Turkey traders on alert for fowl play (From Western Telegraph)

Turkey traders on alert for fowl play

Pembrokeshire's turkey producers have been warned to be vigilant against raids by rustlers.

Thieves could target poultry units this week to cash in on the seasonal demand for Christmas turkeys, chickens, geese and ducks.

The Rees family at St Florence have already heeded advice issued by the Country Land and Business Association.

Brothers Peter and Mike Rees and their wives, Alison and Kerry, started processing turkeys for the Christmas trade on Saturday.

They have a good security system in place at their unit at Park Wall Farm. Their biggest concern is that old four-legged enemy, the fox.

"The last two weeks are always a worrying time because if a fox got among the turkeys and frightened them their meat might not be up to standard,'' said Peter, chairman of the Welsh Turkey Association.

The family has been producing turkeys for 18 years. They now rear poultry purely for the Christmas market, producing 500 stags for the catering trade and 2,400 hens. The stags can grow up to 40 pounds in weight. Most of the hens are sold to local butchers and to businesses who give their staff turkeys at Christmas.

The regulations governing poultry farming have changed considerably since the business started 18 years ago. Producers have to be licensed to slaughter and are also expected to meet stringent environmental and hygiene rules.

The market has also altered. "The stag market is under pressure from foreign imports but we have an advantage in the fresh meat sector,'' Peter explained.

After processing nearly 3,000 turkeys the family could be forgiven for choosing a less traditional meat for their Christmas Day roast. But, said Peter, they always sit down to a roast turkey with all the trimmings. "We try not to eat any turkey before Christmas!'' he admitted.