About 46 million turkeys are eaten around Thanksgiving in the United States every year, and Minnesota farmers play a huge role in raising these birds.
Kahina Boukherroub, an assistant professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, answers questions about turkeys in Minnesota ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Q: What role do turkeys play in Minnesota’s economy?
Prof. Boukherroub: The turkey industry plays a vital role in Minnesota’s economy. Our state proudly leads the nation in turkey production, making Minnesota the No. 1 turkey producer in the U.S. Each year, the industry contributes over $1 billion to the state’s economy and supports more than 26,000 jobs across Minnesota. About 13% of Minnesota-raised turkeys are exported around the world, which is about $104 million in turkey products to the global markets. The top destinations include Mexico, China and Canada. The industry also fuels other parts of Minnesota’s agriculture. Turkey farms use millions of dollars worth of Minnesota-grown corn and soybeans for feed. What makes our turkey industry especially unique is the large number of independent family farmers who raise turkeys, helping sustain local communities and small businesses across the state.
Q: How has turkey breeding changed over the past few decades?
Prof. Boukherroub: Over the past few decades, turkey breeding has adapted to make the bird much more sustainable, primarily by focusing on efficiency. Genetic scientists have successfully bred the modern commercial turkey to be incredibly efficient at converting its food into muscle. This focus means that a turkey today needs significantly less feed to reach market weight than its ancestors did. This efficiency is the core of the sustainability effort because using less feed directly reduces the resources needed for turkey farming. It lessens the demand for land and water to grow the feed crops and it helps decrease the overall environmental footprint and the amount of waste produced. Breeders are also now selecting for healthier, more robust birds that have stronger legs and better natural disease resistance, ensuring that the resources invested in raising the turkey are not wasted and contributing to a more sustainable and stable food supply.
Q: What are the biggest challenges our turkey producers face today?
Prof. Boukherroub: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly referred to as bird flu, remains the paramount disease in the turkey industry. This virus has essentially become endemic, serving as a major and persistent driver of economic losses and industry strain. When HPAI is detected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides indemnity and compensation to producers to offset some of the losses. Beyond avian influenza, other diseases that contribute to substantial losses and ongoing industry challenges include Avian metapneumovirus and E. coli. Unfortunately, these common but costly endemic diseases do not qualify for federal indemnity payments, meaning producers must bear the full financial burden of flock losses and treatment costs themselves, further destabilizing the market.
Q: How do scientists study turkey health and welfare?
Prof. Boukherroub: To study turkey health and welfare, scientists — especially at state land-grant universities like the University of Minnesota — don't treat turkeys like large chickens; they recognize them as unique animals with specific health needs. The experts involved include physiologists (like myself), virologists, microbiologists, immunologists and veterinarians. These researchers focus specifically on preventing diseases like bird flu, finding ways to manage outbreaks and figuring out how to make a turkey's immune system stronger through better nutrition and possibly new vaccines. A key part of their work is collaboration, meaning university experts work closely with scientists from the turkey industry to make sure their research findings are practical and can be used quickly on farms to improve the health and well-being of the birds.
Q: How does your work at the University of Minnesota help support healthy turkeys across the state?
Prof. Boukherroub: I am a physiologist specializing in the health and productivity of turkey breeder hens, the mothers that produce eggs for the commercial turkey industry. My research focuses on how the reproductive system functions, how diseases disrupt it, and how to translate this knowledge into practical solutions. I study the physiological factors that drive fertility decline as hens progress through the laying cycle, a major challenge for the industry. I also investigate how infections, such as Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza, alter the reproductive tract and reduce egg production. Another area of focus is understanding how reproductive hormones influence the immune system, making female turkeys more susceptible to disease. To address the risks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, my lab develops in vitro organoid models that replicate the structure and function of reproductive tissues, enabling safer, controlled studies to improve flock health and productivity.
Kahina Boukherroub is an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Her areas of expertise include avian reproductive physiology, avian influenza in the reproductive system and late lay infertility in breeders.