Progress Versus Production Costs of Live Broiler Chickens in Poland between 1994 and 2015

The paper presents analysis of influence of total agriculture progress on changes of unit costs in broiler chicken production in 1994-2015. Results of annual assessment of utility value of broiler chicken in Poland were taken as a measure of total progress in production. This assessment was carried out by Central Animal Breeding Office (1994-2000), National Centre of Animal Breeding (2001-2003), and National Poultry Council (2004- -2015). All analysed indices improved between 1994 and 2015 as followes: feed conversion ratio from 2.52 to 1.66 kg/kg, daily mass increment from 38.1 to 60.0 g/day, mortality from 9% to 4.3%. In 1994-2015, unit costs of broiler production (expressed in constant prices of 1994) decreased by 36%. Up to 2003, decrease in costs was on average 2.5% yearly and since 2004 the decrease was on average 1% yearly. The strongest influence on lowering broiler chickens production costs (22%) was exerted by the decrease in feed costs due to improvement of feed conversion ratio, decrease in other costs (9%) and the purchase amount of material for breeding and costs of purchase of one-day chicks (5%).