Smyrna times., 1923-10-24
MARKET BUREAU ON TURKEYS
State Bureau of Markets Urges Care
In Packing and Shipping AS Well
As in Raising Them for Profit


As in Raising Them for Profit
AS Thanksgiving time approaches !
the farmer begins to give considerable |
attention to his turkeys and to wond |
er by what amount these turkeys will /
increase the net proceeds of the farm.
There are no statistics available as to |
the number or value of the turkeys |
shipped last year, however, the rails
ing of turkeys is becoming more i'm
portant each year. Ordinarily they
range over the farm and are raised
at a comparatively low cost and us
ually at Thanksgiving and Christmas
time they bring good prices. How
ever, in order to obtain the best prices
the farmer should give careful
thought to their marketing and should
know particularly how to fatten them
and when, where and how to market
products turkeys we'll fattened and of
good quality. present a much better
appearance than thin, scrawny turk
eys and find much greater demand
at a higher price. Also inasmuch as
turkeys are sold by weight the heav-
ier the turkey the larger the amount
received, consequently the breeding
stock should be carefully selected. In
fattening turkeys it has been found
that range fattening is much more
satisfactory than penning the turkeys
up for that purpose. When placed in
a pen they will probably eat well for
a few days but after that time they
are likely to eat little and lose in
weight. Ordinarily the fattening
process begins about a months before
| the turkeys are to be marketed. This
is accomplished by proceeding grad
ually to feed the turkeys lightly on
corn in the morning, and again in the
evening a short time before they go
to roost. The amount of corn should
be gradually increased until the turk
eys are getting all they can eat. It
is not advisable to feed new corn too
heavy until after the turkeys have be-
come accustomed to it. On farms
where corn or small nuts are available
the turkeys will often fatten witt
very little corn feeding.
Good Sized Turkeys Be Sent First
When the turkeys are in suitable
condit ton and of good size it is usual
ly best to market them for tn,
Thanksgiving period. However, i
they are small and not in good con
dition at that time they should be he'll
until Christmas. Except under un
usual conditions where the turkey
are very late, all turkeys should b
marketed not later than Christmas a
ordinarily turkeys sold later tina
Christmas will not bring as much a
those sold for the Thanksgiving o
Christmas market. The best place t
market turkeys is, of course, wher
the best returns can be obtained an
preferably at a nearby market. FO
this reason the raisers of turkey
should take advantage of the informs
tion supplied by the Bureau of MAJ
: kets at Dover, and inform themselv6
{ of the prevailing prices at the diffe
. ent cities. This will enable them
e decide which market is the best. Ais
u the raisers should keep in touch d
/ rectly with buyers in both local an
u distant markets so that he may knO
II just what prices they will pay. Turl
q eys may be marketed either alive
n dressed, if they are shipped alive, Il
L crate should be high enough to allO
+ the turkeys to stand up. A coo
"a about feet long and feet wide, al
lie 20 inches high will accommodate fl
IN or six turkeys, but they should n
l. be over-crowded in the crate. Wht
NJ turkeys are shipped dressed thu
le should be thoroughly chilled befo
IN putting into the package, usually
IN barrell is used for shipping dress'
a turkeys and it is also safer to sh
l. them under ice. This is done
al placing a layer of cracked ice in t
L bottom of the barrel then a layer
&c turkeys, and another of ice and so O
ne A piece of burlap is usually used f
ct putting over the top of the barrel
hold the ice in place.
II Allow Birds To Be In Market In Tir
Other information in regard to
is killing, dressing, and packing of tuI
eys may be obtained by making a
ed plication to the Bureau of Marke
st Dover. All turkeys should arrive
n market at least four or five days /
n fore the holiday, and in most cas-
a earlier than that. Turkeys shipp
lr- late often reach an over-stocked ms
n ket and are sold at declining prices.
,.u m SEAEORD ROY APPREHENDEr