Canada's turkey industry

... at a glance

• Turkey Farmers of Canada is the national organization responsible for the production and marketing of turkey in Canada.
• Canadian turkey production generated $465.9 million in 2024, contributing 0.5% of cash receipts from agricultural operations in Canada.
• Overall, in 2024, the 504 regulated turkey producers in Canada produced 158.7 million kilograms of turkey (eviscerated weight), 45.7% of which was produced in Ontario.
• Canada also counted 43 turkey primary processing establishments, of which 16 are federally inspected, along with many further processors who depend on supply of turkey for a portion of their business.
• Canadian turkey production is supplemented by imports subject to import controls such as Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ’s), and policies pertaining to supplemental imports.
• According to Statistics Canada, turkey meat and meat product imports in 2024 totalled 2.8 million kilograms, valued at $26.2 million, and mostly originating from United States, Chile, and Isreal.
• Over the same year, 28.9 million kilograms of turkey meat and meat products, worth more than $87.3 million, were exported to 42 countries, with the largest importers being the United States, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Philippines.
• Canada is an important player in turkey genetics. In 2024, Canada exported 8 million poults worth $31.2 million to the United States.
• In 2024, the Canadian commercial poultry and egg industry was affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza with over 3 million birds affected in 6 provinces.

Statistics

• Condemnations
• Industry indicators
• Hatcheries
• Imports and exports
• Inter-provincial movements
• Prices
• Production
• Slaughter
• Storage stocks

Publications

• Codes of practice for the care and handling of farm animals - Chickens, turkeys and breeders from hatchery to processing plant
• Raising chicken and turkey broilers in Canada