There are many species and breeds of poultry which are used by man. Some are of more importance than others. The domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) has assumed World-wide importance and accounts for more than 90% of the world's poultry flocks. Ducks account for about 5% of the world's poultry flocks and turkeys for about 2%. Table 6 details % world distribution of the three most important poultry species during 1989.
Other poultry species of lesser world importance are geese, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, quail and ostriches. It is estimated that together these species account for less than 3% of the world's poultry flocks.