| Turkey breeding is highly developed in the UK, USA and Canada, where the production of turkey meat is carried out, mainly, on an industrial basis. The intensive method of managing turkey farming allows to rear turkeys in any climatic conditions. Major specialized turkey farming economies are created, where up to 400 000 young birds per year are reared for meat. Broiler turkey poults are reared by intensive methods in cages or in deep litter without using pastures. Birds are fed with completely dry mixed fodders, which are constantly in automatic feeders. The premises are equipped with automatic drinking bowls. The distribution of fodder, cleanliness of the premises and other laborious processes are mechanized. The consumption of mixed fodder per 1 kg growth of a turkey is 3.5 - 4 kg. Cross breeds and hybrid birds, obtained from cross breeding and inter-strain crossing, are used in industrial turkey farming. In large farms, adult turkeys are kept in large sized poultry houses, in which the main production processes are mechanized. Genetic labs, breeding factories and breeding farms carry out turkey cross breeding works.
The most widespread turkey breeds: Broad-breasted Bronze, Beltsville, English Mini.
Interesting Turkey facts:
* The turkey, in contrast to all other domestic birds, has a very unusual skin decoration - "corals" on the head and neck, which swell and fill with blood and dramatically increase in size if it is angry or courting a turkey hen.
* A highly branched network of blood capillaries are found in the corals and hence, they are also red in color.
* Researchers still debate on why the turkey bird has such a decoration.
* An assumption of Professor P. A. Manteuffel is that, the corals are unique traps for ultra-violet rays, through which the rays enter the body of birds.
* Moreover, the turkey cannot even blink and therefore, it is an appearance of watchful guard, which watches the surroundings without blinking an eye.
* In the 17th century, the scientist Reaumur forced a turkey to swallow iron pipe. The pipe could easily withstand the pressure of 500 kg and not be destroyed. After a day, the turkey was cut and it was observed that the pipe was flattened and transformed into a sheet;
* In the 18th century, another scientist, Spallanzani, for the sake of experience, fed turkeys with glass balls. In the stomachs of turkeys, these balls were crushed to a fine powder; So, the muscular force of a turkey's stomach is high, so the turkey easily digests and grinds strong corn or cereal grains.
* American doctors recommend eating turkey in dinner, since it is believed that the meat and eggs of a turkey are a very effective remedy for insomnia and mainly harmless.
* It is also considered that the turkey liver, prepared for dinner, helps in remembering dreams.
These properties of turkey meat are explained by the occurrence of certain amino acids in the meat, which has a calming effect on a human being and also due to vitamin B6, which is especially high in turkey liver.
* It is observed that turkeys are sensitive to weather changes.
It is considered to be inclement weather if the turkeys starts plucking itself or sets its feathers.
* If the brooding turkey hen cannot come to help the young turkey poult from coming out of an egg, then the role of mother can be played by the turkey cock. Not all turkey cocks agree to do it, but sometimes, the important turkey cock dons the role of mother so well that it sits down on the nest. The fact is that the temperature of turkey cocks is less than the temperature of turkey hens, due to which hatching may be worse.
* If the turkey cock shows an incubation tendency, then not only the turkey eggs, but also eggs of a goose or chicken can be put in a separate box, meant for a turkey cock; the turkey cock hatches the eggs and takes good care of the young birds as a mother once they are out of the eggs.
* Scientists from U.S and Canada found that the DNA from turkey bones and from bone samples of fossilized excrements, found at an excavation site, belong to a period from 2 BC and till the end of 18 BC. The article about the origin of domestic turkeys was published in an online version of the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", authors being - Brian M. Kemp from University of Washington and his colleagues. After analyzing the DNA data, they came to a conclusion that the domestic turkey breeds of South West America and Central America, were raised independently from each other;
* The first evidence of domesticated turkeys belong to 800 - 100 BC. They were found in Mesoamerica – a region stretching from the center of Mexico to Nicaragua. In 180 BC, domestic turkeys were found in the Valley of Tehuacan.
* In the beginning of the16th century, Mexican turkeys were taken to Europe, where the turkeys successfully acclimatized and then their descendants were once again taken back to America. |
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Statistics show that the United States produces about 270 million turkeys a year, 30% of these turkeys are consumed by Americans during Thanksgiving. Turkeys have a sharp 270 degree vision, and are quite "sporty" birds - they run up to 20 miles per hour and fly up to 55 miles per hour. Turkeys are related to pheasants.
Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be a turkey, instead of the bald eagle. Let's pay a tribute to this bird today.
