Commercial poultry farming in New Zealand has been established for more than 50 years. During those 5 decades we have seen astronomical growth within the industry.  The consumption of red meat has steadily declined over the past ten years from 36kgs per person per year to only 11kgs. During that same period the average consumption of chicken meat has increased from 32kgs to a staggering 41kgs per person per year. This increase is primarily linked to 3 key factors, namely population growth, affordability of chicken compared to other meats, and dietary preferences when sourcing high quality protein.

There are 4 main processors in New Zealand. They are Inghams Enterprises, Tegel, Brinks and Turks. No one company has a monopoly. This ensures that healthy competition exists between processors, protecting the growers return on capital.

Typically the farmer owns the growing sheds and all the necessary plant and equipment to run them. The processor retains ownership of the birds and provides the feed.  The grower is contracted to rear the birds on the processors behalf. These contracts are detailed comprehensive legal documents that provide security to both parties. Conjointly the processor and grower are responsible for animal welfare and environmental issues. These two subjects are at the forefront of the industries ideals and play a paramount role in shed design whether it is a free-range farm, or a barn raised farm. Regardless of the type of farm the chickens in both systems are free to roam and display normal behavioural patterns. The climate within the sheds is maintained at an optimal range. Food and water are easily assessable and available 24 hours a day. The industry is independently audited to ensure that the high standards we have come to expect as consumers are met or preferably exceeded.

A large percentage of the chicken grown in New Zealand is internally consumed. Due to New Zealand’s tight Bio-border security rules prohibiting the importation of uncooked chicken meat this is unlikely to change. It also to some degree insulates the industry from such things as exchange rates and global unrest. When comparing the return generated from an investment in chicken farming to that generated from alternatives both rural and urban you will be pleasantly surprised.

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