From page 29 research in your area. Approach catering companies, event organisers, butchers and supermarkets to find out if they will buy from you. Or contact produce agents who would be able to sell your birds on your behalf. All the other considerations regarding starting a smallholding-based business apply. Are you close enough to your |
markets to make it a viable business venture? Next, draw up a budget taking into account expenses such as buying breeding birds, labour, fencing, construction of housing if necessary, feed, transport costs, storage and medical expenses. Do your research on how much people will be prepared to pay per kilo, so you |
can get some idea of the possible profit. Also find out how prospective buyers expect the birds to be presented ~ does that mean you will need to slaughter and dress them on your plot? Is there a poultry abattoir in your area, will they slaughter turkeys and what do they charge? Determine what breed of turkey best suits your smallholding. There are |
POULTRY different breeds of turkey and each of them has their own particular advantages. There are some turkeys that are more heat tolerant than others, whereas there are turkeys that produce more eggs, are more fertile and hatch easier. SA poultry clubs list the following breeds as being available locally: American Mammoth Bronze, Beltsville
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Turkeys free ranging and foraging |