The Broad Breasted White turkey is a breed of domestic turkey from United States. It is commercially the most widely used domesticated turkey for meat.
The breed was actually developed by crossing the White Holland and the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey. And it has become the dominant turkey breed on the market. The breed is the one that most American are familiar with.
Before development of the breed, the Broad Breasted Bronze breed held the dominant position on the turkey market. But people began to prefer the Broad Breasted White turkey during the beginning in the 1960s.
Breeders began to prefer the breed because they produced a cleaner looking carcass.
The general white turkey breed was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1874. Read some more information about this domestic turkey breed below.
Broad Breasted White Turkey Characteristics
The Broad Breasted White turkeys are large sized birds and they have been bred for providing a meaty carcass with more breast meat than any other turkey breeds.
They are generally complete white in coloration with pink legs, a black beards, and red carnucling. The poults or baby birds are generally of yellow color.
Average live body weight of the mature Broad Breasted White turkey is between 17 and 20 kg. But sometimes they can weight more.
Temperament
These turkeys are generally docile and friendly. And they can be easily handled with proper care and training.
Uses
The Broad Breasted White turkey is a meat breed. It is largely and commercially used for meat production.
Special Notes
The Broad Breasted White turkey is the most popular and widely raised breed of domestic turkey. Today these birds are highly popular throughout the world and they are excellent for meat production.
Broad Breasted White turkey is the breed raised by the commercial turkey farmers in the United States. The breed is very good for producing breast meat.
These birds have shorter breast bones and legs than other breeds and are unable to reproduce naturally. And they must be artificially inseminated.
Today the Broad Breasted White turkeys are grown in large, fully automated grow-out barns, which may house as many as 10,000 birds.
They generally can’t flight and prone to health problems associated with being overweight, because of their size (due to excess muscle). They are prone to heart disease, respiratory failure and joint damage.
They are generally short-lived birds, and they have a very high percentage of their eggs hatch. However, review full breed profile of this turkey breed in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Broad Breasted White |
| Other Names | None |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly meat |
| Special Notes | Very strong and hardy birds, docile temperament, but some birds can become aggressive, highly dependent on selection by breeder, today raised mainly for meat production, very good for producing breast meat, very productive birds and are of large size, today highly popular throughout the world, can’t flight, short-lived birds |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Tom | Around 20 kg |
| Hen | Around 17 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | Almost all climates |
| Color | White |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | United States |
Is this breed able to lay eggs for consumption?