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Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:12 PM CST
All about turkey



It’s that time of year again when the famous Tom Turkey hosts the table for family gatherings. This bird seems to be a famous holiday tradition for many families across the country.

Thanksgiving was proclaimed a national holiday in 1893 by then President Abraham Lincoln. Today, more than 675 million pounds of turkey are consumed. Ninety percent of homes in American consume turkey at Thanksgiving and nearly 50 percent at Christmas.

We raise more than 276 million turkeys each year in America and Illinois is ranked 13th for turkey production. Most turkeys raised today are in environment-controlled barns, which provide protection against disease, predators and severe weather.

Turkeys are mainly fed a balanced diet of corn and soybean meal with vitamin and mineral supplements. It takes about 75 to 80 pounds of feed to raise a 30-pound Tom Turkey in about a 14-week period. Traditionally, the hen turkeys are sold as whole turkeys while the toms, or males, are used for processed meat like deli meats, franks, sausage and cutlets.

More and more customers are recognizing the great taste and nutritional value of turkey. Since 1970 the consumption of turkey has increased by 108 percent — with year-round consumption increasing.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mary Cox is the manager of the Coles County Farm Bureau.


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