Farm management deals with the organization and operation of a
farm with the objective of making a livelihood whilst dealing with
global trade, traceability and consumer requirements, agricultural
policies, environmental requirements, and the multi functionality of
agricultural enterprise as a whole.
These functions include strategic, tactical and operational planning,
implementation, and documentation, assessment and optimization of the
performed work on the fields or on the poultry farms.
To improve the execution of these functions, various management
systems, database network structures and software architecture have
been proposed to serve these purposes.

2.5.1 Types of Poultry Farm Production

Poultry Farm Production Enterprises may vary from basic backyard

poultry keeping to mechanized and automated production plants.
Various types of poultry enterprises are illustrated in the following table.
2.5.2 Types of poultry Farm Production Enterprises
Table 2.0
Backyard Farm Commerci Specialized Integrated
poultry flock al poultry egg egg
farm production production

1: - Pullet Hatchery Feed Chicken Separate

Subdivision growing, productio production meat enterprises
of egg feed n separate production reintegrated
production. productio separate from becomes as a
n from poultry independent business
farming farms of egg
production
2: - Main Natural Artificial Feed Egg Controlled-
management hatching hatching mixing processing environmen
characteristi and plant t houses
cs sexing
3: - Type of Subsisten Mixed Joint egg Eggs Egg
farming. ce farming and meat industry(sing complex
farming production le
 commodity)
4: - Labor. Part-time Part-time Full-time Division of Separate
management daily work
and labor and random
work
5: - Free Water Water Manure Egg belt
Building. range feeder feeder disposal automatical
equipment ly
controlled
house

1. Backyard poultry production: - Is at the subsistence level of

farming. Birds live free range and hatch their own eggs. Their diet
is supplemented with crop waste or food leftovers. The labor
involved in backyard poultry production is part-time.
2. Farm flock production: - Is slightly more specialized. Eggs are
hatched at a separate location where the hatch and the sexing of the
birds are controlled.
3. Commercial poultry farm production: - Involves full-time labor
and is geared toward producing on a sufficient scale for the sale of
both eggs and poultry meat.
4. Specialized egg production: - It consists of separating poultry for
meat and egg production. In the egg producing plant, specialized
employees oversee specific aspects of egg production.
5. Integrated egg production: - Is the most advanced enterprise and
involves full mechanization and automation of the egg production
cycle including battery egg laying, temperature controls, scientific
feeding and mechanized egg collection methods.

2.6 The Concept of Poultry Farm Records (data)

Poultry Farm Information records can be defined as systematic
documentation of all activities (Daily Routine) taking place in a farm
enterprise over a given period of time. It is an act of writing down every
activity engaged in on the Poultry farm in every production season and
at different stages of the production process up to the final disposal of
the goods and services to the ultimate consumer (Vendors).
Poultry Farm Information record keeping is more than just keeping track
of what Bird Species were reared in what field, it is a concept applicable
to the entire Poultry farm operation. A complete Poultry Farm
Information record will include all daily activities and transactions and
with a proper accounting system it should be possible to have a complete
estimate of the profit or loss statement at the end of the year.
By keeping a complete Poultry Farm Information record on a yearly
basis it is possible to have a comparison, Correlations between years and
thereby determine the rate of growth or deterioration of the Poultry farm.
2.6.1 Types of Poultry Farm Records.
1. Resources Inventories: -As a Poultry farmer, you use resources such
as land, labor, machinery, breeding stock & Inventory management
and financial capital. You must assign value to these resources and
maintain current inventories so that you know the foundation from
which you operate, from this resource base, you produce food and
fiber.
2. Production accounts of livestock and crop operations: -The
production account of livestock such as poultry birds and crop shows
how this resource base is combined with other inputs to yield physical
output. Consequently, production records, such as the relationship of
feed to weight gain, or land to total production, are most critical to
your farm’s profits. Production records include items that relate to
quantities of inputs and levels of production by
enterprise and/or by resource type. They consist of crop yields, plant
populations, calves born, volume of milk produced, weaning weights,
and death loss, among others. In AIU production, these will include
 feed, labor, mortality, birth and breeding, weight of new animals sold,
the amounts of feeds and drugs or vaccines administered.
3. Income and expenses (Financial) Information records: -Because
Poultry farmers interact in a marked economy, the cost of the feed
and revenue from the market hog or the cost of the fertilizer and the
price of the grain are equally important. These income and expense
records are related to each other and translate production accounts
into Naira and kobo. Financial records relate primarily to money or
the financial interactions of the Poultry farm. Product sales, operating
expenses, equipment purchases, creditors, debtors, inventories,
depreciation records, loan balances and price information are all
examples of financial records.
4. Supplementary records: - However, Poggio (2006) isolated
resources inventories from financial records and introduced
supplementary records defined to include survey map, the Poultry
farm layout (map) and the legal documents of the Poultry farm.
2.6.2 Implications of Keeping Poultry Farm Information (records)
The ultimate purpose of Information record-keeping is to improve the
level of performance by achieving better results, running the Poultry
farm more competently or reducing the possibility of poor future
performances (Jeyabalan, 2010). Chagunda et al, (2006) have
established that: - “the efficiency of farm output can be increased
through the practice of using a simple, precise, understandable and easy
to maintain recording systems”. In an earlier study, “Mishra et al, (1999)
had observed that formal record-keeping systems were associated with
higher farm profits “.
This was to be expected since computer adoption requires a relatively
small fixed initial investment and the benefits of better Information
record-keeping are likely to be significant (Grisham, 2007). Silver
(2006) further added that;- “productivity of the small scale farmers can
be enhanced by proper management practice emphasizing that the most
important management tool is proper Information record-keeping.
Devonish et al., (2000); - “Chapman (2003) and Tham-Agyekum et al.
(2010) have provided evidence that Information record-keeping
enhanced opportunities of obtaining credit”.
Poultry Farmers are also able to provide needed information
continuously for state and national Poultry farm policy decisions
(Johl&Kapur, 2001). This is vividly observed in Farm Management
Associations (FMA) in the US where, according to Doye (2004) FMA
have been in existence more than a century, and have provided
substantial data for use of farmers and research as well as planning at the
state and federal level. Indeed, FMAs are a means to promoting
Information record-keeping among farmers (Gustafson, et al., 1990).
2.6.3 Computerized Record Keeping System
This entails the use of different software package in Information record
keeping. In 1994 Pena et al evaluated six computerized Poultry farm
Information record keeping programs with each program having some
unique features. Selecting a computerized Information record keeping
program should be done on the basis of features needed.
Some program will allow for enterprise accounting; some programs will
calculate payroll reports for employees. Few financial record keeping
programs allow for production records to be kept simultaneously with
financial records. For example, in many programs, sales of grain or
livestock can be reported in Naira only, with no accounting for
kilograms. A computerized Information record-keeping system will
definitely & necessarily save time. Its real advantage is in record
analysis. Once the information is posted in the computer software
reports and analysis can be created, changed and printed (Information
Processing).
Computerized systems quickly and accurately sort and report a great
deal of information (Data). They can also provide monthly or annual
summaries for identifying strengths and weaknesses of an operation.
There is this traditional motion that if a computer was to be introduced
in an organization, it will result to reduction of work force, thereby
rendering some workers redundant, because it is perceived that the work
done by so many hands will now be done by the computer.
2.7 Poultry Farm Information Management System (PFIMS) for
Poultry Farming Productions Enterprises

2.7.1 Introduction

The poultry industry is diverse with different processes, such as

breeding, broilers, hatcheries, food production, eggs, and sales.
Therefore, it is essential to manage and monitor all these activities using
a PFIMS solution.

PFIMS is a centralized platform that integrates information from all the

processes, offering a one-stop solution to monitor the poultry farming
business. Additionally, PFIMS allows the poultry farm owners to
optimize the steps to achieve profit targets.

2.7.2 Advantages of Using PFIMS in Poultry Farming

1.Livestock Management and Information: - From nourishment to

sanitation and waste management, PFIMS solution allows the poultry
farm owners to ensure the health and wellness of the livestock.
Furthermore, the farmers get to know the information about the livestock
such as weight, muscle development, water, and feed.

The primary purpose of having real-time livestock management is their

wellbeing and care. You can keep track of the livestock development
cycle from breeding to raising. In addition, the PFIMS software enables
you to monitor the poultry farm capacity and ensure the process is
compliant with the sanitation and animal welfare standards.

Hatchery and feed are the two subsets of livestock management.

Manually monitoring independent hatcheries is a tedious task requiring
an accurate number of birds and dispatching the stock accordingly. Feed
management enables the poultry farm owners to timely place the order
to procure the feed.

2.Achieving Targets: - This digital era is all about gathering real-time

data and analyzing the performance reports and visual dashboards to
improve efficiency. Furthermore, the management can evaluate future
projections and analyze the existing performance based on the
information, such as feed, eggs generation per chicken, and feed
utilization rate.

3.Improves Efficiency: - The PFIMS solution ensures the quality

control checks of all the processes, thus enabling the business owners to
improve the business model, financial management, material
procurement, and overall performance. Consequently, the speed of the
existing processes significantly increases.

4.Quality Control: - Quality control means managing all the steps

involved in the poultry farming business, from poultry production to the
final dispatch. This way, the owners buy the premium-quality raw
material for the livestock, monitor the farm capacity, and ensure the
timely dispatch of the stock. The PFIMS solution can highlight the
issues such as degraded feed quality, mishandling of the livestock, or
unavailability of freshwater.

5.Farm Activity Traceability: - The PFIMS integration ensures daily

monitoring of the different functions of the poultry farm. For instance,
you can check real-time stats of the feed supply, health, temperature,
hygiene, and waste.

Another advantage of using the PFIMS solution is to schedule and

automate different tasks. For example, you can schedule the feed time,
water supply, and other activities to reduce the man-hours. Therefore,
you can monitor all the activities going on in the poultry farm through
the state-of-the-art PFIM system.
You can generate weekly and monthly performance reports and evaluate
the projection for the next quarter. Lucky for you, the PFIMS collects,
structures, and processes the raw stats, and all you need to do is analyze
the final reports presented in the graphical form.

6.Inventory Management: - From feed supply to multiple supply

chains, you can monitor the inventory using PFIMS software. You can
also observe the temperature and humidity of the warehouse where the
feed is kept. This way, you can timely decide to order the next batch of
feed when 70 or 80 percent remains in the inventory.

7.Smart Financial Management: - PFIMS for poultry farming ensures

complete control over the finances from purchases to sales targets. The
owners can look at the accounts and statistics on the PFIMS dashboard
to formalize the budget for the coming years.

Not only that, but you can allocate some funds to expand the business
operations nationwide or worldwide based on the results extracted from
the IMS software. It allows the stakeholders to optimize the available
labor resources and other support staff.

The main goal of improving the poultry farming business is to make it

more profitable, precisely what IMS solution does.

2.8 The Use (Role) of Information Technology (IT) in Poultry

Management Information System
2.8.1 Introduction
Information Technology is the application of computers and
telecommunication equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate
data. Between 1920 and 1970, the total inputs used in agriculture
increased 20%, while total output increased 179%. (Duncan, Harsh
barger, 2009) A few decades ago it was already noted that the output
increase was clearly not just an increase in the amount of inputs used but
rather the technology know how for efficient agricultural inputs
utilization which poultry production is of a large percentage.
Recently, it was concluded in their research that the use of information
from poultry experts, biological innovations, harvesting and hashing
machines, and mechanical technology used in poultry farming mainly
caused the increase in productivity per poultry worker three folds
between 1970 and the 2000s. Over the past 15 years however, poultry
farmers started using computers and software systems to organize their
financial data and keep track of their transactions with third parties
(Batte, 2011) and also monitor their sales more effectively.
In the Internet era, where information plays a key role in people’s lives,
poultry farming is rapidly becoming a very data intensive industry where
farmers need to collect and evaluate a huge amount of information from
a diverse number of devices (e.g. sensors, farming machinery,
meteorological sensors, etc.) in order to become more efficient in
production and communicating appropriate information (Csótó, 2010).
These efforts deal with a number of factors such as ecological footprint,
product safety, labor welfare, nutritional responsibility, plants’ and
animals’ health and welfare, economic responsibility and local market
presence. The efforts cover almost all steps in the production chain
concerning the daily agricultural tasks, the transactional activities for all
involved stakeholders and the support of information transparency in the
food chain.
Information brought to farmers originates from systems installed by
third parties such as meteorological stations or specialized infrastructure,
e.g. sensors for measuring temperature, humidity and soil moisture.
Farmers need to combine all these data effortlessly and take precise
decisions to produce qualitative products, improve their income and
adhere to governmental regulations and principles.
All this information should also be combined with the ‘‘farmer’s internal
system of practical knowing and learning’’, building thus a real
cognitive system (McCown, 2012). Nowadays, a number of proprietary
solutions have been developed to help poultry farmers manage their
farms in an effective way.
More sophisticated systems track geographical areas, weather patterns
and perform numerous advanced predictions on whether it will be
conducive for a kind of breed to be ground in a particular geographical
location and most of the latter mentioned systems, known as Poultry
Farm Management Information Systems (Lewis, 2009), focus on
specific tasks and use their own specifications to implement the
functionality provided.
Currently, these systems are slowly moving into the Internet era and are
starting to use some of the well-established networking solutions to
improve what they offer to the end users.
However, it is widely accepted that the Internet faces a number of
shortcomings, especially in handling vast numbers of networked devices
(i.e., Internet of Things) or stakeholders. Moreover, there is still no
standardized solution to enable a simple and cohesive interoperability
among services and stakeholders. The Future Internet (FI) infrastructures
are expected to handle these shortcomings.
The aim is to propose a functional architecture of a poultry expert
system (PES) utilizing Future Internet capabilities. Our goal was not to
build a complete management system but rather to focus on those
functionalities that can be improved with the use of the innovative FI’s
capabilities.
Using these capabilities, the farmer should be able to perform a number
of tasks that are not possible today (e.g., advertise his poultry products
effortlessly, discover trustable stakeholders, information and services,
combine functionalities from different management systems and
services, cope automatically with unstable data network links, etc.).
2.9 Roles of Computer in Information Systems

Information systems are in use from an ancient time. With the

development of computing technology, computers became an important
part of today’s modern information systems which satisfies speed,
dependability etc. the roles of computers in Information Systems: -

1. Data Collection.
2. Data Verification.
3. Data Processing.
4. Data Storing.
5. Information Supply.
6. Information Presentation.
7. Data Updates.
8. Security of Data.
9. Information Sharing.
10. System Automation.

1. Data Collection: - Information systems collect, store and supply data.

This is done by using computers. Data can be collected from computer
networks or can be inserted by human resources. Software resources
can also automate the collection of data (searching and finding best
results) which is the most important part.
2. Data Verification: - Data in information systems can be verified
using computers. Thus data can be corrected or rejected before going
to the processing level which final helps in getting accurate
information.
3. Data Processing: - Data in information systems can be processed
(sorted, filtered, joined etc.) by computer to finally generate
information that is desired, useful, meaningful to human resources or
other information systems. Various program takes part in data
processing.
4. Data Storing: - Data is everything in information systems. Today’s
computers can store enormous amount of data. Information can
derived from these stored at any time using data processing.
5. Information Supply: - Computer can supply or provide information
to human or another information system which can scheduled or
manually operated.
6. Information Presentation: - Computers can not only provide a long
table filled with data in an informative way, but it can also represent
data in graphs, charts, images, comparative way that is much more
meaningful than a long tabular data sheet.
7. Data Updates: - With time, stored data can turn into obsolete data as
might be the data is changing in real time. So it is required to update
data as it changes and computers can do this really fast and with ease.
Thus all the information provided by information systems will be up-
to-date and more precise.
8. Security of Data: - Information in information systems can be
general to highly confidential. Though computer systems are not
100% secured but at least they can confirm security at a very high
level with comparatively less cost. Computers can secure data with
various technologies like access control, data encryption etc.
9. Information Sharing: - Computers enable the sharing of information
to the next level. Using various network resources, computers
enables a system to share information automatically to an application,
human etc.
10. System Automation: - Computers in information systems can turn
the system to automate some of the task that generally requires one or
more human resources. Such as, generating reports, sending reports in
emails etc. Advanced information systems can also use artificial
intelligence to automate more by tracking user behavior and
interaction within the Poultry Farm Activities.
2.10 AIU Poultry Farm Production Enterprises
2.10.1 Introduction
AIU Poultry farm is one of the Poultry farms that raise chickens, ducks,
turkeys, and other birds for meat or egg production. In the past, AIU
poultry farm involved raising chickens in the back yard for daily egg
production and family consumption. However, AIU poultry farming
today is a huge business that is split into several operations including
hatcheries, pullet farms for meat production, or farms for egg
production. This Chapter segment will focus on AIU poultry farm,
Department of raising chicken for the purpose of (Meat & Eggs) Broilers
& Layers Respectively
2.10.2 Production: -
Chickens originated from Jungle Fowl in South Eastern Asia around
3200 BC (Dr. M. Farran, personal communication, 2009). Chickens
were domesticated and spread to China, India, Africa, Pacific Island, and
Europe. The main use of chickens has never changed. They were
primarily raised for human food. In addition, their feathers were used for
making cushions, litter for fertilizers and, in some societies, chickens
were used in cock fighting as a source of entertainment & their
subsequent Manure is used as substitution of the Modern fertilizer.

2.10.3 Supply: -
As the human population increases, the poultry industry continues to
grow to meet the demand for poultry products in world markets. The
importance of poultry farms lies in the quality of products that are
provided to humans.
1. Broiler farms: -
Provide meat that supplies the human body with high quality proteins.
2. Layer farms: -
Provide eggs rich in proteins and vitamins, especially the fat soluble
vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
Poultry farms are fast-paced operations that can fulfill the demand for
meat and eggs, and can be expanded easily to meet the ever-growing
demand (Dr. M. Farran, personal communication, 2009).
2.10.4 Consumption: -
Chickens are fast growing animals. In the past, it took about 4 months to
produce a two-kilogram chicken. However, today a two-kilogram
chicken can be produced in 42 days (Dr. M. Farran, personal
communication, 2009). Due to this fact, a better understanding of
husbandry practices, and use of new technologies, poultry farms can be
profitable Production Enterprises.
Each operation in the poultry business has become a huge business by
itself. Some farms specialize in producing eggs for market consumption,
or for hatching chicks for the purpose of meat production. Many large
farms specialize in raising broilers for meat production. Other businesses
are focused on feed preparation or on using the wastes of poultry farms
for compost production and fertilizing farmlands. If managed and
marketed well, all segments of the poultry business can be profitable.