Heritage Turkey Breeds
With the rise of commercial turkey breeds, there has been a decline in the number of heritage breeds that used to be reared in the past for their meat. Most heritage turkeys cannot compete with modern ones that have higher meat production rates.
However, heritage turkeys possess several noteworthy advantages. They can reproduce naturally, live relatively longer, and, according to some food critics and chefs, taste better than industrially bred turkeys. This has led to an increased interest in rearing these turkeys, but most of them are at risk, with an estimated 25,000 total heritage turkeys left (in contrast, there are more than 200,000,000 commercially reared turkeys).
List of Rare Heritage Turkey Breeds
| Turkey Breed | Origin | Weight (in lbs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn | United States, specifically Philadelphia | Male: 35 Female: 19 |
| Beltsville Small White | United States | Male: 15 Female: 9 |
| Bourbon Red | United States | Male: 33 Female: 18 |
| Blue Slate | United States | Male: 33 Female: 18 |
| Bronze | United Kingdom | Male: 38 Female: 22 |
| Jersey Buff | United States, specifically New Jersey | Male: 28 Female: 18 |
| Midget White | United States | Male: 13 Female: 10 |
| Narragansett | United States, specifically New England | Male: 28 Female: 16 |
| Norfolk Black | United Kingdom | Male: 23 Female: 14 |
| Royal Palm | United States | Male: 22 Female: 12 |
| White Holland | In the Netherlands, however, this is unclear | Male: 33 Female: 18 |
FAQs
The Bourbon Red is believed to have the most flavorful meat out of all heritage turkeys.
Heirloom turkeys are generally a cross between modern and heritage turkeys to imbibe some of the properties of the heritage breed in the modern breed.
Yes, heritage turkeys are actually better than modern turkeys at grazing and free ranging. However, heritage turkeys are more likely to fly away than modern breeds, so raising them on a free range carries some risk. Also, free range turkeys risk being attacked by predators like foxes, feral dogs and cats, and birds of prey like eagles, falcons, and hawks.
