Thanksgiving turkeys cost more than ever after bird flu wipeout

The worst-ever outbreak of avian flu earlier this year is leading to record prices for Thanksgiving turkeys in the U.S.

More than eight million market turkeys were eliminated in the epidemic, leading to a five-year low in production and a 21 percent jump in retail prices for smaller-sized birds due to the limited supply, according to Bloomberg Business.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates birds at the time of slaughter weighed 29.7 pounds as of September, a 2.8 percent drop from nearly 30.6 pounds at the same time last year and a record low for the month since 1973.

Despite the drop, Butterball LLC, which accounts for roughly one quarter of all turkeys sold in the holiday season, expects to sell the same number of turkeys as last year – roughly 20 million. Americans reportedly will consume 49 million turkeys on Nov. 26, or about 20 percent of the annual total.

Read more from Bloomberg Business.