BLACK-BRONZE TURKEY
The local type of Turkeys found mainly in Thessaly (central) Greece are Black-Bronze Turkey rather rustic breed of turkey raised almost exclusively in backyard conditions. The broad-breasting trait, “bronzing” on the rump and tail and “wild type” wing markings are present largely in a similar way that found in black type turkeys in Malta, Italy, and the Mediterranean countries. The average weight after 5-7 months of rearing for male toms is around 5-6 kg, whereas the females weigh 4-5 kg, in the same period. In final maturity males exceed 10 kg, whereas females are less than 7 kg.
Growth rates are not as fast as commercial strains raised in industrial conditions, but carcass quality and conformation are well accepted by consumers, especially those that are fond of local type- backyard breeding. Raising this breed of turkey for 20 weeks appears to be the most profitable age for marketing under small-scale semi-intensive conditions, but it is slower growing than industrial birds as the latter reach 8–16 kg at 14–20 weeks. The Greek local type of turkey can show similar traits to the Maltese Black-Bronze Turkey that possess the necessary characteristics to fill this niche market.
