The Atlantic

Turkeys Are Twice as Big as They Were in 1960

For decades, poultry breeders have transformed the genomes of turkeys, creating ever-larger birds.
Source: Historical Picture Archive / Getty / The Atlantic

A turkey today is not the turkey of yesteryear.

For decades, animal breeders have been transforming the genomes of turkeys to make them grow larger. Since 1960, the weight of turkeys has gone up about a quarter of a pound each year. The average weight of a turkey has gone from 15.1 pounds in 1960 to 31.1 pounds in 2017.


Average Turkey

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