sources: National turkey Federation, U.s.D.a., United states census
Bureau, Minnesota turkey Growers association
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Hey kids, do you like white meat or dark meat turkey at Thanksgiving?
And why do turkeys have dark and white meat, anyway?
In a turkey the active muscles such as the legs store a lot of oxygen and
become dark, while less active muscles like the breast remain white.
Turkeys can fly short distances — typically from ground to perch — but
they are not known for their flying abilities. They rely on their legs to
get them around. The active muscles, such as the legs and thighs, are
full of blood vessels. These blood vessels contain myoglobin (or muscle
hemoglobin), which delivers oxygen to the muscles. The more myoglobin
the muscles contain, the darker the muscle.
On the other hand, white meat is the result of
well-rested muscles. The breast muscles, which
are used for flying, are hardly used by turkeys.
There is no need to have a rich supply of oxygen
delivered to these muscles.
More turkey Facts!
• According to a survey by the National Turkey
Federation, 88% of Americans eat turkey on
Thanksgiving.
• 46 million turkeys are eaten each
Thanksgiving.
• The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86
pounds, about the size of a large dog.
• A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70
percent white meat and 30 percent dark
meat.
• The male turkey is called a tom.
• The female turkey is called a hen.
• The turkey was domesticated
in Mexico and brought to
Europe in the 16th
century.
• Turkeys can see
movement almost 100
yards away.
• Turkeys lived almost ten
million years ago.
• It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise
a 30 pound tom turkey.
• Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not.
They make a clicking noise.
• Turkeys do not really have ears like ours, but they have very good
hearing.
• Turkeys can see in color, but they do not see well at night.
• A large group of turkeys is called a flock.
• Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.
• Wild turkeys spend the night in trees. They prefer oak trees.
• Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 mph and can run 20
mph.
• Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.
• The costume that "Big Bird" wears on Sesame Street is rumored to be
made of turkey feathers.
• Turkeys have a long, red, fleshy growth called the snood from the base
of the beak that hangs down over the beak.
• The bright red fleshy growth under a turkey's throat is called a wattle.
turkey!
4 • NoVeMBer 2022 • www.officialKidsMag.com
