Talking Turkey: Seeing through the Myths on Cages, Factory Farms and Antibiotics

Commonsense and humor answer consumer curiosity in video series

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Feb 06, 2018, 09:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Closing the distance from farm to fork, America's turkey farmers, represented by the National Turkey Federation, have prepared a new series of videos and resources offering common-sense answers about raising healthy turkey flocks on family farms.

The videos are available at AmericasTurkeyFarmers.org.

Barns provide protection from weather extremes as well as security from predators outside, while turkeys walk about freely and safely inside… without cages.

As with any animal, turkeys can get sick and need help to get well. When necessary, veterinarians can prescribe treatment to help the birds get better and prevent animal suffering.

Turkey farming is family farming, where generations enjoy rural life. Our turkeys are farm-raised with smart technology and responsible stewardship of resources.

Turkeys grow healthy, feeding on their corn and soybean diet with vitamins and minerals. Steroids cannot be used - and hormones cannot be added, either. Adding steroids or adding hormones to poultry is against federal law. They are also not needed.

Bar G Ranch Poultry - 2014 USPOULTRY Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award Winner

Turkey Farm & Processing Plant Tour: Temple Grandin

Featuring a series of videos introducing consumers to turkeys raised on corn and soybeans in climate-comfortable protective barns, Minnesota turkey farmer John Zimmerman answers questions in an approachable manner with the view inside his barn. Questions are posed with humor by a cartoon animated tom turkey suggesting the exaggerated myths that consumers are often subjected to about how their food is raised. The videos are formatted for social media and available for online sharing.

"People are curious and like to understand more about their food and where it comes from," said Zimmerman. "It's satisfying to know consumers can appreciate how turkey farming is both practical and sustainable, and the answers to their questions are all common-sense."

Viewers see turkeys walk about freely and safely inside barns without cages, as well as learn how veterinarian-prescribed antibiotics are proven to clear an animal's system before the meat is processed. The videos also share how healthy turkeys are raised on a nutritious diet of corn and soybeans along with vitamins and minerals, and how turkeys are farm-raised using smart technology and responsible stewardship of resources.

"The videos aim to satisfy the public's curiosity about a turkey farmer's practical approach to raising their flock and to encourage consumers' appreciation of their food from farm to fork," said Keith Williams of the National Turkey Federation. "These short videos present the exaggerated myths of turkey farming with a bit of humor that welcomes curiosity and encourages questions."

America's Turkey Farmers website introduces the farmers, farmwork, and the food they provide for the consumer enjoyment of Turkey.The Perfect Protein®. The depth of experience and attention to caring for turkeys can be reviewed on the website in the Stewardship Manual written and adopted by the country's turkey farmers as members of the National Turkey Federation. The website also offers concise fact sheets for turkey's lean protein options among a variety of cuts for meals throughout the week that can be grilled, baked, sautéed or served as snacks.

The online resources follow the successful engagement with the public from 1.3 million views on YouTube of the "Turkey Farm and Processing Plant" video visit by the world's leading animal welfare expert, Dr. Temple Grandin.

AmericasTurkeyFarmers.org content was created by the National Turkey Federation with distribution through a grant by USPOULTRY and creative production contributed by Alltech®.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8113451-americas-turkey-farmers-video-series/

About the National Turkey Federation
The National Turkey Federation is the national advocate raising awareness for its members' products, while strengthening their ability to profitably and safely deliver wholesome, high-quality, and nutritious food to consumers worldwide. NTF represents growers, processors, hatchers, breeders, distributors, allied services and state associations. NTF is found at EatTurkey.org, and ServeTurkey.org as well as on Twitter @TurkeyGal and @ServeTurkey as well as on Facebook as Turkey.The Perfect Protein® and ServeTurkey.

SOURCE National Turkey Federation