Poultry The Livestock Conservancy

a bourbon red turkey, designated watch status

a breeding program buckeye chickens developed in 2005 staff members, focusing on using selective breeding improve breed , expand numbers. in 2011, buckeye able moved critical status threatened , based on 2010 census found 2,500 birds. program has since become template similar programs focusing on preservation of other rare chicken breeds.

heritage turkey breeds have been focus organization since 1997, when survey showed 1,335 breeding stock birds of breeds. study conducted conservancy , virginia tech concluded heritage turkey breeds had stronger immune systems breeds typically used industrial growers, , such more survive disease epidemics. study , other programs increased awareness of heritage turkey breeds , 2003 breeding population stood @ 4,275 turkeys of breeds. 2007 had grown more 10,000 birds , 17 breeds no longer considered extinct. of 2010, number estimated close 15,000.

in 2008 conservancy partnered slow food usa , other organizations conduct blind taste test of 9 breeds of turkeys – 8 heritage breeds , 1 standard industrially grown breed. when final scores read, first place went midget white turkey, second bourbon red , last place butterball – single non-heritage breed. largest taste test among turkey breeds date, , several of heritage breeds later added slow food usa ark of taste.