Alberta turkey producers are committed to high production standards,
which includes quality animal care and strict biosecurity restrictions.
From farm gate to your plate, growers work all year round to raise,
market and promote a safe, quality product.
Alberta turkey producers raise approximately 2 million turkeys a year,
producing approximately 14 million kilograms of fresh turkey. This
accounts for about nine percent of the total Canadian turkey production.
PRODUCTION
PROCESS
Breeder Farm
Special breeds of turkeys are used to lay fertilized eggs. Mature
turkeys are artificially inseminated (A.I.)
Hatchery
Fertilized eggs are shipped to a hatchery where the eggs are incubated
and within 28 days hatch into poults (baby turkeys). Turkey's beaks
can be dangerous to other birds and people, so the poult's beaks are
trimmed with a laser by trained professionals who work in the hatchery.
Turkey Farm
Poults are sold to a turkey farm and quickly transported within 24
hours of being removed from their incubator. Turkeys are raised in
special climate-controlled barns that protect the birds from harsh
weather, disease and predators.
Barns
Turkeys do not suffer from overcrowding. Agriculture and Agrifood
Canada's Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of
Poultry recommends up to .37m2 (4 ft2) of space
per bird depending on their size. Barns often have windows and are
always well ventilated to protect turkeys from respiratory diseases
which are a major concern to producers. Many barns have side doors
which open to let turkeys outside. A proper climate is always maintained
to ensure a maximum comfort level for the birds. Turkeys respond very
well to good management, and to provide anything less wouldn't be
economical.
Brooding
The young birds are carefully watched and kept warm during the first
few weeks. As the birds' down is replaced by feathers, the heat is
gradually reduced. The turkeys roam free in the barn on a floor that
is covered with a soft bed of straw or wood chips.
Growing Cycle
The birds move freely throughout the barn and eat and drink at will.
Farmers take special care to make sure the equipment in their barns
is working to control the temperature, humidity, light and ventilation
at levels just right for their birds. Most turkey farms have automated
feeding systems that supply the birds with their food. Birds grow
quickly so farmers spend a lot of time calculating and changing feed
rations. They are fed a healthy diet of whole and pelleted grains
as well as vitamins.
No
growth hormones are used in turkey production in Canada.
Heavy hens at 14 weeks of age, weighing 7.7 kilograms would consume
17.40 kilograms of feed for a feed conversion of 2.35 kilograms of
feed for 1 kilogram of weight gain. Heavy toms at 16 weeks of age,
weighing 12.3 kilograms would consume 28.85 kilograms of feed for
a feed conversion of 2.49 kilograms of feed for 1 kilogram of weight
gain. This is called feed conversion.
Transportation
When birds are mature, they are quickly transported in specially equipped
trucks to ensure swift and humane transportation. The trucks are covered
with protective tarps. These tarps can be raised or lowered to help
control the climate for the birds, depending on the weather outside.
Truck drivers can monitor temperature from inside their cabs. A turkey
producer does not get paid for birds that do not arrive at the processing
plant alive so there isn't any incentive to crowd birds on the trucks.
Processing
The majority of Alberta turkey is processed at Lilydale Co-operative's
processing plant in Edmonton. Every bird is inspected for health and
wholesomeness by a federal government inspector.
After each flock of birds is raised, the barn is totally cleaned and
disinfected for the next growing cycle. This practice helps prevent
the spread of disease from one flock to another.
> Select here for information on Industry
Farm Safety Programs
Hatchery
