Americans consume 46 million turkeys every Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation, and thanks to MU professor Jeff Firman’s recently developed turkey diet, the industry and consumers could save money on the traditional meal this holiday season.
Turkey prices have increased almost 8 percent since 2009, according to an MU news release. Firman’s new feed, called the Missouri Ideal Turkey Diet, has the same nutritional qualities as typical pellet feed, but at a reduction in cost per ton of eight to 10 percent, according to the release.
“Cost reduction is a critical concern in the industry,” Firman said in the release. “High feed costs pose long-term problems to the industry and make it difficult to maintain a competitive edge against other sources of protein, such as pork and chicken.”
Turkey feed is typically made with corn and soybeans, which have increased by one-third or more in price recently. If all turkey producers begin using the feed, the industry could save more than $100 million, Firman said.
Firman reduced production cost by finding the exact amount of amino acids necessary to maximize turkey growth, according to the release. He then reduced usage of more expensive proteins and increased use of less expensive grains. Producers create their own feed based on available feedstuffs with the guidance of computer-formulated diets using data from Firman’s lab.
Jim Protiva, owner of Peace Valley Poultry in West Plains, said as a small producer he does not have the resources to create the feed, but that it was something he would strive towards.
“If I could figure out a way to reduce the cost of what my turkeys eat by 8 percent to 10 percent I would try it, because my food costs have almost doubled,” Protiva said. “The lower I spend on feed, the lower I can sell my turkeys for.”
Conway turkey farmer Armand Bechard said he preferred whole grain feed over processed pellets and was not interested in trying Firman’s diet.
“We feel the industry as a whole is going down the wrong road, especially in regards to what we feed our food,” said Bechard, who owns Bechard Family Farm. “There is a rising demand for food raised humanly. There will always be people who want the cheapest food out there, but we have a theory here, ‘Pay me for food that’s done correctly or pay the doctor later.’”
Firman tested the feed by putting 800 turkeys on the diet, according to the release. He found that the birds met health targets and reached market weight within 18 to 21 weeks. Firman has made the formula available to the industry through presentations and publications.
Protiva said traditionally, free-range turkeys are sold at a high price that most in the middle class and lower classes cannot afford.
“My goal isn’t to produce a food product that only the wealthy can consume,” Protiva said. “Anything that I can do to lower my food cost, I want to try.”
