ABOUT TURKEYS
( MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO )
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All turkeys originated in America. It is recorded that a Spanish explorer discovered turkeys on the North Coast of Venezuela in 1499 and shipped the first specimens to Spain in 1500. Sixteen years later some reached France. It is believed that the first turkeys to reach England arrived in 1821, and from there they probably came to South Africa.
NOTE:Turkeys thus did not originate in Turkey as many people think, and also not in Calcutta, India, from which the Afrikaans word “kalkoen” is derived.
(KALKUTTA se hoen=Kalkoen)
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NARRAGANSETT
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: America
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Heavy |
|
|
718 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
11kg to 18kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
8kg to 12kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
8kg to 12kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
5kg to 10kg |
|
E – F |
The Narragansett is a very old variety that originated in North America. It is coulered somewhat like a Bronze Turkey, but where the Bronze has coppery coulering the Narragansett has steely grey clouring. It is known for good meat quality, broodiness and calm disposition.
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SLATE
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: American
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Light |
|
|
714 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
7kg to 10kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
6kg to 8kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
5kg to 7kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
4kg to 6kg |
|
E – F |
The Slate turkey is believed to have evolved from crossing Norfolk Blacks, introduced to America, with the eastern wild. The breed was admitted to the American standard of Perfection in 1874. During the turn and early part of the twentieth century, the Slate and Blue turkeys were very popular at shows in Great Britain.
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NORFOLK BLACK
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Great Britain
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Medium |
|
|
702 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
9kg to 14kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
6kg to 10kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
5kg to 8kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
3kg to 6kg |
|
E – F |
The original turkey importations into Great Britain were darks and, no doubt, the first variety to be developed was the Norfolk Black in the country from which it derived its name. Specimens were shipped to America and the breed may well be claimed as the first of the domestic varieties of turkey.
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WHITE HOLLAND
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COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN: American and Holland
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Heavy |
|
|
724 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
12kg to 18kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
8kg to 13kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
7kg to 10kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
6kg to 8kg |
|
E – F |
The White turkey has been found throughout the history of the turkey, since the Aztec period. It is believed to be a sport of other breeds, where the white gene has appeared dominant. The White Holland turkey was admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1874 and the Beltsville Small White was admitted in 1951. The British White, Austrian White and White Holland have all been bred in the UK in the past and different strains have been developed for the commercial sector. May be referred to in commercial terminology as Broad Whites or Large Whites.
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AMERICAN MAMMOTH BRONZE
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Great Britain
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Heavy |
|
|
701 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
13kg to 18kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
8kg to 12kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
8kg to 12kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
5kg to 10kg |
|
E – F |
The Mammoth Bronze turkey was first developed as the Cambridge, the Norfolk Black being used in the crossing, and it became known as the Cambridge Bronze. Later importations of American Bronze turkeys resulted in crossings with the Cambridge Bronze to obtain greater size, until the name American Mammoth Bronze became generally known. In S.A. usually known as the “plaaskalkoen”.
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BELTSVILLE WHITE
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AREA OF ORIGIN: America
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Light |
|
|
700 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
7kg to 10kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
4kg to 7kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
5kg to 8kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
3kg to 5kg |
|
E – F |
This is a comparative newcomer to turkey breeds, and was developed in America to meet the consumer demand for a smaller type of bird. It rapidly achieved popularity in the States, and although adopted by British breeders has now given way to the Small White.
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BLUE TURKEY
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: America
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Medium |
|
|
704 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
11kg to 14kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
8kg to 12kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
8kg to 12kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
5kg to 8kg |
|
E – F |
This breed has been developed on the lines of the American Slate turkey. The feathers of the slate are ashy blue and may be dotted with black in any part of the plumage, whereas the blue standard calls for an even colour.
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BOURBON RED TURKEY
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AREA OF ORIGIN: America
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Heavy |
|
|
706 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
11kg-16kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
5kg-9kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
7kg-12kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
3kg-7kg |
|
E – F |
The Bourdon Red is an older American variety developed in Pennsylvania and Kentucky from crosses of Buff, Bronze and White Holland turkeys in the 1800’s. It is a large bird with primarily rich chestnut-red plumage laced in black and highlighted by some white on the wings and tail.
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BRITISH WHITE (LARGE)
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Great Britain
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Heavy |
|
|
708 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
12kg to 18kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
8kg to 13kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
7kg to 10kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
6kg to 8kg |
|
E – F |
White turkeys were bred in Europe from the early times, and the breed has been known also as the White Holland, and even the Austrian. It retains its name of White Holland in America, being standardized there as such, while there, too, producers have now developed a small Beltsville White. To distinguish the developed strains of the White variety, it is to be called the British White, as bred to the British Standard.
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BUFF TURKEY
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: America
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Medium |
|
|
712 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
10kg to 13kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
7kg to 11kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
5kg to 9kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
3kg to 7kg |
|
E – F |
In their day British breeders developed excellent strains of the Buff turkey, which were often reckoned to be one of the best layers among the various breeds. It was not aptly named as the colour is actually a deep cinnamon brown matching the colour of a dead beech leaf.
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CRoLLWITZER / ROYAL PALM
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
CATEGORY: Turkey
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Medium |
|
|
714 |
|
Old Turkey Tom |
42 |
7kg to 10kg |
|
F – G |
Old Turkey Hen |
44 |
6kg to 8kg |
|
E – F |
Young Turkey Stag |
46 |
5kg to 7kg |
|
F – G |
Young Turkey Hen |
48 |
4kg to 6kg |
|
E – F |
This is one of the most attractive breeds of turkey. The Royal Palm was developed primary for exhibition. It is a great choice for a backyard. When the tail are displayed its banded markings are breathtaking.
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