4AJ-12PO: Kentucky 4-H Poultry Judging Contest: Market Poultry: Grading to Ready to Cook Parts

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Aug. 2, 2021 (New)

The market poultry division now includes one class of ready-to-cook broiler carcasses to grade, one class of ready-to-cook roaster carcasses to grade, one class of parts identification, one class of parts grading, and one class of further processed boneless poultry products. Each class is worth 100 points, for a total of 500 possible points for the division. This factsheet looks at the new class of grading ready-to-cook parts.

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4AJ-10PO: Kentucky 4-H Poultry Judging Contest: Market Poultry: Evaluating Further Processed Poultry Products

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Jul. 14, 2021 (New)

Boneless further processed poultry meat products are common in retail markets as precooked, poultry meat patties, tenders, nuggets, or other boneless products. This factsheet will cover the evaluation of further processed poultry products.

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4AJ-06PA: Kentucky 4-H Poultry Judging Contest: Grading Ready-to-Cook Poultry Carcasses

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Jul. 14, 2021 (Major Revision)

In 2021, major revisions were made to the market poultry division of the 4-H poultry judging contest. The market poultry division now includes one class each of ready-to-cook broiler carcasses to grade, ready-to-cook roaster carcasses to grade, parts identification, parts grading, and further processed boneless poultry products.

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4AJ-03PA: Kentucky 4-H Poultry Barbecue Contests

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Mar. 9, 2020 (Minor Revision)

In the chicken barbecue contest, participants prepare four bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs provided by the contest monitors. The four thighs together will weigh 1.5-2.0 lb. They are judged on their cooking skills. The participants submit three of the thighs for sensory evaluation. No garnishes, dips, or additional items shall be presented on the plates and or submitted to the judges. In the turkey barbecue contest, each contestant will be provided two pounds of ground turkey. The turkey will not be available prior to the contest starting time. They need to prepare and cook turkey burgers. Each burger must be one-quarter pound of meat prior to cooking.

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ASC-242: Composting Poultry Litter in Your Backyard

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | May. 2, 2019 (New)

Keeping laying hens in the backyard is popular, but along with a daily supply of eggs, the hens also produce a large supply of manure. Fresh poultry manure has an unpleasant odor and will attract flies. Bedding material, such as pine shavings, is put down on the coop floor to help control odors and flies, but eventually the litter (manure and bedding material) needs to be replaced. While poultry manure can be an excellent fertilizer, it should not be used fresh. "Raw" manure can burn plants and may contain pathogens that could contaminate any plants being grown for consumption. Composting makes the manure safe to use as a fertilizer on any lawn or garden. Composting involves a process by which billions of beneficial soil organisms decompose the organic material. Simply piling up waste is not really composting. With the right proportions for materials, the process has minimal offensive odor and destroys most of the pathogens in the manure. Compost is both science and art.

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ASC-241: Urban Poultry

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Dec. 4, 2018 (New)

The terms urban poultry and backyard poultry both refer to flocks kept on a residential lot. Keeping chickens in urban areas is becoming increasingly popular throughout the country. The main reasons given for keeping chickens are as pets and for egg production--pets with benefits. Small numbers of hens kept in the backyard can provide an urban family with entertainment, eggs, and fertilizer. For those with children, backyard poultry flocks can also teach them responsibility and be used for 4-H poultry projects.

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ASC-236: Molting Small-Scale Commercial Egg Flocks in Kentucky

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Feb. 27, 2018 (New)

Molting is a common event in the annual life cycle of most avian species. Each year chickens lose feathers and grow new ones, and this occurs in both wild and domestic birds. During molt, laying hens go out of egg production and feathers are replaced. Molting, regardless of what stimulates it, is more than just the replacement of the plumage. Hormonal and physiological changes occur as well.

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ASC-230: Factors to Consider Before Starting a Small-scale Egg Production Enterprise in Kentucky

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Jan. 25, 2018 (New)

There are several things to consider before starting an egg production operation. The most important is market availability. Before you start production you need to have a market that your production can supply, in terms of both quantity of product and the price you need to get in order to be profitable. You will need to make sure that local regulations allow for poultry production on the land available to you. Cash flow is also an important consideration. A flock will require a considerable investment before the hens start to lay eggs to produce an income. You also need to have a way to deal with the manure produced, and any dead birds. You also need to have a plan for the hens after they have finished laying (referred to as spent hens).

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ASC-233: Feeds and Feeding for Small-Scale Egg Production Enterprises

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Jan. 25, 2018 (New)

Animals eat in order to get the energy and nutrients they need to live, grow and reproduce. Animals use energy to perform normal body functions such as breathing, walking, eating, digesting, and maintaining body temperature. Different types of nutrients provide energy as well as the building blocks needed for the development of bone, flesh, feathers, and eggs. These nutrients include: water, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Each of these components is important and a deficit of even one can have serious health consequences for poultry.

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ASC-234: Use of Biosecurity and Natural Remedies for the Prvention of Poultry Disease in "Natural" and "Organic" Flocks

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Jan. 22, 2018 (New)

It is easier to prevent disease than it is to treat an outbreak. A biosecurity plan is essential to an effective health management plan. "Bio" refers to life and "Security" is protection. A biosecurity program for a poultry farm is a series of common-sense activities designed to keep disease (bacterial, viral, parasitic) out of the poultry flock.