What Enterprise is Sustainable for Me?
Turkey
To evaluate how well this enterprise aligns with your farm's agronomic, marketing, financial and management resources, answer these five questions. Then, calculate your score.
Using a scale from 0 to 100, scores indicate your farm's likely success with an enterprise.
The following questions are relevant to pasture-raised production.
The icons link to resources you can use to answer these questions.
QUESTIONS
HELP ME ANSWER THIS
1. Young poults can’t regulate their temperature well. Therefore, to keep the young birds warm and healthy, turkey producers must set up a brooder and carefully manage the temperature and other conditions, such as ventilation and cleanliness, in it. Do you have the management know-how and are you willing to closely monitor and manage the brooder?
Yes
No
No
2. When producing pasture-raised turkeys, the outdoor space should not have standing water or mud and not have had other turkeys raised there in the previous two years. Do you have access to pasture that meets these criteria?
Yes
No
No
3. Compared with other pasture-raised poultry, turkeys typically have a higher market price because they weigh more, take longer to grow and involve greater production costs. Have you gauged whether a sufficient market exists for the flock size in which you’re interested in raising? Are you willing to develop processing and storage capacity if a market only exists for dressed turkeys?
Yes
No
No
4. Mortality rates can be high when raising turkeys. Do you have the financial means to invest in the appropriate feed rations, watering systems and predator and disease control practices to keep your birds healthy?
Yes
No
No
5. Although good-quality pastures provide turkeys with an opportunity to forage for insects and plant material, the flock still needs supplemental feed and clean water to ensure it meets its nutritional needs. Do you have the financial means and management know-how to rotate turkeys among good-quality pastures and supplement their diets with clean water and a feed ration that delivers the appropriate protein content, vitamins, trace minerals and probiotics throughout their lives?
Yes
No
No
Your ResultsX
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Respond to the questions for an enterprise. Each question touches on a key factor that affects an enterprise's sustainability on your farm.2 of 3
Icons to the side of questions direct to other decision tools that share detailed information about a question's topic.3 of 3
After completing all questions for an enterprise, calculate your score. A pop-up page will share your results. Scores closer to 100 suggest the enterprise would align well with your farm. Scores closer to 0 suggest the enterprise would not fit as well, based on your responses to the questions.