NAICS 112320

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support consistent collection and publication of U.S. economic statistics. Developed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in cooperation with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is updated on a five-year cycle, with the current vintage set in 2022. ¹

NAICS 112320 covers establishments primarily engaged in raising broilers, fryers, roasters, and other meat-type chickens. It is part of the Animal Production subsector and is distinct from chicken egg production and poultry hatcheries, which are classified elsewhere. The scope focuses on growing birds for meat, not egg output or hatchery operations. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Raising broilers, fryers, roasters, and other meat-type chickens for market. ²
• Meat-focused chicken production rather than egg output. ²
• Animal production activities where poultry raised for sale constitutes the primary agricultural output. ²
• Use of specialized buildings, equipment, and labor typical of poultry production. ²
• Production environments ranging from total confinement housing to open-range settings within the Animal Production subsector. ²
• Operations classified here when animal production is at least one-half of the establishment’s total agricultural production. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	112310	Chicken Egg Production
NAICS	112340	Poultry Hatcheries
NAICS	311615	Poultry Processing
PSC	8905	Meat, Poultry, and Fish

NAICS hierarchy and placement

• Sector 11 — Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
• Subsector 112 — Animal Production and Aquaculture
• Industry group 11232 — Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production
• National industry 112320 — Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production. ³

Official cross‑references and exclusions

• Egg production is classified under NAICS 112310 Chicken Egg Production. ²
• Poultry hatcheries are classified under NAICS 112340 Poultry Hatcheries. ²
• Turkey production is classified under NAICS 112330 Turkey Production. ²
• Slaughtering and processing of poultry and small game are classified under NAICS 311615 Poultry Processing. ²

Coverage in Census economic programs

Beginning with the 2022 Economic Census, Sector 11 (which includes NAICS 112320) is in scope for publication, with program adoption of 2022 NAICS phasing in across Census releases. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What activities are included in NAICS 112320? Establishments primarily raise meat-type chickens—broilers, fryers, and roasters. The emphasis is on growing birds for meat rather than producing eggs or operating hatcheries, which are separately classified. ²

• How does NAICS 112320 differ from NAICS 311615 Poultry Processing? NAICS 112320 covers on-farm animal production of meat-type chickens. NAICS 311615 covers slaughtering and processing of poultry and small game into meat and byproducts; it is a manufacturing activity, not animal production. ⁵

• Are hatcheries and egg producers included under NAICS 112320? No. Chicken egg production is classified in NAICS 112310, and hatcheries are classified in NAICS 112340. ²

• What NAICS vintage applies now, and does it affect NAICS 112320? The current NAICS vintage is 2022. Federal statistical programs, including the Economic Census, are transitioning to 2022 NAICS on a rolling basis through 2027. Users should rely on 2022 NAICS when available in recent data products. ⁷

• What SBA small business size standard applies to NAICS 112320? SBA publishes size standards by NAICS code in its official table, and contracting officers apply those thresholds per regulation. Consult SBA’s current Table of Size Standards for the applicable measure and threshold. ⁶

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 112320
• Census NAICS: Animal Production (includes NAICS 112320 definition and cross-references). ²
• Economic Census guidance: NAICS codes and structure overview. ³
• 2022 NAICS implementation timeline and transition details. ⁷
• SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards. ⁶

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry (NAICS background and update cycles, including 2022). https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 112320 Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production (definition, cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=112320&year=2022&details=112320
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: Understanding NAICS. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census Methodology (sector coverage, including Sector 11). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/methodology.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 311615 Poultry Processing. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311615&year=2022&details=311615
6. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Size Standards. https://www.sba.gov/document/support/table-size-standards
7. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (transition timeline and guidance). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html