Glossary of Commercial Poultry Terms
By the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - This article contains a collection of terms commonly used in the poultry industry.

A B C
D E F G
H I L M
N O P R
S T U V
W Y
A
Adjuvant
Additive to vaccine to enhance its effectiveness.
Albumen
The white portion of an egg. In liquid form, the albumen is composed of water and proteins. In dry form, it is composed of proteins.
Antibody
A protein molecule capable of combining specifically with an antigen.
Antigen
A substance foreign to the host animal, commonly a disease agent or vaccine.
B
Bacterin
A killed bacterial vaccine, consisting of a suspension of whole bacteria.
Basket
Basted
Bid
A verifiable price that a buyer is willing to pay to secure product.
Biosecurity
A management system to minimize the disease exposure of flocks.
Breaker
A person, firm, or other business unit that cracks (breaks) shell eggs to produce egg products.
Breaking Stock
Shell eggs designated for cracking (breaking) to produce egg products.
Broker
Broiler/Fryer
Buyer
Capon
A neutered male chicken produced for the specialty and holiday meat markets.
Carton
Case
Ceiling Price
Checks
Chill Packed
Class
Committed
An obligation or pledge to sell or purchase a specified quantity of product.
Commodity-Packed
Composting
A natural decomposition process for organic wastes.
Consumer Sizes
Contract
Contract Grower
Cornish game hen
A young chicken (usually 4 to 6 weeks of age) not more than 2 pounds in dressed weight.
Current Negotiated
Dander
Small particles of dead skin or feather particles.
Dealer
Deboning Size Broiler/Fryer
Delivered
DELMARVA
Demand
The desire to possess a commodity coupled with the willingness and ability to pay for the commodity.
Very Good - Offerings or supplies are rapidly absorbed. Good - Firm confidence on the part of buyers that general market conditions are good. Trading is more active than normal. Moderate - Average buyer interest and trading. Light - Demand is below average. Very Light - Few buyers are interested in trading.Depopulation
Removal of all animals from a premise.
Diet
A feed prepared from a mixture of ingredients.
Distributor
A person or firm that delivers product to customers.E
Egg Sizes
Shell eggs are divided by size (class) according to weight. Minimum net weight per dozen:
Jumbo - 30 ounces. Extra Large - 27 ounces. Large - 24 ounces. Medium - 21 ounces. Small - 18 ounces.