Saying “Thank You” gets bigger every year

Here’s a chart from WIRED Magazine that illustrates the physical growth of the turkey as generations come to pass. Interesting isn’t it?

Anderson, who has bred the birds for 26 years, said the key technical advance was artificial insemination, which came into widespread use in the 1960s, right around the time that turkey size starts to skyrocket. The reason is that turkeys over 30 pounds are “inefficient” breeders: It’s difficult for them to actually perform the natural mating act. With artificial insemination, the largest birds can still be used as sires, even if they have a hard time walking, let alone engaging in sexual reproduction.[source]

Thank you, technology for making our turkeys freakier, but more economic!

[Image c/o WIRED Mag]