Beltsville Small White Turkey
Breed Origin: The Beltsville Small White Turkey breed was developed in the early 1930s by the United States Department of Agriculture's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland.
Uses: The Beltsville Small White Turkey was initially bred for use as a research animal and to provide a smaller, faster-growing alternative to larger commercial turkey breeds. Today, they are also popular as backyard and homestead birds for meat production, as well as for exhibition and conservation purposes.
Large Fowl: Yes, the Beltsville Small White Turkey is a large fowl breed.
Weight: The adult weight of Beltsville Small White Turkeys can vary, but they typically weigh between 4.5 to 7 kg (10 to 15 lbs) for toms and 3 to 4.5 kg (6 to 10 lbs) for hens.
Cockerel: The adult male Beltsville Small White Turkey is called a tom or a gobbler.
Hen colour: The hens have white feathers, sometimes with a few black or brown feathers on the tips of their wings or tail feathers.
Egg Colour: Beltsville Small White Turkeys lay white eggs.
Average Egg Weight: The average egg weight is around 70 to 80 grams.
Egg Quantity: The egg production of Beltsville Small White Turkeys can vary, but they typically lay around 80 to 100 eggs per year. However, they are not known for being prolific layers like some other turkey breeds.
Beltsville Small White Turkey is a unique breed of domestic turkey that is known for its small size and white feathers. In this article, we will provide an overview of the breed, including its origin, characteristics, uses, and conservation status.
The Beltsville Small White Turkey was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland, in the 1930s. The breed was created by crossing a White Holland Tom turkey with a Broad Breasted Small White turkey hen. The goal was to create a small-sized turkey breed that would be suitable for small farms and backyard flocks.
The Beltsville Small White Turkey is a small-sized turkey breed, with mature toms weighing around 6.8 kg and hens weighing around 4.5 kg. They have a broad breast, plump body, and short legs. The breed is known for its white feathers, which are soft and fluffy.
Beltsville Small White Turkeys are primarily raised for meat production. They have a high meat-to-bone ratio and are considered to have a delicious flavor. They are also known for their ability to produce high-quality eggs, which are typically white or cream in color.
The Beltsville Small White Turkey is considered to be a rare breed, with fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States. The Livestock Conservancy has listed the breed as "critical," which means that the population is at high risk of extinction. Efforts are being made to conserve the breed, and it is important to preserve these birds for future generations.
In conclusion, the Beltsville Small White Turkey is a unique breed of domestic turkey that has a small size, white feathers, and is primarily used for meat production. With its rarity and critical conservation status, it is important to raise awareness about the breed and promote efforts to preserve and protect it.
