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

Publications

If you have any questions or require additional information, please send an e-mail to aafc.poultry-volaille.aac@agr.gc.ca