Turkey History

Dan Agri View, Poultry

turkey history
Everett Griner talks about the turkey, and a bit of history, in today’s Agri View.

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It may surprise you to know that a lot of families sat down to their holiday turkey dinner and enjoyed a bird that was not raised on a poultry farm. Turkeys are one of the most hunted animals in the whole wild kingdom. In fact, domestic turkeys had their beginning in the wild. Even today there are more wild turkeys than there have ever been in North and Central America. Wildlife officials estimate over seven million. The turkey almost faced extension back in the 1930’s due to loss of habitat and over-hunting. It was the 1950’s when conservation groups began to restore the bird. They started with domestic stock and what few wild ones remained. Their efforts have been very successful. They are still among the most hunted creatures in the wild. Turkeys. They are aggressive and yes they can fly. But they don’t destroy farmers’ crops.

That’s Agri View for today. I’m Everett Griner.