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This article was published in 1954
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
Breeding and Raising Turkeys For Market
H. A. JACOBS, "Success" Poultry Farm, Vimiera Rd., Eastwood
Turkey raising on a commercial scale is N.S.W. is a comparatively new industry and a brief outline of its growth probably will give the best indication of its present condition and its future prospects.
Until about six years ago, it was what may be termed a back-yard industry: where farmers' wives in the country produced maybe 50 to 100 turkeys as a sideline to their own farm interests. To-day, while the same conditions still exist, the large scale production of turkey poults by artificial incubation has brought into being a considerable number of farms that are rearing large numbers of turkeys for the table market.
The sudden increase in production was brought about by the demand on the English market for our poultry meats, and the resulting rapid increase in local prices for turkeys encouraged a large number of new-comers to the industry.
Prices and production continued to increase until 1951; when turkeys were sold at up to 4/4 lb. live-weight on the farms.
The production of day-old turkey poults reached its peak in that year, with the result that great quantities of market birds were available for the 1952 market when, unfortunately for this country, England was able to obtain cheaper supplies from other countries such as Argentine and France; which led to the collapse of the local market and most of the supplies on hand were cold-stored and held for home consumption. Prices fell to as low as 1/9 per lb. on the farm, an unpayable price in this State and production of day-old poults last year fell, I would estimate, more than 50 per cent.
The position to-day is that large stocks of turkeys still are held in coldstore in this State and indications are that, in spite of the reduced quantities available this year, there is little prospect of increased prices this season.
That briefly is the position of the industry to-day; and later I will have something to say of its future prospects.
BREEDING :
Regarding the breeding of turkeys for the table market we have a lot to learn, and a tremendous amount to do in this direction before we will have a solid foundation for the industry.
We are handicapped in the first place by the fact that there are comparatively few breeds of turkeys in the country — practically the whole of the turkey population being the large American Bronze type and secondly by the fact that due to the incidence of Newcastle disease in other countries we are unable to import more suitable breeds.
Prior to the commencement of commercial production little breeding was done and that generally for Show purposes only, the chief aim of such breeding being for colour and other Show characteristics, with no thought given to the production of birds most suitable to our market conditions. Even after the industry started to expand the demand was such that the size of the bird did not matter. In fact the bigger the better as it was paid for by the pound liveweight, and it is only with the loss of our export market that we are begin ning to realise the necessity of studying the requirements of our local market if the industry is to continue large scale production. To produce a turkey most suitable for local consumption we require a small quick-maturing bird which will market at about 10 to 12 lbs. weight. There is and will be, only a limited demand for our present type of birds weighing up to 25 lbs. or more, while sales for a bird suitable for general household use could be expanded readily.
Obviously the simplest method of overcoming the difficulty is to import from America such breeds as the Beltsville White, which cross-breeding and selection from the Bronze, White Holland, Black, Narragan sett, White Austrian and other breeds. This solution does not appear possible, however, while the embargo on imports continues, and despite representations to the Department there seems little prospect of any action being taken to enable the import of even a small quanity of foundation stock for this purpose. Various suggestions have been made for the introduction of some foundation stock for breeding purposes through a quarantine, but up to date this has not met with the approval of the veterinary authorities. While we appreciate the dangers of Newcastle disease and the necessity for preventing its introduction into this country, the problem of introducing some new stock should not be insurmountable, and I know that turkey breeders will continue to press for some action in this matter.
The alternative to the importation of new blood is, of course, to breed our own, but here again we are handicapped by the small number of breeds available for the purpose, and the comparatively poor financial backing of the exist ing industry. Such a programme, even if undertaken, will of necessity retard the growth of the industry for a number of years.
INCUBATION:
The greatest factor which enabled the industry to expand as rapidly as it did was undoubtedly the large scale use of artificial incubation. The obvious advantage of this method over natural hatching is that the hens can be kept in production throughout the breeding season without the loss of time in setting and brooding which the natural method involves. This period would be eight to ten weeks after each clutch of eggs was laid, and by eliminating this lost time it is possible more than to double the production of poults from each hen during the season.
Although the incubation period of turkey eggs is four weeks, hatching conditions generally are similar to those suitable for hen eggs and their artificial incubation presents few difficulties. The poults when hatched can be treated like chickens and will travel long distances by rail or air without any harmful effects. They have, in fact, been exported successfully to Hong Kong and other distant countries.
RAISING TURKEYS:
The actual raising of the poults presents no greater difficulties than the raising of chickens and generally the same methods apply to both. The artificial rearing of poults in brooders was the natural sequence to their artificial incubation and if they are given suitable conditions the results achieved are similar to those with chickens. Brooder losses with good poults should not exceed 5 per cent. All types of chicken brooders can be used successfully, but it is advisable generally to keep poults in the brooders up to seven or eight weeks, instead of the six weeks usual for chickens. At this stage they will perch readily and can be housed for a few weeks in the brooder house or in weaning sheds of cheap construction.
At 12 weeks of age in this State they do not require housing and in fact prefer to sleep in the open. All that is required are a few shade trees and perches. If protection is needed from foxes the perches can be placed inside a wire netting enclosure and the birds locked up at night.
Compared with poultry farming the capital outlay for buildings is small but the initial cost of poults and the cost of feeding them to maturity would be approximately 30/- per bird on present prices, so that it will be seen readily that the rearing of large numbers of turkeys will require substantial financial backing.
FEEDING:
Apart from a slightly higher protein content, turkey feeding is similar to that of other poultry. They can be fed on wet or dry mash with equally satisfactory results and, while oats is recognised generally as the most suitable grain, barley or wheat can be fed with satisfactory results. Practically all mash ingredients used for poultry feeding are suitable for turkeys and for the best growth results a 24 per cent, protein ration is recommended for the first eight weeks, 20 per cent. from eight to 16 weeks and 15 per cent. from 16 weeks to marketing.
As some indication of the amount of feed required I quote the following figures taken from American experiments:
American Bronze turkeys were used and the feed consumption to 28 weeks was 90 lbs. per bird; the average weight of hens and toms combined being 20 lbs. With the initial cost of the poults at 5/- and the feed at 30/per 100 lb. they will cost 32/. each, apart from any other costs, and one can realise readily why a market price of 2/- per lb., or approximately 12 per bird, has discouraged the production of turkeys this season.
To stimulate expansion, production costs will need to be reduced or the live-weight price increased. Increased prices will be available only if more markets are obtained or if the consumption on the local markets is increased considerably.
As feeding represents the greatest production cost, the most important factor in reducing costs would be a fall in the price of wheat. Just how soon that will eventuate remains to be seen. A further method of reducing feeding costs is the range feeding of turkeys and it is estimated that a 25 per cent. reduction can be obtained in this manner. However, this method is not practicable in all cases and the benefit is offset to some extent by the necessity for provision of water supplies over a large area and the additional labour and time involved in caring for the birds. Depending on the quality of the pasture, turkeys can be range fed on the basis of 30 to 75 per acre; whereas if they are fully hand-fed probably 1500 to 2000 could be reared on the same area. While intensive rearing is not used to any extent in this country, turkeys can be kept quite successfully in this manner; as has been proved in England, where flocks of some thousands are reared by this method and even the breeding stock is mated in intensive houses.
Our more suitable climate and greater availability of reasonably priced land, together with the high initial cost of intensive sheds will limit this method of production here.
DISEASES:
Turkeys, like all other live-stock, are heir to diseases too numerous to mention here but, as with other types of live-stock, good management and sanitation will prevent most of them. Probably the most prevalent diseases are Blackhead, Sinusitis and Hexamitiasis, which has been added recently to our other problems. Good sanitation and use of new ground usually will eliminate Blackhead, but it is essential that the turkeys be kept entirely separate from other poultry. Should outbreaks occur effective remedies are now available for their control.
Sinusitis is a disease similar to Coryza in chickens and is equally difficult to cure when outbreaks occur. The most effective method of treatment is by the use of a hypodermic syringe, by means of which the liquid is removed from the swollen sinus, and then, with another syringe, approximately 1 c.c. of 15 per cent. Argyrol solution is inserted in its place. Needless to state this is a laborious method of treating a large flock but up to date no more effective method has been found. Experiments have been carried out with Streptomycin injections but the results obtained were not highly satisfactory and would not justify the general use of such an expensive treatment.
Comparatively recently outbreaks of Hexamitiasis have caused heavy losses in some areas and treatment with whey powder and copper sulphate was found to be fairly effective.
I have been informed, however, that excellent results were obtained recently at Glenfield with the use of Aureomycin. Confirmation of this work may give us an even more effective cure for this disease.
Up to the present there has been very little, if any, research work on turkey diseases or any other of the industry's problems, and while our Department of Agriculture is so handicapped by staff shortages there appears little possibility of any extensive work being done in this direction. The need, however, is great and there is a wide scope for research into not only diseases, but such problems as the falling off of fertility and hatchability in turkey eggs during the latter part of the season. This failing is one which does not affect poultry generally, in spite of a much longer laying season, and the solution of the problem would effect a very considerable saving to the industry.
Knowing the poultry industry so well, and appreciating as I do the difficulty of having research work carried out by the Department, I realise the difficulties the turkey growers will have in this matter, but it is important that such work be commenced and no effort should be spared to obtain recognition of this fact by the Department.
MARKETING:
The marketing of turkeys in this country compared with American methods leaves a lot to be desired; due largely, but not entirely, to the vast difference in population. Our main concern in the past has been marketing for export and the local market has been practically ignored. The newly formed Turkey Growers' Federation is taking some action to popularise the consumption of turkey meat on the home market, and there is no doubt that if we place a first-class product on the market, available in a suitable manner for the buying public, home consumption can be increased to a vast extent. Isolated efforts in this direction have indicated just how great the potential market is, and with a well-directed publicity campaign the immediate difficulties of the industry are believed to be comparatively simple of solution.
FUTURE PROSPECTS:
In conclusion, just a few words on the future prospects of the turkey industry. Like all other primary industries turkey raising will continue to have its good and its bad seasons. The growers of to-day are pioneering a new industry and, like the pioneers of other primary industries, they will continue to have their problems and their difficulties, but the turkey raising industry is here to stay and the good farmers will be successful.
[This article is based on an address given by the author at our 1954 Conference and following the address Mr. Jacobs made some interesting comments in answer to numerous questions. For instance: Pullorum Disease (in turkeys): Not very troublesome but there have been a few outbreaks. The rapid antigen test has been used, but only a few reactors have been detected.
Antibiotics in turkey feeding: Not required in this country, provided birds are raised well and under good conditions. Any benefits obtained in carly life are lost before market age is reached. In any case, the addition of antibiotics probaly would increase costs by 30/- per ton of feed used; and therefore a 10 per cent. benefit would be required.
Deep Litter: Not used in this country so far as is known. It was considered though, that turkeys would do just as well as other poultry under this type of housing.-EDITOR]