White Holland Turkeys

White Holland Turkeys have wide breasts and short legs, and were originally an important commercial bird in the U.S. in the early 20th century, but they have since been replaced by faster growing and larger varieties. Today the White Holland Turkey is considered a Heritage breed and is very rare — listed as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy — and mostly kept by exhibition breeders.

The babies are yellow.

While the name implies the breed has European or Dutch origin, there is little information confirming that claim. It is believed to have originated from crosses of white European turkeys imported to North America. The Holland  was first recognized by the American Poultry Association and accepted into the American Standard of Perfection in the U.S. in 1874.

It was crossed with the Broad Breasted Bronze in the 1950s to create the Broad Breasted White, and also used to develop the Beltsville Small White.