Source: MEATINGPLACE, 2/20/18


With prices remaining well below historic averages, 2018 turkey production is anticipated to decrease fractionally, according to USDA’s latest Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report.

Initial estimates for 2017 annual turkey production total 5.980 billion pounds, a decline of just over 0.02 percent compared with 2016. The lack of growth in 2017 may be attributable to reduced returns for producers relative to 2016, when wholesale prices were significantly higher for whole birds and the majority of cuts.

December 2017 production totaled 461 million pounds, a 4-percent decline from December 2016, but a 1-percent increase based on a per day slaughter basis.

Hatchery report data for December fell far below the same period in 2016, indicating lower production totals in the coming months.

Placements and eggs hatched both fell by over 10 percent compared with a year earlier, and eggs in incubators to start January were down 4 percent.

While the data fluctuates from month to month, declines of over 10 percent suggest that producers are likely responding to reduced returns brought about by low wholesale prices.

The 2018 turkey production forecast is 5.970 billion pounds, down 30 million pounds from last month and 0.002 percent below 2017, USDA predicted.

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