"Peas" A 39-pound Broad Breasted White tom

The Broad Breasted White is commercially the most widely used breed of domesticated turkey. These birds have shorter breast bones and larger breasts, sometimes rendering them unable to breed without human assistance (typically via artificial insemination).[1] They produce more breast meat and their pin feathers are less visible when the carcass is dressed due to their white color. These properties have made the breed popular in commercial turkey production but enthusiasts of slow food argue that the development of this breed and the methods in commercial turkey production have come at a cost of less flavor.

These birds are grown in large, fully automated grow-out barns, which may house as many as 10,000 birds. The growing process for these birds has been so well refined, the birds often grow to larger than 40 lbs. Average birds are typically 38-40 lbs. Because of their size, predilection for overeating, and sedentary personalities,[2] they are flightless and prone to health problems associated with obesity, such as heart disease, respiratory failure and joint damage; even if such turkeys are spared from slaughter (such as those involved in the annual turkey pardons), they usually have short lives as a result.[3] Broad Breasted Whites also have a very high percentage of their eggs hatch, which makes turkey eggs as a food item a rare delicacy.[4][5]

References

  1. "Preserving Historic Turkey Breeds in Kansas". NPR.org.
  2. Gendreau, Henri (November 30, 2019). "'They eat quite a bit': Post-pardon, the real lives of Virginia Tech's presidential turkeys". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  3. Fox, Lauren (November 23, 2011). 2010 Turkeys Pardoned By Obama Died This Year. U.S. News. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  4. Cecil Adams (6 March 1998). "Why can't you buy turkey eggs in stores?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  5. Kasey-Dee Gardner (November 18, 2008). "Why? Tell Me Why!: Turkey Eggs". DiscoveryNews. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

See also


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