The Broad Breasted White is the standard commercial [[Turkeys|turkey]] breed used in virtually all modern turkey production in the United States and most of the world. It is a hybrid line developed through selective breeding for extreme breast meat yield, rapid growth, and feed efficiency. Broad Breasted Whites reach market weight in 14 to 18 weeks for hens and 18 to 22 weeks for toms. The breed is incapable of natural reproduction in its commercial form and must be purchased as day-old poults from hatcheries.
The Broad Breasted White turkey was developed in the mid-20th century by commercial turkey breeders who selected for increased breast meat yield. The Bronze turkey was the dominant commercial breed through the first half of the 20th century, but breeders began selecting for white feathers to produce a cleaner carcass (dark pinfeathers on Bronze turkeys are visible in the skin of processed birds).
By the 1960s, the Broad Breasted White had replaced the Bronze as the standard commercial turkey. Primary breeder companies developed specialized lines through selection without genetic modification, achieving breast meat yields of 30 to 35 percent of live weight compared to 15 to 20 percent in heritage turkeys. The breed now accounts for more than 99 percent of turkey meat produced in the United States.
Broad Breasted Whites are large, solid white turkeys with a broad, deep breast that accounts for a high proportion of their total body weight. The tom weighs 30 to 40 pounds (13.5 to 18 kilograms) at 20 to 22 weeks, and the hen weighs 15 to 20 pounds (6.8 to 9 kilograms) at 14 to 16 weeks. The breast is so broad that the birds cannot naturally mate, and all commercial Broad Breasted Whites are produced through artificial insemination.
The breed's rapid growth rate outpaces the development of the cardiovascular and skeletal systems, leading to a higher incidence of leg problems and heart failure than in slower-growing heritage breeds. The birds spend most of their time eating and resting and are less active than heritage turkeys.
Broad Breasted Whites are raised for meat production on homesteads where maximum meat yield per bird is the primary goal. A single tom can provide 25 to 30 pounds of oven-ready meat, sufficient for multiple meals. The birds require high-protein feed, clean housing with adequate ventilation, and careful management of litter conditions.
The breed is not suitable for breeding on the homestead because artificial insemination is required for successful reproduction. Broad Breasted Whites also do not survive well in free-range conditions due to their heavy breast and reduced mobility. They are typically raised in confinement or movable pens.