Turkey producers warn of higher prices

There are less and less relatively cheap meat delicacies on the shelves of domestic grocery stores. As turkey producers warned, due to the increase in the cost of growing turkey, no later than September, we should expect a noticeable increase in prices for poultry legs and drumsticks, the growth in consumption of which in Russia last year exceeded 20%. Given that according to experts’ forecasts, prices for pork will also rise by autumn, the only joy left for Russians is how to stock up on vegetables for the winter or become vegetarians for a long time.

Outwardly, the situation with turkey production is quite optimistic. In the world ranking over the past 10 years, Russia has risen from 7th place to an honorable second. The output doubled to 485,000 tons. A little more and a little more – and we will generally break into the world leaders. Why then expect prices to rise? If everything was exactly the opposite (they reduced production and rolled back in the world rankings), then no one would have any questions. But now there are questions.

Turkey meat producers attribute their “difficult decision” to many factors. In particular, manufacturers of spare parts and equipment for poultry processing left Russia, which led to an increase in production costs. In addition, the price of hatching eggs increased by almost 20%, by the same amount of packaging materials, and by another 10% – transport services.

It is also necessary to add here that a struggle for personnel has unfolded in the labor market. 6.5%.

This prediction, however, is somehow not believable. In Russia, they do not warn about a price increase by 5-6% in advance, such quiet inflation is in full swing for all products and we have long been accustomed to it. Increase the price by one percent every day and in a week we will think that this has always been the case.

Most likely, a turkey will rise in price by at least 20 percent. That is, if today a kilogram of turkey in a store costs 400 rubles, then from September, at least, it will pull 450-480 rubles.

Turkey farmers also agree with this forecast. They see two reasons for the increase in prices announced for September. The first is related to the general inflation in the country. For the past year (12%), which still affects the results of production, and already for the current one.

The second is problems with the delivery of imported hatching eggs. Now there are Russian hatching eggs, but they have low productivity. Foreign products, according to experts, have risen in price not by 20%, but twice, to about 100 rubles a piece. Due to economic sanctions, the transportation process itself has become more complicated (mainly from the Czech Republic), and then the ruble exchange rate is falling by leaps and bounds. In a word, lovers of turkey meat will have to switch to something simpler – chicken or pork. There is no dispute about tastes, but there will be certain savings in terms of money.

Meanwhile, not everything is so simple. It is worth noting that the turkey is considered a rather capricious bird. Its profitability is higher than that of a chicken, but there are more risks with it. If one bird falls ill, the whole herd will fall (by case they are about like rabbits). Some turkeys reach a weight of 30-32 kilograms, a third of a piglet, such an individual still needs to be buried, this is not a chicken for you.

We ask a farmer near Moscow who slaughtered his turkey stock a week ago: was he in a hurry? After all, you can raise prices and make a good profit.

– I grew a bird under the order of specific people, – he answers. – Approximately 70% went to the New Year or for specific dates. But the rest of the turkeys in the free market are not easy to sell. This is not a broiler, but a carcass weighing 20-25 kilograms, not everyone will enter the oven. In general, I came to the conclusion that the turkey is not our national food. We are more inclined towards chicken or pork.

– They say that a turkey needs an eye and an eye, vaccinations, the right rigorous diet …

– An ordinary bird, I bought five-day-old young animals that were already on their feet. At the initial stage, a month and a half, it is important for him to observe the temperature regime so that it is warm. There were no problems with falling.

According to statistics, the average Russian consumes 77-78 kilograms of meat per year. Since 2013, consumption growth has been extremely slow, less than one percent per year. What can not be said about the turkey, its production has tripled over the past 10 years. At this rate, the consumption itself is small – 2.7 kilograms, about the same as lamb. Large volumes of turkey meat are used in the processing industry, in the manufacture of sausages and other products. Due to changes in the turkey market, the statistics may change, causing our compatriots to become more and more passionate about eating vegetarian dishes.