The Rural Voice, 1997-12, Page 25bird. He would have snapped 'em
short off in a minute, like sticks of
sealing wax."
That size, its broad breast, and the
fact the turkey was dry, compared to
the fatty goose, helped give the North
American native an edge in the
barnyard, and on the Christmas table.
Genetic improvements have
increased the advantage of turkey
over other big birds. As late as 1948
when Harry Hayter first began what
is now Hayter Poultry Products by
raising turkeys on his Dashwood
farm with a shipment of 300 poults,
the turkey used on farms looked like
a giant version of its wild cousin. The
Bronze turkey which he purchased
from Wein Brothers Hatchery in the
north end of Exeter, however, had its
detractions. The pinfeathers
contained an inky substance that
stained the nice -looking carcass of
the bird, making its appearance less
appetizing.
New, white -feathered breeds
were developed which
dominate the market today.
Breeding also produced birds with
wider, deeper breasts that converted
feed more efficiently to meat. Hayter
Turkey Products uses the Hybrid
Turkey strain for the 75,000 turkeys
it grows and processes a year.
Raising turkeys has also changed
dramatically. Harry Hayter started
his first birds in two old colony
houses, then moved them outside
where they summered on the range.
Even in the 1970s fields filled with
white birds could be seen throughout
Ontario. Producers could no longer
risk having a heat wave or rain storm
devastate their flock so larger,
climate controlled barns started going
up on those farms where turkey
production continued.
Tom Hayter, who with his sister
Joanne McQuire now forms the
second generation to run the
company, says there's been a
concerted effort on his farm to use
less antibiotics by using more
preventative measures. Stringent
clean out procedures and chlorination
of the water helps to keep birds
disease free so they don't have to be
treated medicinally. That, in turn,
eases concerns from consumers about
overuse of antibiotics.
A landmark for the industry in
Ontario was the formation of a
GRAIN BINS
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Season's Greetings
ALmART
• Cushlonaire 500
1400 - 1800 bu./hr.
• Cushionalre 3000,4
800 - 1100 bu./hr.
GRAIN SYSTEMS LTD.
131 THAMES RD. W., EXETER, ONTARIO NOM 1S3
519-235-1919 or call Brad Marsden, evenings 519-235-2018
HAYTER'S
TURKEYS
HAYTER'S
TURKEY
PRODUCTS
For Your Pre -Christmas Entertaining Try Using:
• Breast Roasts • Cutlets • Sausage • Schnitzel
• Lemon Butter Roasts • Marinated Fillets
NEW PRODUCTS
• Bacon • Summer Sausage • Debreiziner • Smoked Breast
"All made with Turkey"
Gift Baskets and Fresh Turkeys
available for Christmas
ORDER BY DEC. 10
519-237-3561
Hwy. 83, just west of Dashwood
DECEMBER 1997 21