average weight of domestic turkey

Posted: 12th February 2021 by in Uncategorized

Many of their behaviours are socially facilitated i.e. A document written in 1584 lists supplies to be furnished to future colonies in the New World; "turkies, male and female". The hen turkeys take 16 weeks to mature completely, and average 3.6 kg (8 lb) to 7.2 kg (16 lbs) in weight. Under ideal conditions with a well-balanced ration, a modern white hybrid turkey can reach 6 kg in weight by 10 weeks of age, with a feed conversion ratio (the ratio of the amount of feed eaten to body weight gain) of about 2:1. Their average weight ranges from 8.5 to 11 pounds. And the mature tom’s average live body weight is around 11.5 kg. Turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch. Turkeys are much more difficult to farm than broiler chickens, especially in the early stages. The … Without careful preparation, cooked turkey may end up less moist than other poultry meats, such as chicken or duck. The buildings can be very large (converted aircraft hangars are sometimes used) and may contain tens of thousands of birds as a single flock. These are normally changed at the end of each batch. The male turkey is called a tom. Permitted stocking densities for turkeys reared indoors vary according to geography and animal welfare farm assurance schemes. These are cooked half breast, breast slicing roll, frozen breast roast, cooked buffe and thigh roast. Stocking density is an issue in the welfare of commercial turkeys and high densities are a major animal welfare concern. Domestic birds bred for food only live a few months until they are the appropriate size for commercial slaughter, though breeding pairs may be kept several years. Weight: Average weight of 50–54 kg. There are two species of wild turkey: the North American Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and the Central American Ocellated Turkey (M. ocellata). Breast meat has only 1% fat. The steps of commercial turkey meat production are similar in principle to those of commercial chicken meat production. For the rest of the year, demand is for further processed products, mainly from heavy toms, such as boned or semi de-boned products. Brining makes it possible to fully cook the dark meat without drying the breast meat. Young birds perform spontaneous, frivolous running ('frolicking') which has all the appearance of play. [9] The domestic turkey was sent from England to Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. Several hens can be inseminated from each collection, so fewer toms are needed. The largest weight ever recorded for an adult turkey was over 80 pounds. Wild turkeys, while technically the same species as domestic turkeys, have a very different taste from farm-raised turkeys. [23] Insufficient space may lead to an increased risk for injuries such as broken wings caused by hitting the pen walls or other turkeys during aggressive encounters[24] and can also lead to heat stress. Turkeys are much more difficult to farm than broiler chickens, especially in the early sta… For additional historical data, dating back to the 1970s, visit the ERS Red Meat Yearbook . It can be prevented by incorporating drugs in the feed. Additionally, ground turkey is frequently marketed as a healthy ground beef substitute. While their shells are usually reddish brown in color their skin may be yellow or brown in tone. Birds are held on separate breeder farms, each farm holding up to 7,000 hens. Tukey birds – Image courtesy: http://bpdbd.net/turkey-bird/. There is a small export market for eggs to Taiwan. [citation needed], Maturing males spend a considerable proportion of their time sexually displaying. Toms require some 36 kg (80 pounds) of feed to reach a market weight of 16–19 kg (35–42 pounds) in 16–19 weeks. As a “Illustration Guide”, the table below gives you the chance to match your anticipated requirements to a turkey weight prior to ordering. Weight of U.S. turkey exports to Canada 2011 Turkey: number of enterprises collecting, treating and supplying water 2009-2014 South Korea: value of goods exported to Turkey since FTA May 2013-2017 Traditionally, turkeys are bought at Christmas and Easter as big birds, ranging from 2.5 to 5.0 kg plus in size (dressed weight). In commercial production, breeder farms supply eggs to hatcheries. On average the dorsal exoskeleton of an adult loggerhead sea turtle measures 35 inches in length. Turkeys: Behavior, Management and Well-Being. After several days, the pens are removed, allowing the birds access to the entire rearing shed, which may contain tens of thousands of birds. The tom turkey takes approximately 19 weeks to mature and weighs between 7.2 kg (16 lbs) and 10.8 kg (24 lbs). pp. The breed standard indicates that mature Bourbon Red toms (males) weigh 15 kilograms (33 pounds), and mature hens (females) weigh 8.2 kilograms (18 pounds). Turkeys are sometimes decorated with turkey frills prior to serving. The Bronze turkey is mainly raised and used for meat production. When visiting Istanbul, it will be helpful to know a bit about the system of measurement, temperature and clothing size.You can read below and find weights and measures, clothes and shoes size in Turkey, including conversion charts and … With the availability of refrigeration, whole turkeys could be shipped frozen to distant markets. Commercial turkeys are bred specifically to have more meat in the breast and thighs. Commercial turkey breeding hens produce only about 45 live poults (chicks) each year. A high-pitched trill indicates the birds are becoming aggressive which can develop into intense sparring where opponents leap at each other with the large, sharp talons, and try to peck or grasp the head of each other. It’s of an early mastiff kind with a solid, pale tan or sable coat, ... territorial and defensive of the domestic animals or the human family to which it has bonded. If the average U.S. man weighs 195.7 pounds and stands 5 feet 9 tall, then his BMI is 28.9. [37], James G. Dickson, National Wild Turkey Federation (U.S.), United States. The main commercial turkey used in Australia is the hybrid white bird which are the progeny of specially selected male and female parent stock. The Bronze turkeys are strong and hardy birds. Approximately 45 – 60 poults are produced from each hen annually. They are a type of poultry that belong to the order Galliformes, along with chickens. In 12–14 weeks a hen turkey eats about 16 kg (35 pounds) of feed and reaches 6–9 kg (14–20 pounds). ‘Further processing’ of turkey portions is enabling the processor to attract a larger share of the consumer’s budget. Later advances in disease control increased production even more. Straw, wood shavings and sawdust are the bedding materials used. Older heritage breeds also differ in flavor. Female, as a rule, weigh no more than 4 kg. A domestic turkey weighs about twice what a wild turkey weighs. Adults can recognise 'strangers' and placing any alien turkey into an established group will almost certainly result in that individual being attacked, sometimes fatally. In commercial production, breeder farms supply eggs to hatcheries. By 2006 that figure had risen to 28.2 pounds , and by 2012 it was 30.8 pounds . The average lifespan of a wild turkey is 3-5 years, and the oldest known wild turkey lived to be at least 13 years old. Individuals being re-introduced after separation are often immediately attacked again. To encourage feeding, they may be kept under constant light for the first 48 hours. Information on breeding and keeping of turkeys for small backyard producers can be found at The PoultrySite, which contains an article written by Gerry Bolla, NSW Agriculture Livestock Officer (Poultry). The plant began operating in 2007. Commercial turkeys are normally reared in single-sex flocks. The White Holland turkey is showy in appearance, with snow white feathers and a red to bluish head. Female domestic turkeys are referred to as hens, and the chicks may be called poults or turkeylings. Most are ground into a protein source for ruminant animal feed, which are able to digest the protein keratin of which feathers are composed. A hen may lay over 100 eggs/year but fewer than 90 poults will probably survive to processing weight from these eggs. Long photoperiods combined with low light intensity can result in blindness from buphthalmia (distortions of the eye morphology) or retinal detachment. [citation needed], Recent genome analysis has provided researchers with the opportunity to determine the evolutionary history of domestic turkeys, and their relationship to other domestic fowl. Although turkey is reputed to cause sleepiness, holiday dinners are commonly large meals served with carbohydrates, fats, and alcohol in a relaxed atmosphere, all of which are bigger contributors to post-meal sleepiness than the tryptophan in turkey. [citation needed] As this is a potential supply of natural fibers, research has been conducted at Philadelphia University's School of Engineering and Textiles to determine textile applications for feather fibers. Turkeys have wingspans of 1.5–1.8 meters (almost 6 feet) and male turkeys have a distinctive fleshy appendage that hangs from the beak, called a snood. This behaviour is considered to be re-directed foraging behaviour, caused by providing poultry with an impoverished foraging environment. The vast majority of turkeys are reared indoors in purpose-built or modified buildings of which there are many types. Rations generally include corn and soybean meal, with added vitamins and minerals, and is adjusted for protein, carbohydrate and fat based on the age and nutrient requirements. If a male is inadvertently placed in a female flock, he may be aggressively victimised (hence the term 'henpecked'). Frequent monitoring is therefore essential, particularly of males approaching maturity. [12], Turkey production in the UK was centered in East Anglia, using two breeds, the Norfolk Black and the Norfolk Bronze (also known as Cambridge Bronze). [18] Commercial turkeys are kept under a variety of lighting schedules, e.g. The main challenges in the industry include environmental control, egg production consistency, brooding of poults, litter management due to caking and aggravated by drinking water spillage. [citation needed]. In general, the average life expectancy for hens is three years and four years for toms. Throughout, the birds strut slowly about, with the neck arched backward, their breasts thrust forward and emitting their characteristic 'gobbling' call. [3] The Latin species name gallopāvō means "chicken peacock". When this occurs in small enclosures or environments with few opportunities to escape, the outcome is often fatal and rapid. Aggression increases in frequency and severity as the birds mature. Turkey meat is eaten year round in the US and is the traditional dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The skin of the head, neck and caruncles (fleshy nodules) becomes bright blue and red, and the snood (an erectile appendage on the forehead) elongates, the birds 'sneeze' at regular intervals, followed by a rapid vibration of their tail feathers. White, hybrid turkeys are used almost exclusively and, as elsewhere, artificial insemination is practised rather than natural mating. These would be driven as flocks, after shoeing, down to markets in London from the 17th century onwards - the breeds having arrived in the early 16th century via Spain. The value of a single turkey egg is estimated to be about US$3.50 on the open market, substantially more than a single carton of one dozen chicken eggs.[32][33]. The breast of the turkey can be dipped in breadcrumbs as an alternative to chicken nuggets. Breast meat has only 1% fat. The carcass size is relevant because it is a driver of income. Breast meat is 70% of the carcass value and 73% of carcass yield followed by thigh meat (13%). [citation needed] Females in male groups will be repeatedly mated, during which it is highly likely she will be injured from being trampled upon. The domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo domesticus) is a large fowl, one of the two species in the genus Meleagris and the same species as the wild turkey. [11] In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843), Bob Cratchit had a goose before Scrooge bought him a turkey. Special Notes. Hens are slaughtered at about 14–16 weeks and toms at about 18–20 weeks of age when they can weigh over 20 kg (44 lb) compared to a mature male wild turkey which weighs approximately 10.8 kg (24 lb). [14], Young domestic turkeys readily fly short distances, perch and roost. These breeds include the bronze standard – the weight of the turkey is 8-9 kg, the turkey – 5-6 kg, the virgin – turkey has a mass of 9, and the turkey is 6 kg. 847-849. The thin end of the tail bends twice on the main part and forms an S-shaped curve. If turkeys are to feed, drink, dust-bathe, etc., simultaneously, then to avoid causing frustration, resources and space must be available in large quantities. For example, in Germany, there is a voluntary maximum of 52 kg/m2 and 58 kg/m2 for males and females respectively. Forest Service, Sherwin, C.M., (2010). This is necessary because the dark meat requires a higher temperature to denature all of the myoglobin pigment than the white meat (which is very low in myoglobin), so that fully cooking the dark meat tends to dry out the breast. Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) from The World Bank: Data The average weight of an adult turkey is 15 pounds. [21] Turkeys maintained at commercial stocking densities (8 birds/m2; 61 kg/m2) exhibit increased welfare problems such as increases in gait abnormalities, hip and foot lesions, and bird disturbances, and decreased bodyweight compared with lower stocking densities. The great majority of domestic turkeys are bred to have white feathers because their pin feathers are less visible when the carcass is dressed, although brown or bronze-feathered varieties are also raised. Demand for whole turkeys is mainly at Christmas and is usually for the smaller birds of 4.5 – 6.5 kg live weight. Common in the Southern U.S. and France before the Civil War. Information on the commercial chicken meat production can be found under breeding chickens, breeder farm sequence and meat chicken farm sequence. "Discovered in Turkey Eggs: Parthenogenesis". Average cow weight at slaughter can therefore be on any point of the spectrum of this range of weights. The English-language name for this species results from an early misidentification of the bird with an unrelated species which was imported to Europe through the country of Turkey. Free range turkeys, commanding a premium price, are produced on a few small farms. The males are chosen for their body conformation and fast growth rate while the females are chosen for their lack of broodiness, egg-production ability, and growth rate. Israel has the highest turkey meat per capita consumption of 11.25 kg, while for Australia this figure is 0.83 kg. Researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have patented a method of removing the stiff quill from the fibers which make up the feather. I want everyone to understand that a lean donkey is a good thing. … The Australasian Turkey Federation has over 20 members. [34], White turkey meat is often considered healthier than dark meat because of its lower fat content, but the nutritional differences are small. [26] Commercially reared turkeys also perform head-pecking, which becomes more frequent as they sexually mature. Reasons for this include the comparative scale of production, differences in seasonal demand, the cost of feed, and cheap labour. As with many galliform species, the female (hen) is smaller than the male (tom or stag), and generally less colourful. Commercial turkeys show a wide diversity of behaviours including 'comfort' behaviours such as wing-flapping, feather ruffling, leg stretching and dust-bathing. continuous light, long photoperiods (23 h), or intermittent lighting, to encourage feeding and accelerate growth. ", "Researcher talks turkey on Thanksgiving dinner droop", "Turkey-Manure Power Plant Raises Stink with Environmentalists", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domestic_turkey&oldid=1001462872, Native American cuisine of the Southeastern Woodlands, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [13], Intensive farming of turkeys from the late 1940s dramatically cut the price, making it more affordable for the working classes. The flavor can also vary seasonally with changes in available forage, often leaving wild turkey meat with a gamier flavor in late summer due to the greater number of insects in its diet over the preceding months. The Standard weight for a young tom is 25 pounds and 16 pounds for a young hen. Global turkey meat production is about 5.7 m tonnes/year. White feathered turkeys are generally preferred, since they do not have unsightly pigment spots on the skin when plucked. Approximately two billion to four billion pounds (900,000 to 1,800,000 t) of poultry feathers are produced every year by the poultry industry. Approximately 620 million turkeys are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide. [20][citation needed]. Biting Force: ... Turkey. In 1986, the average weight for a full-grown, live turkey ready to go to market was 20 pounds. [10], Prior to the late 19th century, turkey was something of a luxury in the UK, with goose or beef a more common Christmas dinner among the working classes. These behaviours become less frequent as the birds mature, but adults will readily climb on objects such as bales of straw. Toms now have so much breast meat that they are unable to mate, and as a consequence the hens are artificially inseminated. The tom carries a wattle a skin flap down the neck; below this is the carbuncle which changes colour during courtship. Photo and info from The Livestock Conservancy and Wikipedia. Around holiday seasons, high demand for fresh turkeys often makes them difficult to purchase without ordering in advance. These layers are in flocks of up to 3,000 and are held in broiler sheds, typically 4 to 5 on large farms. For the frozen variety, the large size of the turkeys typically used for consumption makes defrosting them a major endeavor: a typically sized turkey will take several days to properly defrost. While some pure breeds of turkey are maintained by poultry fanciers, the turkeys raised commercially for meat are specially bred hybrids (a cross between two or more different breeds). As mentioned earlier, the average weight for a group of people is not the same as a healthy weight. Breast meat is 70% of the carcass value and 73% of carcass yield followed by thigh meat (13%). After 28 days of incubation, the hatched poults are sexed and delivered to the grow-out farms; hens are raised separately from toms because of different growth rates. [25] The problems of small space allowance are exacerbated by the major influence of social facilitation on the behaviour of turkeys. Per two large studies, the average weight of adult males is 7.6 kg (17 lb) and the average weight of adult females is 4.26 kg (9.4 lb). Injuries to the head receive considerable attention from other birds, and head-pecking often occurs after a relatively minor injury has been received during a fight or when a lying bird has been trodden upon and scratched by another. This page was last edited on 19 January 2021, at 20:00. Last Updated on January 3, 2021. The yarns were tested for strength while the fabrics were evaluated as insulation materials. Rainbow Valley Turkeys, a major grower, produces about 650,000 turkey eggs/year. [citation needed], Domestic turkeys were taken to Europe by the Spanish. Average live body weight of the mature Bronze hens is around 7.25 kg. Feather pecking occurs frequently amongst commercially reared turkeys and can begin at 1 day of age. Wild Turkeys (full grown) Weight: Males 8-24 pounds (3.6-11 kg), females 7-16 pounds (3.2-7.2 kg) Male domestic turkeys have been known to get as heavy as 86 pounds (40 kg). The dominant commercial breed is the Broad-Breasted Whites (similar to the "White Holland", but a separate breed), which have been selected for size and amount of meat. The height of a bobcat is approximately 20 inches, and they are 30-50 inches long. Before beginning your operation, you should examine your objectives for producing turkeys; this will help ensure your success. The Bourbon Red is a breed of domestic turkey named for its unique reddish plumage and for Bourbon County, Kentucky. Turkey meat is eaten year round in the US and is the traditional dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Although the species usually reaches an average weight of 298 pounds some loggerhead sea turtles have been found in excess of 1,000 pounds. Larger tom turkeys may weigh up to 18.1 kg (40 lbs), but take a few more weeks to mature. [27][28] Breeders' meat is too tough for roasting, and is mostly used to make processed meats. Marcel Dekker. In fabric form, as the percentage of turkey feather fibers increased, the heat retention capability of the fabric increased. Turkey feather fibers have been blended with nylon and spun into yarn, and then used for knitting. In "The Encyclopaedia of Animal Science". Although birds which are available nowadays may be smaller than this. Very early mortality can be high and may be related to hatchery hygiene, which results in yolk sac and navel infection and refusal to eat and/or drink. Whilst in the pens, feed is made widely accessible by scattering it on sheets of paper in addition to being available in feeders. In Australia, the larger hatcheries supply contract growers while there are some smaller hatcheries which provide day-old turkey poults to backyard poultry keepers. [citation needed], The domestic turkey is the eighth largest living bird species in terms of maximum mass at 39 kg (86 lbs). Modern turkey breeding and farming practices have significantly reduced both the amount of feed and the time required to produce a pound of turkey meat. Ultraviolet-reflective markings appear on young birds at the same time as feather pecking becomes targeted toward these areas, indicating a possible link. At least one large producer has no breeding flocks and purchases eggs for incubation and all large producers have contract growers. Livestock & Meat Domestic Data Most recent tables from Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook . The undomesticated turkey (Melagris ocellata) can still be found there in remote areas. Although domesticated over 500 years ago, it was only in the 20th century that turkeys were exploited for their meat. There are five dedicated processing plants and approximately six that process turkeys and chickens. In the UK, it is common to rear chicks in the following way. The live weight of an adult turkey turkey on average is 6.5 kg. In the United States, the males are referred to as toms, while in the United Kingdom and Ireland, males are stags. The domestic turkey is a popular form of poultry, and it is raised throughout temperate parts of the world, partially because industrialized farming has made it very cheap for the amount of meat it produces. On an average, an adult hen weights about 16 pounds and a tom can reach about 25 pounds. A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat. In the wild, turkeys range from 5 … Unlike chicken, duck, and quail eggs, turkey eggs are not commonly sold as food due to the high demand for whole turkeys and the lower output of turkey eggs as compared with other fowl. Turkey meat, especially whole birds, is expensive in Australia compared to the US where it competes favourably with broiler meat. Lifespan: Average lifespan of 10 – 12 years. In some areas, particularly the American South, turkeys may also be deep fried in hot oil (often peanut oil) for 30 to 45 minutes by using a turkey fryer. Average weight of the tail is from 4 to 6 kg; it can be as heavy as 25 kg in some mature rams. The Aztecs used turkeys as a source of protein (meat and eggs) and used the feathers for decoration. The colour is white with black around the nose, and rarely around the eyes and on the legs. Cinnamon rabbits are domestic breeds developed in the US in 1962. [citation needed]. The consumer can now buy over sixty different cuts of turkey and further processed turkey products such as turkey hams, steaks and sausages (smoked and broiled). Mature toms are too large to achieve natural fertilization without injuring the hens, so their semen is collected, and hens are inseminated artificially. The Aztecs associated the turkey with their trickster god Tezcatlipoca,[5] perhaps because of its perceived humorous behavior. The tom carries a ‘wattle’ – a skin flap down the neck; below this is the carbuncle which changes colour during courtship.

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