Turkey rearing gains popularity

For a long time, it was rare to find turkey meat in Bangladesh. It was sought only by a handful of Christians before Christmas or Thanksgiving. But now, it is slowly moving from being just a Christmas or Thanksgiving fare to a meat dish catering to the changing aspirations and tastes of the country’s people.

Despite being priced steeply compared to other poultry products, the demand for turkey meat is increasing in Bangladesh. This has prompted various players to set up turkey-rearing farms.

There are over 40 commercial turkey farms in Gazipur district alone. According to the Bangladesh Turkey Farmers’ Community (BTFC), there are around 600 small and medium-sized commercial turkey farms across the country.

Buyers from different super shops and restaurants of the cities have established business contracts with those farms and buy turkey meat.

“Turkey consumption today makes it a festive food, but we would like to change that perception, and make it as much a staple diet as possible. With a distinct change in their lifestyles, consumers are seeking variety. Turkey meat is a highly nutritional product,” said Jillur Rahman Chowdhury, the owner of a turkey-rearing farm.

Chowdhury has a large turkey farm in Naogaon district. His farm is situated over a 30-katha plot of land there. People from different districts come to his farm to buy turkey.

He said turkey breeding is potentially more viable than conventional poultry farming. “The risk of disease among these birds is also less compared to other poultry and expenditure on medicines and vaccination per bird is also negligible,” he said.

“Since it has lower cholesterol and fat and higher protein content than any other white meat, turkey meat should enjoy great demand in the market,” he added.

 

Poultry and beyond

Chowdhury said the business of rearing turkey is similar to the farming of other poultry birds like ducks, quails, etc. But it is easy to raise turkeys in comparison with other poultry birds. “This is because these birds are very familiar with humans,” said Chowdhury.

“Small farmers can start a marvellous business plan. They can achieve much success within a short period of time. These can be grown easily in the free-range system and under semi-intensive rearing system,” he said.

“When making shelters for them, capital inputs and equipment requirements are lower than in the farming of other poultry birds,” he added.

Mohammed Shakhawat Hossain, a turkey bird farmer in Sukhondi area of Gazipur city, said he started his farm with 45 turkey chicks in 2017. “In just nine months, I started selling chicks and eggs.”

He said there are currently 215 big turkey birds and 100 chicks in his farm. He gets 25 to 30 eggs per day. Hossain said many people, especially youths and housewives, are building farms after taking eggs and chicks from him.

People come from Gazipur city and surrounding areas everyday to pick up eggs, chicks and advice on turkey farming. Hossain said that he sells each egg for Tk. 300 and a day-aged chick for Tk. 600. One pair of chicks (one month old) is sold for Tk. 2,200, and at two months, a pair can be sold for Tk. 3,000. He noted that housewives have greater interest in establishing turkey farms.

Shahin Mollah, a turkey farmer from Faridpur Sadar upazila, said that he started farming turkeys about two years ago with Tk. 20,000. Now his capital is over Tk. 4 lakh.

“I sell turkey eggs and meat. I sell four eggs for Tk. 800 to Tk. 1,000. Turkey meat is being sold for Tk. 500 to Tk. 550 per kg in the market. Turkey farming is more profitable than poultry farming,” observed Mollah.

Dip Roy of BTFC said turkey farming has a relatively quicker yield. “After a chick is raised from the egg, an adult turkey bird starts laying eggs in seven months and continuously lay eggs for the next five years.”

He said turkeys grow very fast within a short time. “Currently, every kilogram of turkey meat in the market is being sold at Tk. 500 to Tk. 550. In five months, the weight of a turkey bird is five to six kg. Hence, its market value is well over Tk. 3,000 to Tk. 3,500.”

 

High profits

Dr Mohammed Habibur Rahman, Professor of Pathology at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University of Mymensingh, told The Independent that turkeys can be well managed, if they are fed chick mash. They should use a water drinker covered with green paper so that they can recognise the water pot.

“The young may grow well by feeding grower mash up to four months and a mixture of commercial pigeon feed with plenty of vegetables. I also suggest giving them maize crush, kitchen waste and neem leaves as greens to clear their nose,” said Dr Rahman.

He, however, pointed out that turkeys consume more vegetables than chickens and suffer many undiagnosed diseases. “Turkeys are delicate and require tender care. They need constant watch in the first few weeks to reduce mortality,” he said.

Regarding the benefits of turkey meat, he said these birds have whiter and leaner meat, which has less fat. The meat has an even more delicious flavour after they are three months old, when they are strong and robust.

 

Govt support

Meanwhile, to empower small and marginal farmers through backyard farming, the government is looking at the hatching of turkeys to boost the rural economy. Bangladesh Bank (BB) announced in July last year that banks and other non-banking financial organisations will provide loans to aspiring turkey farmers. The loan would be up to Tk. 12.5 lakh for rearing 1,000 turkeys.

“I hope more people come forward to rear turkeys. It’s not only a profitable business but also a solution to the problem of relatively lower amounts of protein consumption in our country,” Dr Rahman said.

 

 

Turkey rearing gains popularity

For a long time, it was rare to find turkey meat in Bangladesh. It was sought only by a handful of Christians before Christmas or Thanksgiving. But now, it is slowly moving from being just a Christmas or Thanksgiving fare to a meat dish catering to the changing aspirations and tastes of the countrys people. Despite being priced steeply compared to other poultry products, the demand for turkey meat is increasing in Bangladesh. This has prompted various players to set up turkey-rearing farms. There are over 40 commercial turkey farms in Gazipur district alone. According to the Bangladesh Turkey Farmers Community (BTFC), there are around 600 small and medium-sized commercial turkey farms across the country. Buyers from different super shops and restaurants of the cities have established business contracts with those farms and buy turkey meat. Turkey consumption today makes it a festive food, but we would like to change that perception, and make it as much a staple diet as possible. With a distinct change in their lifestyles, consumers are seeking variety. Turkey meat is a highly nutritional product, said Jillur Rahman Chowdhury, the owner of a turkey-rearing farm. Chowdhury has a large turkey farm in Naogaon district. His farm is situated over a 30-katha plot of land there. People from different districts come to his farm to buy turkey. He said turkey breeding is potentially more viable than conventional poultry farming. The risk of disease among these birds is also less compared to other poultry and expenditure on medicines and vaccination per bird is also negligible, he said. Since it has lower cholesterol and fat and higher protein content than any other white meat, turkey meat should enjoy great demand in the market, he added. Poultry and beyond Chowdhury said the business of rearing turkey is similar to the farming of other poultry birds like ducks, quails, etc. But it is easy to raise turkeys in comparison with other poultry birds. This is because these birds are very familiar with humans, said Chowdhury. Small farmers can start a marvellous business plan. They can achieve much success within a short period of time. These can be grown easily in the free-range system and under semi-intensive rearing system, he said. When making shelters for them, capital inputs and equipment requirements are lower than in the farming of other poultry birds, he added. Mohammed Shakhawat Hossain, a turkey bird farmer in Sukhondi area of Gazipur city, said he started his farm with 45 turkey chicks in 2017. In just nine months, I started selling chicks and eggs. He said there are currently 215 big turkey birds and 100 chicks in his farm. He gets 25 to 30 eggs per day. Hossain said many people, especially youths and housewives, are building farms after taking eggs and chicks from him. People come from Gazipur city and surrounding areas everyday to pick up eggs, chicks and advice on turkey farming. Hossain said that he sells each egg for Tk. 300 and a day-aged chick for Tk. 600. One pair of chicks (one month old) is sold for Tk. 2,200, and at two months, a pair can be sold for Tk. 3,000. He noted that housewives have greater interest in establishing turkey farms. Shahin Mollah, a turkey farmer from Faridpur Sadar upazila, said that he started farming turkeys about two years ago with Tk. 20,000. Now his capital is over Tk. 4 lakh. I sell turkey eggs and meat. I sell four eggs for Tk. 800 to Tk. 1,000. Turkey meat is being sold for Tk. 500 to Tk. 550 per kg in the market. Turkey farming is more profitable than poultry farming, observed Mollah. Dip Roy of BTFC said turkey farming has a relatively quicker yield. After a chick is raised from the egg, an adult turkey bird starts laying eggs in seven months and continuously lay eggs for the next five years. He said turkeys grow very fast within a short time. Currently, every kilogram of turkey meat in the market is being sold at Tk. 500 to Tk. 550. In five months, the weight of a turkey bird is five to six kg. Hence, its market value is well over Tk. 3,000 to Tk. 3,500. High profits Dr Mohammed Habibur Rahman, Professor of Pathology at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University of Mymensingh, told The Independent that turkeys can be well managed, if they are fed chick mash. They should use a water drinker covered with green paper so that they can recognise the water pot. The young may grow well by feeding grower mash up to four months and a mixture of commercial pigeon feed with plenty of vegetables. I also suggest giving them maize crush, kitchen waste and neem leaves as greens to clear their nose, said Dr Rahman. He, however, pointed out that turkeys consume more vegetables than chickens and suffer many undiagnosed diseases. Turkeys are delicate and require tender care. They need constant watch in the first few weeks to reduce mortality, he said. Regarding the benefits of turkey meat, he said these birds have whiter and leaner meat, which has less fat. The meat has an even more delicious flavour after they are three months old, when they are strong and robust. Govt support Meanwhile, to empower small and marginal farmers through backyard farming, the government is looking at the hatching of turkeys to boost the rural economy. Bangladesh Bank (BB) announced in July last year that banks and other non-banking financial organisations will provide loans to aspiring turkey farmers. The loan would be up to Tk. 12.5 lakh for rearing 1,000 turkeys. I hope more people come forward to rear turkeys. Its not only a profitable business but also a solution to the problem of relatively lower amounts of protein consumption in our country, Dr Rahman said.