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 $442.6 million in 2022, contributing 0.5% of cash receipts from agricultural operations in Canada.
  • Overall, in 2022, the 513 regulated turkey producers in Canada produced 150 million kilograms of turkey (eviscerated weight), 48% of which was produced in Ontario.
  • Canada also counted 41 turkey primary processing establishments, of which 17 are federally inspected, along with many further processors who depend on supply of turkey for a portion of their business.
  • Turkey consumption continues to be affected by changes in demographic and consumption habits. Per capita disappearance of turkey in 2022 was at 3.3 kilograms, 8% below 2021.
  • 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 products imports in 2022 totalled 6.6 million kilograms, valued at $38 million, and mostly originating from United States, Chile, and Poland.
  • Over the same year, 25.5 million kilograms of turkey meat and meat products, worth more than $83 million, were exported to 36 countries, with the largest importers being the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Benin.
  • Canada is an important player in turkey genetics. In 2022, Canada exported 8 million poults worth $28.7 million to 8 countries. The United States was the largest market, followed by the Philippines, and Guatemala.
  • In 2022, the Canadian commercial poultry and egg industry was affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza with over 7.6 million birds affected in 9 provinces. The turkey industry was one of the sectors most affected.

Statistics

Canadian federally registered plants and stations

Publications

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

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