Post

Poultry industry meeting demands of the consumer

The poultry industry is adjusting to what consumers are asking for.

Kim Reis is a turkey grower from central Iowa currently serving on the board of directors for the Midwest Poultry Federation.

He says the industry is gathering at MPF’s annual convention in St. Paul this week to gain a better understanding of what the consumer wants.

“Antibiotic-free, antibiotic resistance, probiotic usage, all natural; just the change of what the consumer is asking for.”

Reis tells Brownfield his farm is transitioning to antibiotic-free.

“Because that’s what the customer wanted, so we will be doing that.  But if we get into health challenge issues, we will stop the antibiotic-free and go to the conventional way of raising the bird  because we don’t want to get into an animal welfare issue.”

He says the change will require even more attention to detail.

“More day-to-day work on cleanliness of water, moving the drinkers, making sure our ventilation is perfect to the T.”

Reis says workers will be in barns every day and won’t be transferred from one farm to another to ensure that birds don’t get sick.