What Is A Farm Fresh Turkey?

Nowadays consumers are concerned about their health and the environment. This raised awareness has lead people to be more interested in what they eat more than ever before. We know we should eat more fruit and vegetable and stay away from junk food, but how do we make healthier choices when it comes to the meat? One can try eating leaner meats like chicken and turkey but there is also a difference in how the bird was raised.

You may have been in the shop and noticed a package of turkey saying it was "free range." You may also have wondered what does it really mean to be free range and why does it matter?

In order to understand what free range means we need to explain where animals are generally raised. They're normally raised in what's called a "grow house." A grow house is an entirely enclosed industrial barn, where most animals never see the light of day.

The term free range can apply to many different products; chickens, turkeys, eggs etc. It means that they're allowed to wander outdoors - just like they would in the wild. Free range farmers use a non-confinement system with a fence around the perimeter to keep predators out. During the day the turkeys can roam in an open field. There is a small shelter, called a skid, which the turkeys can enter to escape the rain if need be. Some free range farms also cater for other specialty health concerns, such as hormone free, preservative free, antibiotic free etc. Collection of manure on the skid also allows for onsite composting, which positively effects the environment.

Things get complex when we get onto talking about the benefits. There is no official answer to which is better; both sides have their own claims. Farmers preferring grow houses cite studies that suggest free-running hens have higher rates of infection. Farmers that support free range birds cite the fact that the birds aren't in contact with their own waste constantly, which suggests that they are far healthier. They also assert that the flavour of free range birds is better for several reasons. Free range birds are frequently given more high quality food earlier in life which they claim helps birds develop better and become healthier. They posit that birds have more room to move around developing muscle tone, which makes a big delicious bird.

You might ask what farmers gain by using each farming method. Typical grow houses are the preferred method to house many turkeys and increase profits. Free range turkey farming is a more expensive method of raising turkeys and that cost is passed on to the consumer. However, farmers who use the free range method could easily make more money by using the grow house method; which leads one to believe the farmers honestly think that the free range turkeys are better, healthier, and tastier. There is also a sense of pride that free range turkey farmers have about their farms and farming methods.

While the jury might still be out on the benefits of free range turkeys vs. grow house turkeys: people interested in their health can take the chance to upgrade on their next trip to the supermarket.