The strain you choose shapes almost everything else: how much space you need, what feed, when to slaughter and who to sell carcasses to. The same farm can end up with very different economics on different strains.
Three groups
| Group | Tom at slaughter | Hen at slaughter | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy | 18–22 kg at 20–22 weeks | 9–11 kg at 14–16 weeks | Cut-up parts, mince, large buyers |
| Medium | 12–15 kg at 18–20 weeks | 7–8 kg at 14–16 weeks | Whole birds and cuts |
| Light | 8–10 kg at 16–18 weeks | 5–6 kg at 12–14 weeks | Whole family-size birds, free range |
Figures are approximate; every strain has its own guide. Availability differs too: in your area the choice may come down to two or three suppliers.
Heavy strains
They give the most meat per bird and the best feed conversion, but they are demanding. They need complete compound feed and a roomy house with deep dry litter; perches are pointless because these birds don’t fly up to them. Toms at the end of finishing can have bad legs if pushed on intensive feed without proper lighting and litter.
A whole 20 kg tom is far too big for a household buyer. A heavy strain pays if you sell cuts or have a wholesale customer.
Medium strains
A compromise for a small farm. They grow slower but are hardier, tolerate free range and feeding mistakes better. A medium hen of 7–8 kg is easy to sell whole.
Light strains and breeds
Good for free range and family farms. The meat is firmer, the carcass is a convenient size, the birds are more active and suffer less from leg trouble. The price is more feed per kilogram of meat and a longer cycle. Unlike commercial strains, heritage breeds can be bred on the farm: the offspring keep the parents’ traits.
How to choose
- Who buys. Households want a 5–8 kg bird; cafés and shops want cuts.
- What housing you have. A heavy tom needs about 0.4–0.5 m² of floor by the end of finishing. Short on space — go medium.
- What feed is available. Without a good turkey starter, a heavy strain won’t hit its numbers.
- Whether you want to breed your own. If so, breeds, not commercial strains.
Weigh all of this against feed use — see how much feed a turkey eats.
Compare on your own farm
The most reliable way to choose a strain is to raise two small flocks of different strains and compare. In EggPulse each flock has its own weights, feed, mortality and costs, and the cost per kilogram sits side by side.
