The Turkey Industry Flashcards
How many turkeys in the US? How many turkey farms?
245 million turkey, 2,500 farms
What is the top turkey producing state?
Minnesota
What does MO rank in turkey production?
5th
What other states are top turkey producing states?
Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, Iowa, California
What country is the largest importer of turkey products?
Mexico
define Tom
male turkey
define hen
female turkey
define poult
young turkey
What is the gestation length of turkeys?
28 days
describe beak trimming
remove a portion of the top of the beak. This can be done with a hot knife, inferred light, vibrations
describe toe trimming
turkeys use their toes to claw, so we remove the sharp point of the toes. Typically a hot knife is used
Why are toms and hens separated in housing?
males and females are separated due to their difference in size and turkeys need more time to grow so they will have sexual maturity
How old are turkeys at load out?
19-21 weeks
How are turkeys loaded out?
herd the turkeys to the end of the house, put them on a conveyor, and loaded directly into the semi (do this evenly because the weight of the birds can tilt the truck)
