RAJSHAHI, Jan 14, 2019 (BSS) – Rearing of Turkey birds is gaining
popularity in the region as the poultry bird farming is more profitable than
other poultry farms with low farming costs and taking less space for rearing
the birds and less risk of diseases.
According to the sources, farming of the non-conventional bird has started
creating competition among poultry bird sellers in both retail and wholesale
markers.
Azizul Alam Bentu, a turkey bird farmer in Haragram area of Rajshahi city,
said farming of the bird is suitable for small and marginal farmers as it can
be easily grown in an open space or under semi-intensive system.
He said, “I started my farm with 43 turkey chicks a year ago. In nine
months, I started selling chicks and eggs.” He also said that currently there
are 365 big turkey birds, 250 chicks in his farm. He gets 75 to 80 eggs per
day.
Bentu said that many people, specially youths and housewives are building
farms taking eggs and chicks from him. Every day, people come from
neighboring areas to take eggs, chicks and advice about turkey farming.
He said one pair chick aged one month can be sold at Tk 2,000, and for two
months, it can be sold at Tk 3,000.
Ashraful Islam of Dargapara area under Bagmara Upazila has been operating a
turkey bird farm successfully. After starting the business with 45 birds,
he’s now the owner of 120 birds worth around Taka 3.5 lakh with gap of only
three to four months.
“With my curiosity, I had bought turkey chicks from Joypurhat and they
started laying eggs at the age of three months,” Islam said, adding that the
eggs are being hatched in incubator machine. “I am earning around Taka one
lakh through selling both adult birds and chicks per month,” he continued
with smiling face.
Like him, many others including youths and housewives have brought
happiness in their families through turkey birds farming in the region.
District Livestock Officer Dr Zulfikar Akhter Hossain said turkey birds
grow very fast in a short duration. Currently, every kilogram of turkey meat
in the market is being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 550.
In five months, the weight of a turkey bird stands five to six-kg, whose
market value is TK 3000 to 3500.
Besides, the expenditure of turkey farming is very low. The turkeys eat the
same foods that are available in the market for other poultry chicken.
Turkey birds also eat grass and vegetables. As a result, farmers do not
have to depend only on market’s food.
Hossain added that it can be kept in open areas. The possibility of
contracting diseases to turkey birds is less. So it needs less medicine.
Professor Dr Jalal Uddin Sarder of Department of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences in Rajshahi University said the turkey bird farming is gaining
popularity among youths and housewives in the area.
Commercial turkey farms have been developed in the city area and its
outskirts as well as different upazilas in the district. More than 70 turkey
farms have been established here in last one year. Besides, many people have
started keeping the bird in their houses in small-scale.
Dr Sarder said substantial and sustainable farming of the birds can be the
vital means of poverty reduction with ensuring the supply of safe and quality
poultry meat and eggs. Meat of turkey birds contain very low-fat, so its
consumption is good for health.