The study presented today by Federal Minister Rudolf Anschober on animal welfare-compliant turkey farming in Austria confirms BILLA's pioneering role in the domestic food trade. With its clear commitment to 100 percent fresh meat quality from Austria, BILLA is proud to have already closed the gap in fresh turkey meat last year. Since spring 2020, turkey meat from exclusively Austrian production has been available in all 1,100 BILLA shops and in the online shop. In close cooperation with the Austrian poultry producers and the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, the supply security of domestic quality meat products can thus be guaranteed. In addition to making such an important contribution to Austrian agriculture, the change of range is also a clear signal of the value of this quality product, which is produced according to high animal welfare standards and is therefore of higher value.
Background on turkey farming in Austria
In recent years, the degree of self-sufficiency in turkey meat has fluctuated between 40 and 50 percent. The main reason for this is the very high animal welfare standards with which Austria's poultry producers work in comparison to the rest of the EU: Turkeys in Austria have up to 70 percent more space available, which also contributes significantly to the health of the animals. The stocking density per m² for turkeys in Austria is limited by law to 40 kg, whereas this value is significantly higher in almost all EU countries or is not regulated by law at all. Not least due to these different competitive conditions, the degree of self-sufficiency in turkey meat has fallen markedly since Austria's accession to the EU. (Source: ZAG -Zentrale Arbeitsgemeinschaft der österr. Geflügelwirtschaft)
