Bigger turkeys boost output

Total output of turkey meat rose by over 9% in the first quarter, compared with the same period a year earlier, and production rose by 4,200t to 50,200t.

According to Defra’s figures, this increase follows two consecutive years of rising output, despite the decline in turkey placings.

While poult placings fell by 5% year-on-year in 2016, a fall of more than 0.75m birds, production rose overall by 16%. The sector produced an extra 30,000t of turkeymeat compared with 2015, taking the total to 210,000t.

Away from the retail whole bird Christmas trade, the figures are a clear indication that turkeys are being grown to higher weights.

The long-term growth of the broiler industry continued into the first quarter, and output was up 3.6% or 13,300t compared with Jan-Mar last year.