Today it is quite rare, being kept only by a few exhibition breeders. Beltsville turkey hens weigh twelve pounds and toms weigh 21 pounds. The plumage is white, with the head red to bluish white. The beard is black, the beak is horn colored, and the eyes are dark brown. Shanks and toe are pinkish white.
More documentation is needed.
The Buff variety was accepted in 1874 but removed this century when it became quite rare. Turkey varieties as genetic units are somewhat similar to the breeds and varieties of other domestic species. Though there are not many varieties, there are fewer differences between them, and, with the exception of the Bronze, they have been poorly documented. For much of this century, the turkey industry has focused on a single variety, first the Broad-breasted Bronze and now the Large White. The other varieties have been neglected for some time and are rare today.