Aviagen Turkeys acquiring France’s Le Sayec

Aviagen Turkeys has announced the company is acquiring Le Sayec, a family owned business responsible for the selling of commercial turkey eggs and poults within France.
Le Sayec also exports throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
 “We are very excited about this acquisition, which is good news for both companies and for the turkey industry,” said Clay Burrows, managing director of Aviagen Turkeys. “There has been much consolidation within the industry over the last decade and because of this there is a need for us to operate further down the supply chain and the acquisition of Le Sayec will allow us to be closer to our end user. We look forward to continuing to build relationships and adding value for both our integrated and independent customers using our own Aviagen products, while continuing to develop the B.U.T. and Nicholas brands."
Patrice Le Sayec, managing director of Le Sayec, said: “My family and I are very pleased with this acquisition and believe there are many synergies between the two companies. We have been working with Aviagen Turkeys for many years and because of this it will be a very smooth transition. I will continue to manage the business going forward and I’m excited to be part of the Aviagen Group.”
Founded in 1958, Le Sayec employs 60 people with a turnover of EUR25 million (US$26.9 million).

APHIS: Biosecurity audits lacking at many turkey farms

A survey conducted by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) showed that most U.S. turkey farms have established biosecurity protocols, but only 43 percent of the 81 farms surveyed reported that on-farm biosecurity audits were conducted by the company with which they do business or by a third party.
The study was included in an updated highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemiology report, released by the APHIS on July 24.
The agency further stressed in its report the importance of audits, as farms can decrease their risk of contracting avian influenza by verifying that biosecurity procedures are being followed properly.
The 81 turkey farms investigated for avian influenza were located in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Turkeys on these farms had all developed clinical signs of avian influenza between March 30 and May 2. Of those 81 farms, 63 were meat production farms (grow and/or brood), 11 were breeder farms, 6 were farms that raised breeder candidate birds to breeding age, and 1 farm did not provide information on production type. The median farm capacity was 46,000 birds and the median number of barns per farm was four.
Common biosecurity protocols practiced by the farms surveyed include spraying disinfectant on vehicle tires at the farm entrance, requiring visitors to wear coveralls and disposable boot covers before entering the barns, using disinfectant footbaths at barn entrances, using rodent control and caring for younger birds before caring for older birds.
It was also noted in the report that wild birds had entered barns on about 35 percent of the surveyed farms, with the frequency ranging from daily to occasionally.

West Liberty Foods purchases Quantum Foods assets

West Liberty Foods, LLC, a leading turkey producer, co-packer, private-label manufacturer and foodservice supplier of sliced deli meats and frozen meat products, has closed on the purchase of nearly all of the assets of Quantum Foods. The deal, announced on June 23 by West Liberty Foods, was valued at $12.7 billion.
Quantum Foods, a producer of value-added fully cooked poultry, pork and beef products, in February filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It had previously shut down its plant in Bolingbrook, Illinois, but West Liberty Foods hopes to be able to resume operations at the Bolingbrook plant within the next 30 days, according to a press release issued by the company.
“This is an exciting step forward for West Liberty Foods,” said Ed Garrett, president and CEO for West Liberty Foods. “This acquisition will enhance our offerings and benefit our customers, employees, and owners. In addition, we will be able to bring back jobs lost when Quantum Foods shut down its business.”
West Liberty Foods has three other locations in West Liberty, Iowa, Mount Pleasant, Iowa and Tremonton, Utah, which recently underwent a $13 million expansion. The company is headquartered in West Liberty.

Poultry producer Joyce Foods enters heritage turkey market

Specialty poultry producer Joyce Foods Inc. has entered the heritage turkey market as part of the company's 50th anniversary commemoration, according to reports.
The birds were placed on one of the company's North Carolina farms earlier in 2012, and raised free range, said Denis Dronne, executive chef and vice president of sales. The turkeys are fed an all-vegetarian diet and are raised under humane growing and processing practices, he said. The company's goal was to have the birds ready for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
"The black turkey is a very old breed, probably the first one to be developed from Native American stocks," said Ron Joyce, president and CEO. "Some of the first turkeys taken to Europe in the 1500s were black turkeys where they became very popular, particularly in Spain. The black turkey was admitted to the APA Standard in 1874. It is a naturally mating, slow-growing breed well suited for the outdoors. The heritage black turkey produces very flavorful and tender meat."

US broiler meat, turkey exports up in February

U.S. broiler shipments were up from 514 million pounds in February 2011 to 636 million pounds in February 2012, a 24 percent increase, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
This increase was primarily due to strong demand for U.S. broiler meat in spite of relative high broiler leg-quarter prices, said the USDA. In February, broiler leg-quarter prices were up 41 percent from February 2011. Although on average broiler leg-quarter prices are higher than they were in 2011, shipments to Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Russia, Angola and United Arab Emirates are all up from last February. Of the six markets, shipments to Mexico far exceed volumes shipped to other markets.
Turkey shipments also rose in February, up 17 percent from the same time in 2011. A total of 62 million pounds of turkey meat were shipped in February, almost 9 million pounds more than the volume shipped in 2011. Mexico received 36.5 million pounds of turkey meat from the U.S., which accounted for over 59 percent of total U.S. turkey shipments in February. Turkey shipments to Canada and Hong Kong also were up from 2011 numbers, according to the USDA. In February, the U.S. shipped 2.5 million pounds of turkey meat to Canada and 2.2 million pounds to Hong Kong, a 153 percent and a 44 percent increase, respectively, from 2011.
For more information and statistics on U.S. poultry, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.  

Bird flu found at Dutch turkey farm

Bird flu was detected at a turkey farm in the province of Limburg, The Netherlands, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
A transport ban has been enacted on eggs and poultry within a 1.8-mile radius of the farm, according to officials. The area has about 25 poultry farms.
All of the farm's 42,700 turkeys will be destroyed.

US poultry certified wholesome down in September

Poultry certified wholesome during September 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.71 billion pounds, down 1% from the amount certified in September 2010, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The August 2011 revised certified total came in at 3.90 billion pounds, up 4% from August 2010. The August revision represented an increase of 57.4 million pounds from the preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during September 2011 was 4.92 billion pounds, down 2% from 5 billion pounds in 2010. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.24 billion pounds, down 2% from September 2010. Mature chickens, at 73.8 million pounds, were up 2% from 2010 numbers. Turkey inspections totaled 594 million pounds, up 2%, while ducks totaled 13.1 million pounds, down 9% from 2010.
Young chickens slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 5.86 pounds per bird, up 2% from September 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.78 pounds per bird, up 1% from the same time in 2010. Turkeys slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 29.1 pounds per bird, up 2% from September 2010.
For more U.S. poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.

US turkey eggs up, poults down in July

Net turkey placements in the U.S. were up from June 2011.

U.S. turkey eggs in incubators on Aug. 1 totaled 28.2 million, up 1% from the same time in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. Eggs in incubators were down 3% from the July 1 total of 29.2 million eggs.
Turkey poults hatched during July totaled 24.8 million, down 5% from July 2010. Poults hatched were up 4% from the June 2011 total of 23.8 million poults.
The 24.6 million net poults placed during July 2011 were down 5% from the number placed during the same month in 2010. Net placements were up 3% from the June 2011 total of 23.8 million.

Turkey federation opposes federal animal welfare standards

The executive committee of the National Turkey Federation has adopted a resolution to oppose any legislation that would allow the federal government to enforce on-farm animal welfare standards.   
The decision, made at the federation's Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., was in response to the recently announced agreement by the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers in which both groups pledged to lobby Congress to adopt legislation covering housing and some husbandry practices for laying hens.
The resolution to oppose any federal legislation allowing on-farm enforcement of animal welfare standards was also approved by the NTF's legislative and turkey health and welfare committees. During discussion of this resolution, NTF executive committee members and NTF staff stated that NTF would not typically take a position regarding specific standards the egg industry has chosen to impose on itself, but the HSUS-UEP agreement seeks federal legislation to enforce these standards. The NTF's position is that federal legislation for egg layer welfare would establish a precedent for the federal government to come onto the farm to impose animal welfare standards in other industries, as well.

US turkey eggs, poults down from 2010

U.S. turkey eggs in incubators on July 1 totaled 29.1 million, down 3% from the same time in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. They were up 3%, however, from the June 1 total of 28.2 million eggs.
Turkey poults hatched during June 2011 totaled 23.8 million, down 2% from June 2010. Poults hatched were down 1% from the May 2011 total of 24.1 million poults. The 23.4 million net poults placed during June 2011 were down 2% from the number placed during the same month in 2010. Net placements were down 2% from the May 2011 total of 23.9 million.

Animal feed costs biggest challenge for turkey industry

Poultry production costs, including rising animal feed prices, are the greatest challenge for today's turkey industry, said Rick Sietsema, partner and CFO of Michigan-based Sietsema Farms, in a recent testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
Feed accounts for 70% of the cost of raising a turkey, said Sietsema, and corn accounts for 70% of the feed mix. As corn and other feed prices have increased, so have overall production costs. Changes to the existing ethanol policy would help the industry recover those costs, according to Sietsema. “The turkey industry is looking for reform of the existing ethanol policy, a safety net that ensures corn prices and availability will be less volatile in the future,” he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration proposed marketing rule, which was denied funding in the latest 2012 financial legislation, would have a further negative effect on the turkey industry, with an impact of more than $360 million a year, according to Sietsema.

Aviagen turkey company breaks ground on Iowa hatchery

Valley of the Moon Commercial Poults, Aviagen's new company serving the turkey industry, officially broke ground on its new 87,000-square-foot, 50-million-egg hatchery, being built in Osceola, Iowa, on April 12.
When completed later this year, the facility will be the largest turkey incubation and hatching facility in the world, according to Aviagen. “Aviagen is proud to start this new company in Iowa," said Jihad Douglas, president of Aviagen Turkeys. "A key factor in choosing this location was the state’s commitment to agriculture. Osceola is great community in the heart of the grain belt and centrally located for our customer base.”
Jason Williams will be the hatchery operations manager for the new site. Williams has over seventeen years of breeder and hatchery management experience. He will oversee the construction phase of the hatchery and will manage the facility once construction is complete.

US turkeys hatched, placed in February up from 2010

U.S. turkey poults hatched during February 2011 totaled 23.1 million, up 8% from February 2010, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
Compared to the previous month, February poults hatched were down 4% from January's 24 million. The 22.3 million net poults placed during February were up 6% from the number placed during the same month in 2010, but down 1% from the January 2011 total of 22.6 million.

Kelly Turkeys tells industry to play to strengths when competing with retailers

Farmers and butchers should play to their strengths in competing for the Christmas turkey market, according to Paul Kelly, managing director of Kelly Turkeys in his annual letter to poult customers.
“The major retailers are no longer content with selling average turkeys,” he said. “They are looking to supply better quality turkeys with points of difference. But the farmer and butcher have some very strong cards to play — points of difference that the major retailers will not be able to match in any volume.”
In his letter, Kelly highlighted the perceived value of meeting the local butcher or collecting from the farm, dry processing and hanging to mature flavor. He also provided a three-point plan for maximizing opportunity:

• Look long and hard at the prices the supermarkets charge. “Over my travels around the country I see too many producers underselling themselves,” said Kelly.
• Grow enough turkeys to satisfy spikes in demand and weight ranges in your known market. 
• Buy as-hatched poults for one third of your order, which with two-thirds sexed hens will provide a spread of weights to suit just about every order book.   

US turkey poults hatched reach 23.3 million in December 2010

Turkey poults hatched in the U.S. in December 2010 reached 23.3 million, up 3% from the same time in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Poults placed were also up by 3% compared to 2009, with 22.7 million net poults placed in December 2010, and slightly up from the November 2010 total of 22.6 million. On Jan. 1, turkey eggs in incubators totaled 27.9 million, up 1% from the same time last year, with the East North Central U.S. posting the largest regional boost at 11% up from 2010 numbers.

Former Urner Barry President, Paul B. Brown dies

Paul Brown

Former Urner Barry President Paul B. Brown Sr. died on Oct. 17, 2010.
Brown joined Urner Barry in 1962, becoming president of the company in 1986 and remaining in the position until his retirement in 1997. All in all, Brown served 42 years in the turkey industry, beginning at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Center where he quoted the poultry market. In the early 1960s he was appointed the head of the USDA's dairy and poultry market news office, which led to his meeting the partners of Urner Barry.
Brown is survived by his wife of 56 years, four children and 12 grandchildren.

Kelly Turkeys wins top honor at British Turkey Awards

Kelly Turkeys' KellyBronze turkey has claimed the top spot in the Best Traditional category for the fourth year in a row at the British Turkey Awards.
The free-range brand, said judges, is "a magnificent looking bird with a slightly gamey flavor." Over 200 guests attended the event, which raised more than £12,000 for Sparks, a children's medical charity.

The Poultry Federation announces symposium plans

The Poultry Federation’s 2010 Annual Spring Symposium in April will feature keynote speakers on animal housing, welfare and environmental regulations, as well as expert panels focusing on developments in turkey, hatchery and broiler operations.
Keynote speakers include Mike Morris of Yum Foods on animal welfare, Mike Czarick of the University of Georgia on ventilation, and Jim Bradbury of James Bradbury, PLLC, on environmental regulation.
The Poultry Federation is a trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Its spring symposium is geared toward live production personnel and suppliers, particularly service technicians and grow-out managers. It will take place April 20-21, 2010, at the Springdale Holiday Inn in Springdale, Ark. Registration is $100 for non-members and $60 for members. The registration deadline is April 16.

H1N1 found on California turkey farm

The H1N1 flu virus has been found in a flock of breeding turkeys in California, according to the International Society for Infectious Diseases.
After the Central Valley flock had experienced a decrease in egg production, the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory tested members for the virus and confirmed its presence on December 28, 2009. The laboratory has sent samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, for additional confirmation.
The producer in charge of the facility has voluntarily put the flock under quarantine.

UDSA funds turkey genome sequencing project

Reports say USDA has awarded Virginia Tech and the University of Minnesota a $908,280 grant for a turkey genome sequencing project.
The two-year funding will be used to complete the genome sequencing of the domesticated turkey, Meleagris gallopavo. The project will identify genes and functions, and also help establish a bioinformatics and comparative genome resource for both chicken and turkey.