Minnan Turkey

Minnan Turkey

　　【Core Production Area】 Longhai, Yunxiao, Zhangpu, Jinjiang, Nan’an, Quanzhou, and other areas in Fujian

　　【Major Distribution Area】 Some counties in Longxi, Jinjiang, Putian, and suburban areas of Xiamen

　　The Minnan turkey has a physique largely similar to that of foreign turkeys, with a spindle-shaped body. The head and upper neck have almost no feathers or only some fine hairs, and the beak is slightly curved. The tip of the beak is yellowish in keratin, while the base is dark brown. The eyes are round, with brown conjunctiva and black pupils. The ears are round, surrounded by dense fine hairs but lacking auricular lobes. The neck is thin and straight, the body long, with a deep and broad chest that is well-developed. The keel is long and flat, and the legs are long and robust, some appearing black with a slight rose tint, others gray-black or gray-red. The tail feathers are well-developed, shaped like an inverted triangle, with a flat tip. The skin is pale red or light yellow. The feathers are mostly bronze-colored, with white stripes at the feather tips, followed by black-and-white mixed patterns, while light black and white are the least common. Adult male turkeys develop coral-like fleshy wattles on the forehead, behind the ears, and below the throat, which change color according to mood—appearing red, purple, blue, green, yellow, white, or other hues.

　　【Body Shape】 The body is spindle-shaped. The neck is thin and straight, the body long and full, the keel long and flat, and the legs long and robust.

　　【Feathers and Feather Color】 The head and upper neck have almost no feathers or only some fine hairs, and the tail feathers are well-developed, shaped like an inverted triangle. The most common feather color is bronze, with white stripes at the feather tips, followed by black-and-white mixed patterns, while light black and white are the least common.

　　【Skin Color】 The skin is pale red or light yellow.

　　【Head Shape】 The beak is slightly curved, the eyes are round, the conjunctiva is brown, the pupils are black, and the ears are round with no auricular lobes.

　　【Shank, Toe, and Webbed Features】 The legs are long and robust, some appearing black with a slight rose tint, others gray-black or gray-red.

　　It produces a lot of meat with good quality. The meat is temperate in nature and has a tonic effect for those suffering from qi deficiency or spleen cold. Regular consumption of turkey meat and eggs can help treat stomach ailments. In the future, based on existing breeding farms, efforts should be strengthened in selective breeding and expanding high-quality stock, while observing the performance of turkeys with three different feather colors to identify their individual traits. This will help enhance their respective qualities and establish breed lines for commercial turkey production.