Turkey breast meat prices plunged by 53 per cent recently, despite lower hatchery and farm production.
They were driven up last year and early this year by outbreaks of highly-pathogenic avian influenza.
But the United States Department of Agriculture reported that wholesale prices for turkey breast meat hit $3.14 per pound last week, down by 53 per centtfrom its recent high.
Those prices had been hovering above $6 per pound for about nine months, the Daily Livestock Report’s analysts wrote.
Other turkey parts prices are down by 20 to 30 per cent.
Meanwhile, U,.S.D.A.’s turkey hatchery data indicates that net poult placements are down two year-over-year, instead of an anticipated increase of two to three per cent.
In 2022, turkey production was down b five per cent overall. Current forecasts for turkey production in 2023 are for an increase of three per cent providing avian flu doesn’t intervene.
