"...when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again."
-William Beebe

Heritage Turkeys || Heritage Chickens || Heritage Cattle || Biosecurity || Financial Resources || Getting Started || Protocols || Noah's Ark Today Educational Curriculum

Heritage Turkeys

• Heritage Turkey Definition
• ALBC Turkey Manual
• Selecting Your Best Turkeys for Breeding

ALBC Turkey Manual - How to Raise Heritage Turkeys on Pasture

So you want to raise Heritage Turkeys. You have heard about their great flavor, their healthy immune systems, and their perfect fit for pasture-based production. But where do you turn for good information on Heritage turkey production? Most of the currently available information on turkey husbandry has been written primarily for the industrial Broad Breasted turkey, and the books written for the Heritage – or Standard – turkeys are out of print. Though some information in the modern publications apply, the differences are critical to the health and management of Heritage turkeys. For instance, Heritage turkeys fly – so how do you keep them home? They have different nutritional needs, which if not met can stunt their growth and your financial return. The list goes on.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has developed a modern manual for Heritage turkeys. It pulls together the best of the historic production information appropriate for Heritage turkeys and the best of modern health management. It addresses production from poult to processing, and marketing from packaging to distribution. If you want more information, the end of each chapter contains a rich resource list.

The chapters that follow may be downloaded at no charge and reproduced for educational purposes. Hard copies may be obtained from ALBC at a charge for printing at ALBC store's poultry page.

If you have any comments, suggestions, corrections or questions please send them to: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, PO Box 477, Pittsboro, NC 27517, or contact Jeannette Beranger at 919-542-5704 x103 or jberanger@albc-usa.org.

Thanks to the many people who contributed to this manual, and especially to the Southern Region SARE Professional Development Program for funding this important project.

With best wishes to you as you explore pasture-rearing Heritage Turkeys!

• Chapter 1. Choosing a Variety and Obtaining Poults (PDF, 493K)
• Chapter 2. Brooding and Brooder Pens (PDF, 390K)
• Chapter 3. Pasturing Turkeys (PDF, 397K)
• Chapter 4. Feeds and Feeding of Free Range Turkeys (PDF, 437K)
• Chapter 5. Common Diseases and Aliments of Turkeys and Their Management (PDF, 303K)
• Chapter 6. Facilities, Shelters, and Fencing (PDF, 632K)
• Chapter 7. Health Promotion and Biosecurity (PDF, 326K)
• Chapter 8. Protecting Heritage Turkeys from Predators (PDF, 269K)
• Chapter 9. Processing and Marketing Regulations (PDF, 266K)
• Chapter 10. Value-added Considerations, Alternative Farming Systems, and Labeling (PDF, 302K)
  
• Chapter 11. Promotion, Field Days, and Tastings (PDF, 220K)
  
• Chapter 12. Connecting with Consumers – Marketing Systems and Effective Approaches (PDF, 212K)
  
• Chapter 13. Economics of Heritage Turkey Production on Range (PDF, 262K)

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