A COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BROILER PRODUCTION COSTS: SELECTED ARAB COUNTRIES, TURKEY, AND THE UNITED STATES COMPARED TO GLOBAL STANDARDS

Abstract

This systematic review examines the biological and economic performance of broiler production systems in Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States, benchmarked against global efficiency standards. Using normalized data (2024 constant USD), the study integrates cost structure, performance, and sensitivity analyses to identify major efficiency gaps and resilience factors. Results show that feed accounts for 55-61% of total production costs, making it the dominant driver of economic performance across all systems. Turkey (USD 0.69/kg) and the USA (USD 0.73/kg) achieved global-level competitiveness through superior feed conversion ratios (FCR 1.5-1.6), advanced genetics, and technological integration. Arab producers, particularly Sudan (USD 0.95 pre-war, USD 1.75 post-war 2025), Egypt (USD 0.90), and Jordan (USD 0.92), recorded higher costs due to feed import dependence, energy constraints, and limited mechanization (FAO, 2023; World Poultry Foundation, 2023).
In Sudan, war-related disruptions caused a five-fold currency devaluation and destruction of parent-stock farms, leading to reliance on imported fertilized eggs and diesel power, which raised DOC and energy costs. Despite these challenges, the sector shows adaptive resilience through shortened production cycles and stable FCR (Aviagen, 2022; Cobb-Vantress, 2021). The findings emphasize the need for integrated recovery strategies combining feed autonomy, hatchery rehabilitation, renewable energy adoption, and targeted financial support. Regionally, improved policy coordination, technology transfer, and localized feed production are essential to enhance competitiveness and food security under volatile economic conditions.
Broiler production economics viability varies significantly between developed and developing nations. This study provides a comparative economic analysis of broiler production costs in selected Arab countries (Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia), Turkey, and the United States, benchmarked against global efficiency standards. Data were sourced from peer- reviewed literature, government statistics, and international reports (2017-2024), with Sudanese data reflecting projected pre-war conditions for 2024. Cost components analyzed included day-old chicks (DOC), feed, labor, housing, veterinary care, and mortality.
Results reveal substantial cross-country variation: Turkey recorded the lowest cost per kilogram of live weight ($0.69), followed by the United States ($0.73), while Sudan exhibited the highest ($0.95), with Egypt ($0.90), Jordan ($0.92), and Saudi Arabia ($0.81) also exceeding the global benchmark of $0.78/kg (FAO, 2023; World Poultry Foundation, 2023). Feed was the dominant cost component, accounting for 58.6%-60.6% of total costs, slightly above the global optimal range of 56%-57% (FAO, 2023). Egypt and Jordan bore the heaviest feed cost burden. By contrast, the United States and Turkey allocated a larger share to DOC (21.74% and 21.88%, respectively), reflecting investment in superior genetics that enhanced growth rates and feed conversion efficiency (Aviagen, 2022; Cobb-Vantress, 2021).
Sensitivity analysis indicated that a ±10% fluctuation in feed prices altered production costs by up to ±6% in Sudan and Egypt. These findings highlight the vulnerability of Arab producers to volatility in imported and locally produced feed ingredients, while demonstrating the resilience of technology-intensive systems in Turkey and the United States. 

The study concludes that enhancing competitiveness in the Arab region requires strategic investments in local feed production, advanced genetics, and mechanization. Policy interventions should prioritize the development of domestic feed industries, support modern hatcheries, incentivize automation, and strengthen biosecurity measures to reduce costs and build resilience against external shocks (FAO, 2023; Aviagen, 2022; Cobb-Vantress, 2021).