U.S. inventories of turkey eggs in incubators on June 1 reached their lowest level since 1988, in accordance with a report from america Division of Agriculture (USDA) Financial Analysis Service (ERS).
On June 1, 2024, the variety of eggs in incubators was 22.8 million. Whereas the ERS report didn’t embody 1988 figures, it did present a vital lower from June 1 in the course of the earlier two years. The variety of turkey eggs in incubators on June 1, 2022, was 26.1 million, and on June 1, 2023, that quantity was 28.1 million.
The variety of U.S. turkey eggs in incubators was unusually low on June 1, 2024.Courtesy USDA ERS
ERS additionally famous that poult placements in June have been down 18% on a year-over-year foundation, at 20.6 million. The one time since 2005 that poult placements have been that low have been earlier this yr in February, when 19.8 million poults have been positioned.
Was avian influenza an element?
ERS downplayed the influence the extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak had on the declining egg numbers.
Many of the circumstances of HPAI in U.S. turkey breeder flocks have been confirmed after June 1. Solely 4 farms immediately recognized by USDA Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) as turkey breeder flocks have been reported in 2024 Three of these – involving one flock of 4,200 breeder toms, one flock of 21,900 breeder hens, and one flock of 15,400 breeder hens – have been confirmed on July 24. The opposite flock concerned 6,800 breeder hens, however that flock an infection was confirmed on Could 21.
On Could 2, APHIS confirmed the presence of HPAI in one other breeder flock that included 14,100 head of poultry, however the company didn’t specify what kind of poultry was concerned.
ERS speculated that the decline in egg numbers in June was probably extra associated to “manufacturing selections.”
Affect on Thanksgiving turkey provides
Due to the everyday progress cycle for turkeys, eggs incubated in June and positioned in July often develop out to be slaughtered as recent Thanksgiving turkeys. That signifies that the availability for recent turkeys is more likely to be considerably lowered for Thanksgiving 2024.
Nonetheless, ERS said that there ought to nonetheless be a ample provide of frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving dinners. Inventories of entire frozen hen turkeys, weighing between eight and 16 kilos, have been up 16% on a year-over-year foundation as of June 30, 2024.
