Bronze (turkey)

The Bronze is a breed of domestic turkey. The name refers to its plumage, which bears an iridescent bronze-like sheen. The Bronze has been the most popular turkey throughout most of American history. [albc-usa.org] Later in its history, the breed was divided in to two distinct types: the Broad Breasted Bronze and the Standard Bronze. A great deal of confusion exists about the difference between Standard and Broad Breasted Bronzes, or that there is any difference at all. Collectively, the Standard and Broad Breasted varieties are simply called the Bronze turkey.

History

Bronze turkeys are the product of crossing domestic turkeys brought from Europe by colonists (which were exported to Europe years before) with the Wild Turkeys. These matings produced a bird that was larger and more robust than the European turkeys, and tamer than wild turkeys. Though Bronze turkey was created in the 1700s, the actual name was not used until the 1830s, when a strain developed in the U.S. state of Rhode Island was dubbed the Point Judith Bronze. The moniker later spread to be used in reference to the breed as a whole, and was in the process simplified to just Bronze. [harv|Ekarius|2007|p=230] In the UK, the Bronze was associated with Cambridge as the Cambridge Bronze

The Bronze was first admitted in to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1874. Later, beginning in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, some Bronze turkeys were selected for exponentially larger size. [harv|Ekarius|2007|pp=230-231] These much bigger bird became known as the Broad Breasted Bronze, to differentiate it from the original type of bird which was bred to the Standard of Perfection, and was henceforth called the Standard (or Unimproved) Bronze.

The names of the two varieties are etymologically based in their body types, and they can be principally be differentiated by the Broad Breasted's visibly larger breast size. The plumage of the Standard Bronze is usually lighter and more lustrous than that of of the Broad Breasted. Both have a brown color which is highlighted by shades of copper and blue-green.

The Broad Breasted Bronze went on to dominate the commercial turkey industry for twenty years after its creation, until the Broad Breasted White became the breed of choice. Due to their size, they have lost the ability to mate naturally, and Broad Breasted Bronzes in existence today are entirely the result of artificial insemination. Having retained the ability to reproduce (among other traits), the Standard Bronze is considered to be a variety of heritage turkey. [harv|Ekarius|2007]

Today, both the Standard and Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys are listed on the ALBC's conservation priority list. The Standard is listed as "Critical", but the exact numbers of Broad Breasted is currently unclear. Standard Bronzes have additionally been included in Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste, a catalogue of heritage foods in danger of extinction. [harv|Ekarius|2007|p=231]

ee also

* List of turkey breeds

Footnotes

References

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External links

* [http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Turkeys/BRKBronze.html Bronze turkeys] at feathersite