CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Femur fractures in turkeys bred for faster growth to market weight and significantly enhanced breast muscle yield are an ongoing concern for turkey growers, because affected birds must be culled, negatively impacting profit margins. While the average percentage of turkeys lost each year due to the problem is unknown, estimates can range from 2 percent to as high as 10 percent — rates which, even on the lower end, are significant.
The precise underlying cause of the fractures remains unknown. However, a new study on various critical properties of turkey femurs — involving what is likely the most comprehensive collection. . .

