Benefits that Come with Heritage Breed Turkeys 

One of the defining elements of the natural world is that biodiversity is vital for ecosystem health. According to the European Commission on the Environment, “biodiversity is the key indicator of the health of an ecosystem. A wide variety of species will cope better with threats than a limited number of them in large populations. Even if certain species are affected by pollution, climate change, or human activities, the ecosystem as a whole may adapt and survive. But the extinction of a species may have unforeseen impacts, sometimes snowballing into the destruction of entire ecosystems.”

Though most people are blissfully unaware, the food choices that we make every time we walk into a grocery store profoundly impact global biodiversity. By purchasing the relatively inexpensive Butterball Turkey that is on sale this weekend, we contribute to the slow decline of dozens of heritage turkey breeds that help stabilize ecosystem health through greater biodiversity. The Beltsville Small White turkey breed, while harder to find and more expensive, is listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy. Opting for this breed of turkey can help to stimulate demand and increase the profitability of breeding programs for alternative heritage turkey breeds.

Other benefits associated with purchasing heritage turkey breeds include:

• Better Taste: Heritage breeds have an incredibly diverse flavor profile. They might not have huge breasts, but the flavor of the meat will be profoundly more delectable.
• Helps Small Farmers: The majority of heritage turkey breeds are raised by small family farms that produce for their local market. Small farmers are much more likely to invest in diverse animal genetics, and supporting them is a great way to become involved with your local community and local economy.
• Healthier: Instead of keeping turkeys penned up in tiny cages, most heritage breeds are pasture-raised. This management style plays an essential role in animal welfare and creates a healthier and more sustainable meat option. Free-range or pasture-raised turkeys will not have been raised on GMO corn and soy feed but instead will have spent their lives outside eating grass and bugs.