BUT Premium — a heavy meat turkey from Aviagen Turkeys
BUT Premium is one of the most popular heavy meat turkey lines, originating from the British company British United Turkeys, today part of Aviagen Turkeys genetics. It is a bird focused on high meat gain, large tom weight and good feed conversion. We show what characterises this breed, what it requires and who it suits — based on the producer’s public breed-management guides.
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What BUT Premium is
BUT Premium is a commercial meat turkey line marked with the abbreviation BUT, from British United Turkeys — a historic British breeding company whose turkey genetics now belong to Aviagen Turkeys. „Premium" is a specific cross product in that company’s range, aimed at a heavy production type: large body weight and high carcass yield. It is a commercial bird, bought as a day-old poult and reared for meat, not an ornamental or self-reproducing breed. If you are new to the topic, start with the guide on turkey farming.
Where it comes from and who is behind it
The BUT brand originates in the United Kingdom, and the BUT lines (including Premium and lighter variants) are now developed and sold by Aviagen Turkeys — a global supplier of turkey genetics. The producer publishes breed-management guides that set out target body-weight curves, feed-use norms and environmental recommendations. We base the ranges in this guide on those public materials — the actual result on a farm always depends on rearing conditions, feed and flock health.
A heavy meat turkey — what that means in practice
A heavy meat type means a bird with high growth potential, whose toms reach very high final weights, and whose hens are lighter but still much larger than in lighter breeds. Such a turkey needs good feed, efficient ventilation and well-planned stocking, because intensive gain stresses the legs and heart. In return it gives high meat yield, especially breast. How BUT Premium compares with other heavy lines you can see in the description of Nicholas 700.
Who the breed is for
BUT Premium is a choice for commercial farms aimed at producing turkey meat in a fattening cycle — where final weight and feed conversion matter. It is less suited to small backyard keeping, because it needs good phase feeding and environmental control. Before you choose this line, calculate whether fattening a heavy turkey adds up — the article on turkey farming profitability and the comparison turkey vs broiler — profitability will help.
Everything under control with DlaFerm.pl
Fattening a heavy turkey is a long cycle and a lot of data: control weights, feed use, treatments and withdrawal periods. DlaFerm.pl brings this together in one place — you keep a digital Flock Card and flock records in IRZplus, and if you wish, it will file the reports to the cumbersome IRZplus portal for you. So from day one you are in control of your paperwork and ready for an inspection. You can create a farm account for free.
BUT Premium — six features worth knowing
Origin, production type, weight and growth rate, temperament and poult availability. Here are six features by which you will recognise the heavy BUT Premium turkey from Aviagen Turkeys.
Origin and breeding company
BUT stands for British United Turkeys — a British company whose turkey genetics now belong to Aviagen Turkeys. Premium is a specific heavy meat turkey line in that company’s range. Poults are sourced through authorised distributors, and the producer provides public breed-management guides with target norms.
Production type — a heavy meat turkey
This is a meat line focused on large gain and high carcass yield, especially the breast muscles. It is not a laying or reproductive bird on a commercial farm — it is bought as a poult and reared for slaughter. How heavy fattening looks step by step is described in the turkey farming guide.
Tom and hen body weight
According to Aviagen Turkeys public guides, heavy BUT toms on a long fattening cycle usually reach the order of about 18–22 kg and more, and hens about 10–12 kg — the exact range depends on slaughter age and feeding programme. Toms grow markedly faster and heavier than hens, which is why they are often reared separately.
Growth rate
BUT Premium is a fast-growing turkey: the target weight curves in the producer’s guide show steady, intensive gain across the whole cycle. The growth rate is so high that it requires precise phase feeding and environmental control so that the legs and circulatory system keep up with the weight. This is a trait shared by modern heavy lines such as Nicholas 700.
Temperament and resilience
It is a calm and fairly balanced bird that copes well with commercial rearing conditions, provided it is given space, fresh air and dry litter. Resilience depends heavily on management: overcrowding, wet litter and feeding errors increase the risk of leg problems and disease. You can grasp the basics in turkey farming for beginners.
Purpose, market and poult availability
BUT Premium goes mainly to the turkey meat market — whole carcasses, cuts and processing, with a large share of breast. Day-old poults are bought through hatcheries and distributors of Aviagen Turkeys genetics, usually in advance and in larger batches. Availability and prices depend on the season and order size, so placements are planned ahead.
Norms, environment, feeding and risks of BUT Premium
Before you choose this line, think through the production norms, keeping conditions, feeding programme and health risks. Here are six areas that decide the result of fattening a heavy turkey.
Norms: FCR, slaughter age and weight
Aviagen Turkeys public guides give target weight curves and feed-use norms. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of a heavy turkey rises with age and on a long tom fattening cycle can exceed 2.5–3.0 kg of feed per kg of gain, while slaughter age usually ranges from about 12 to 20+ weeks — depending on whether you want hens or very heavy toms. These are indicative values — calculate your own result via turkey farming profitability.
Environment: temperature and stocking
Turkey poults need a high start temperature (of the order of about 35–37°C under the heat source in the first days), gradually lowered over the following weeks. Stocking (in Poland measured in DJP, the livestock unit indicating area load) must be matched to final weight — heavy toms need far more space than lighter poultry. Too high a stocking density means wet litter, poorer air and leg problems.
Feeding: a phase programme
A heavy turkey is fed a phase diet — from a high-protein starter for poults, through successive grower mixes, to a finisher with lower protein and higher energy. Protein and amino acids are gradually reduced and energy raised, in line with the needs of the growing bird. Feed is the largest fattening cost, so its quality and the right phases translate directly into FCR and final weight.
Health and risks
The main risks of a heavy turkey are leg and skeletal problems (a consequence of fast growth), respiratory disorders and infectious diseases, including avian influenza, which means culling the flock. Biosecurity, dry litter and good ventilation are key. Treatments and drug withdrawal periods must be documented from day one — most conveniently in a digital Flock Card.
Welfare and management
The welfare of a heavy turkey means above all the right stocking density, dry and loose litter, constant access to water and feed, and light and ventilation matched to the birds’ age. The larger the weight, the more small mistakes count — overcrowding and damp quickly take their toll in losses. Good flock management starts with the basics described in turkey farming for beginners.
Who the breed is for
BUT Premium is a choice for commercial farms that want to produce a lot of turkey meat and can provide phase feed and environmental control. For small backyard keeping it can be too demanding. Before you decide, compare the directions and calculate the result — the comparison turkey vs broiler — profitability and the turkey farming guide will help.
Frequently asked questions about BUT Premium
What is BUT Premium?add
BUT Premium is a commercial heavy meat turkey line. The abbreviation BUT comes from British United Turkeys — a British breeding company whose turkey genetics now belong to Aviagen Turkeys. Premium is a specific product aimed at large body weight and high carcass yield. It is a commercial bird, bought as a poult and reared for meat, not an ornamental breed.
How much does a BUT Premium tom weigh?add
According to Aviagen Turkeys public guides, heavy BUT toms on a long fattening cycle usually reach the order of a dozen to over twenty kilograms, and hens significantly less. The exact weight depends on slaughter age, feeding programme and rearing conditions, so the specific figure for your farm should be confirmed against the weight curve in the producer’s guide.
What FCR does a heavy BUT turkey have?add
The feed conversion ratio (FCR, how much feed is used per kilogram of gain) of a heavy turkey rises with age and on a long tom fattening cycle can exceed 2.5–3.0 kg of feed per kg of weight. These are indicative values from public norms — your result depends on feed, health and flock management. It is best calculated on your own data from a specific cycle.
At what age are BUT Premium turkeys slaughtered?add
The slaughter age of a heavy turkey usually ranges from a dozen to over twenty weeks, depending on whether you rear lighter hens or very heavy toms for final weight. The longer the fattening, the higher the weight, but also the worse the FCR. The slaughter date is matched to the market goal and the profitability of the specific cycle.
Is BUT Premium suitable for backyard keeping?add
It is a line built for commercial production, so it requires good phase feed, temperature control and the right stocking density. In small backyard keeping it can be demanding, because fast growth stresses the legs and requires precise feeding. Beginners often start in easier conditions — you will find the basics in our guide for beginners.
How does BUT Premium differ from Nicholas 700?add
Both lines are heavy meat turkeys from Aviagen Turkeys genetics, aimed at large weight and high breast yield. They differ in the details of growth curves, feed conversion and bird conformation, described in the producer’s guides. The choice depends on poult availability, the buyer’s requirements and how a given line performs in your rearing conditions.
Run turkey fattening calmly with DlaFerm.pl
Want your control weights, feed use, treatments and withdrawal periods for a heavy turkey under control? We will show you how DlaFerm.pl guides a turkey farm through the digital Flock Card and records in IRZplus. Create a free farm account.
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