Hormel Foods Corp. subsidiary Jennie-O Turkey Store was hit hard by the avian flu toward the latter half of Hormel’s fiscal second quarter; however, Jennie-O’s profit still rose 41 percent in the quarter and accounted for 19 percent of sales, the company reported Wednesday.

Hormel CEO and President Jeffrey Ettinger said Wednesday that 55 farms thus far have been closed because of the effects of avian flu, which will affect Jennie-O’s outlook in the second half of the year. In addition, Hormel expects to buy turkey from other suppliers, which will further affect its Jennie-O profits.

In early may, Jennie-O announced it would lay off 233 employees at its Faribault plant because of bird flu outbreaks that have cut its turkey supply.

Read more about the Hormel’s fiscal second quarter at www.austindailyherald.com/?p=641452