The giant turkey you just got from the grocery store probably looks quite different from what early Americans were eating for Thanksgiving dinner. Years of selective breeding and advances in commercial and industrial farming practices have resulted in turkeys that grow nearly three times the average size of previous turkeys in the early 1900s.
All added size comes with consequences. these plump turkeys I can’t fly anymore. Many of them have difficulty walking or even balancing under the weight of their huge breasts. Our common desire for bigger turkeys means that today’s birds cannot even reproduce on their own. In less than 100 years, humans have completely changed the typical American bird.
How the industry changed the “Bird of Courage”
Wild turkeys are native to North America. The first domesticated turkey, Dated to around 800 BC In south-central Mexico, wild turkeys roamed the continent long before that. In the wild, turkeys travel in large flocks (up to 50 individuals) and spend most of the day feeding. They can fly for short periods of time using about 5,000 wings. Covers about 100 yards at a speed up to 55 miles per hour. Benjamin Franklin was famously obsessed with turkeys and argued that they should be made the country’s national animal over the bald eagle. Franklin is said to have described turkeys this way.bird of courage”
That bird has changed a lot since then. said Richard Blatchford, professor of animal science at the University of California, Davis. popular science This giant-sized bird really began to take shape around World War II in response to changing consumer demand for white meat. said Gregory Archer, professor of poultry science at Texas A&M. popular science Changes in aquaculture technology at the time were the result of mass production, a growing world population (and appetite), and the invention of antibiotics and vaccines, allowing more turkeys to be grown closer together than ever before. Ta. that shift reportedly For this reason, some farmers began injecting their herds with a growth hormone called diethylstilbestrol, but the practice was quickly discontinued when it was discovered that the hormone had the following effects: . increases risk of cancer In humans. Since then, farmers have completely changed the size of turkeys through improved breeding and more efficient feeding techniques. Archer said it is currently illegal to inject commercial turkeys with growth hormones.
“It’s all just artificial selection, the same kind of thing you do with cat and dog breeds,” Blatchford says. “You create offspring, find the ones that have the best traits you’re looking for, cross them, and repeat that until you get the change you’re looking for.”
Birds with larger breasts and thighs were considered more commercially valuable, so farmers selected them for continued breeding. Over time, traits related to those characteristics were inherited and visual changes occurred. 1929 Average Turkey Reportedly weighed only 13.2 pounds. By 2013, this number had soared to 30.3 pounds, nearly tripling. All this happened quickly. Blatchford says changes in turkey size would have been noticeable within a few decades.
“This really shows how much genetic potential those birds originally had,” Blatchford said. “We just forced the expression of certain genes through artificial selection.”
Modern commercial turkeys also reach market weight in half the time of their ancestors. 2018 Papers Published in a magazine Advances in poultry welfare It is estimated that farmers can now raise 21 KG (46 lb) turkeys in just 19 weeks. The average turkey in 1960 weighed just 8 kg (17 pounds) at slaughter, the paper said.
“The reason we’ve allowed them to grow so quickly is so we can basically get enough food to feed people,” Archer said. We need to feed more people, and now more people can buy meat. ”
And it’s not just the size that has changed. Consumer demand for “pink” skin in supermarkets has led to the loss of dark plumage for generations. As a result, modern commercial turkeys can appear noticeably paler and less vibrant than wild turkeys. Mr Blatchford said most turkeys bought in supermarkets are bred to select white feathers. This is because colored feathers can leave visible pigment on the turkey’s skin.
“One of the reasons we moved away from collar dirty was because people didn’t like the quality of the carcass,” Blatchford said. “They didn’t like the look of it.”
Obese turkeys will be unable to fly or breed
This booming demand for giant turkeys is having an alarming effect on the birds’ health. The breasts have grown so large that commercial turkeys can barely fly. Many cannot even walk or balance. of Advances in poultry welfare The study cites “numerous reports” linking increased growth rates in turkeys to “skeletal abnormalities” and leg disorders. The increased weight affects the turkey’s gait and increases the risk of femur and tibia fractures, the study said. Perhaps most shockingly, the birds’ breasts are so large that it is physically impossible for them to mate alone. The large turkeys on supermarket shelves are likely all raised through artificial insemination, which is unusual for commercial poultry. Reliance on artificial insemination dates back decades and has drawn criticism from animal welfare experts.
“Animal welfare ethics is a complex of three aspects: basic veterinary health, cognitive influences, and species-typical behavior,” said Paul B. Thompson, professor emeritus of agricultural ethics at Michigan State University. ” he said. Popular science. “Birds that cannot reproduce without human help lack this last category.”
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Adding size has other side effects. the study Published in british poultry science It shows that genetic selection for rapid growth rates over generations can be “coincidentally accompanied by decreased resistance to disease or decreased immunological response.” In other words, larger birds may be more susceptible to disease. That, in turn, could motivate farmers to treat those birds with antibiotics. Other studies have shown that larger-bodied turkeys may also have more adverse reactions to stressful situations. In such situations, stress can likewise lead to a worsening of the immune response, which in turn can lead to increased susceptibility to infections. Even in relatively sterile indoor facilities, Prevents birds from building their innate immune system.
“This method also selects for strains with low mortality rates; however, the ability to resolve chronic or latent infections may be reduced,” the researchers said. written in a diary poultry science.
Demand for smaller “traditional” turkeys is growing
If any of these seem alarming, we have good news for you. Increasing animal welfare concerns and changing consumer demands have created a sizable, though still niche, market for so-called “traditional turkeys.” These miniature breeds are touted to be much more similar to wild turkeys in size and appearance than commercial turkeys. These native birds are not only lighter, but also generally live longer before being slaughtered, which some say contributes to their more unique flavor. Archer said these birds may be spending a lot of time outdoors eating and foraging on insects, which can also affect their sense of taste. Blatchford said these types of turkeys often have a much higher percentage of red and dark meat than industrial turkeys.
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Also, the price is much higher. Traditional turkeys can fetch about $4 per pound, while the average commercially raised turkey that can be purchased in stores sells for just $1 per pound. These are just a few An estimated 5.11 billion pounds of turkey meat The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects sales to occur this year, but the amount continues to increase. But while heritage turkeys are growing in popularity, unclear regulations mean it’s not always easy to determine whether the animal you’re purchasing meets the standards.
“They are [heritage breeds] Thompson says, “However, we can’t be 100% sure because this term is unregulated. The organic label does not guarantee a welfare-friendly purchase. Many certified organic turkeys have wide breasts. is.”
This story is part of Popular Science’s Ask Me Anything series, in which we answer the most outlandish and mind-blowing questions, from the mundane to the wild. Is there something you’ve always wanted to know? Please contact us.
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