Easier way into award-winning turkeys

This will happen at happen at the British Pig and Poultry Fair at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, from 13-14 May.

The franchise scheme has enabled farmers and smallholders to produce the KellyBronze turkey for consumers in their own locality. But until now they have been required to pluck and process as well as rear the birds from the beginning.

The new scheme enables them to have their turkeys plucked and processed by Kelly Turkeys for the first few years, enabling them to concentrate on rearing and also developing a local market for the product.

“This will provide a risk-free introduction to our KellyBronze family of Christmas turkey producers,” says Derek Kelly. “We know that those with no experience of plucking and preparing poultry are often put off by this prospect – but many would otherwise make excellent producers.  We also expect the new approach to appeal to part-time farmers.”

The scheme targets producers within 20 minutes of a minimum 30,000 population and with premises adjoining a major road for displaying the straw bale turkey that has become associated with the product.