PURPOSE

The Turkey Hatchery survey provides estimates of turkey eggs in incubators and number hatched in the 16 leading states. The estimates indicate the number of market birds that will be available in about five months and provide basic data used to develop state estimates of the number of turkeys raised.

COVERAGE

All known operating turkey hatcheries in 16 states are contacted each month. The following states are in the program: Arkansas, California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

CONTENT

Data are collected on the number of turkey eggs in incubators on the first of the current month, the number of poults hatched during the previous month, and in what state these poults were placed for feeding to market weights.

FREQUENCY

The survey is conducted monthly.

METHODS

NASS maintains a list of active turkey hatcheries, approximately 30, and all are contacted each month. The reference date is the first of the current month for eggs in incubators and entire previous month for number of poults placed. Questionnaires are mailed to reach the respondents by the first of the month. Hatcheries not responding with a completed questionnaire are contacted by phone.

PRODUCTS

The Turkey Hatchery report is released about the 13th of each month. Number of eggs in incubators on the first of the month and number of poults placed in the previous month are published by state, region, and 16-state total.


USES

The information in this report is used by data users to estimate the number of turkeys that will be marketed in about five months. These data are also the basis for the NASS estimates of turkeys raised each year. Additionally, economists and other analysts use the data to monitor the industry’s health and assess its economic contribution to the agricultural sector.

SPECIAL FEATURES

RELATED PROGRAMS

Turkeys Raised
Poultry Slaughter
Poultry Production, Disposition, and Income