Science and the Thanksgiving Turkey
Saturday November 22, 2008
Thanksgiving is time to give thanks and eat turkey. The National Turkey Federation estimates that over ninety-five percent of Americans will eat turkey this Thanksgiving. For several decades researchers have been using science to build a better Thanksgiving turkey. These techniques involve selective breeding and nutrition management.
Many people assume that those big twenty pound turkeys in the grocery stores are a result of hormone injections. This is not the case. Today's big turkeys owe their size to the incorporation of a special diet, vaccinations, and selective breeding. Turkeys with the desired characteristics (big breast muscles) are bred, passing along their genes to their offspring.
Many people assume that those big twenty pound turkeys in the grocery stores are a result of hormone injections. This is not the case. Today's big turkeys owe their size to the incorporation of a special diet, vaccinations, and selective breeding. Turkeys with the desired characteristics (big breast muscles) are bred, passing along their genes to their offspring.
Comments
That’s absolutely correct. Seems in recent years to have become the American way…expect the worse from corporations. Glad to know that the expensive, “hormone free, free range” ones that cost double are a waste of money. No pity for the turkeys that paid the high pricre though!