The Finnish Poultry Industry and the Finnish Poultry Breeders

SummaryThe Poultry Industry in Finland is small in comparison with almost all of the European countries (around 85 million kgs of eggs and 20 million kgs consumption of poultry meat). The technical and economic standards in Finland's Industry are reasonably high and the national breed of layers compares well with international hybrids. To the agricultural income the Poultry Industry contributes 6.0%. That is 4.5% for eggs and 1.5% for poultry meat. With 5.5 million laying hens average in 1984, production reached 85 million kgs. As only 54.5 m kgs are consumed, export of eggs presents difficulties. During the past decade there has been a boom in sale of broiler meat. From virtually nothing in 1971 (4.2 m kgs) the consumption rose to 16.0 m kgs. in 1985.Over 70% of the costs of egg production in the country come from feed. The future depends on the energy and protein situation on the one hand and the restrictions from the government trying to handle the overproduction on the other. There is control on egg production to avoid over-production and to guarantee the family farming flocks. A marketing fee is paid according to gross income from egg production.Since 1975 there has been a law regulating the flock size. Without permission a laying flock of more than 100 hens cannot be started or enlarged. Since 1977, hatchery regulating rules limit the number of chicks for egg production.The countries to which eggs are exported are mainly the Soviet Union, Austria, Switzerland and occasionally Sweden and Norway plus Arab countries.The Finnish Poultry Breeders Association organizes, plans, leads and controls the five Primary Breeders in Finland.