Live Turkey Poults, 185 g or Less

The 185 g cutoff corresponds closely to the weight of a day-old turkey poult, so virtually all commercially traded poults qualify under this heading. Birds that have been held beyond the first day or two post-hatch may approach or exceed this threshold, potentially shifting classification to a different heading. Accurate weight documentation at time of export is important to avoid classification disputes at the port of entry.

Because Canada dominates supply of live turkey poults to the US, any APHIS-imposed import suspension due to an avian influenza outbreak in a Canadian province can severely disrupt grow-out schedules for US turkey producers. Risk mitigation strategies include maintaining relationships with multiple Canadian hatcheries in geographically distinct regions, monitoring APHIS regionalization determinations in real time, and building buffer inventory where biosecurity protocols permit.