Turkeys Raised Down 3 Percent from 2004 - US - The preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States during 2005 is 256 million, down 3 percent from the number raised during 2004., report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The following six States are expected to account for about two-thirds of the turkeys produced in the United States during 2005:

• Minnesota, at 44.5 million birds, is expected to raise the largest number of any state, showing a 2 percent decrease from last year.

• North Carolina ranks second with 36.0 million birds, down 8 percent from 2004.

• Arkansas is in third place by producing 29.0 million birds, 2 percent more than a year ago.

• Virginia, at 21.0 million birds is up 7 percent from 2004.

• Missouri growers expect to produce 20.5 million birds in 2005, down 5 percent from the previous year.

• California expects to raise 15.1 million turkeys, 4 percent less than a year earlier.

Turkeys Raised Estimates

Survey Procedures: Survey data for the turkeys raised estimate are collected from a list of contractors and independent growers during December. States use all known sources of producer names to ensure that the list is as complete as possible. Turkey producers are then contacted either by mail, telephone, or in person. Diligent effort is made to ensure that all operations are accounted for in the estimate.

Estimation Procedures: Turkeys raised estimates include young turkeys intended for meat production, as well as breeder turkeys which reached maturity during the calendar year. These estimates exclude turkeys lost to disease or those destroyed. Placements of turkey poults from the Monthly Turkey Hatchery Survey provide the basis for the preliminary estimates published in August. Final estimates, published in January, use indications from the December Growers Survey in addition to updated hatchery data. Other indications for the final estimates are obtained from monthly slaughter totals and check-off data provided by individual State turkey or poultry associations.

Generally, individual State data are not published if there are less than three operations in a State, or if any one operation has 60 percent or more of the total turkeys in the State. These data are combined into the "Other States" category.

Reliability: Turkeys raised estimates are based on a census of known active producers and, therefore, have no sampling variability. However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

Revision Policy: Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when preliminary raised estimates are made in August. Revisions are primarily based on updated hatchery and slaughter data, and at the U.S. level, are usually less than one-half of one percent of the final estimate published in January. Estimates are also reviewed after data from the Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions are made after that date.

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Source: USDA NASS - Turkeys Raised Report - 24th August 2005