Iowan Runs World's Biggest Turtle Farm

Iowan Runs World's Biggest Turtle Farm AG WORLD Ag World 17-6-20 "As far as I know, no one in the world raises more turtles than I do," says Fred Millard, Birmingham, Iowa, who claims to be the world's biggest turtle meat producer. He calls himself the "turtle 4 king" Millard raises and processes thousands of turtles a year, shipping the meat to distributors all over the U.S. He also sells turtle parts such as shells, skulls, legs, and foot bones that are made into buttons, dishes, necklaces, ornaments, etc. In fact, he has found a market for nearly every turtle part. "I don't throw anything away," he says. Millard raises several varieties of turtles, including snapper, soft shell, alligator, red ear, and western paint. Only the snapper and soft shell turtles are used for meat. Alligator and red ear turtles are raised only for their shells. He sells the other turtles to distributors overseas. Western paint turtles go to the European pet market and soft shell turtles go to the Japanese meat market. Turtle meat is low in cholesterol and appeals to a variety of tastes. A 10-lb. turtle produces about 5 lbs. of meat. There are seven types of meat on a typical turtle, and they resemble pork, beef, chicken, white fish, mutton, frog legs or alligator in taste. Millard's ponds are 6 1/2 ft. deep and up to 100 ft in diameter and are surrounded by fences to keep the turtles in. Underground pipes keep the ponds full of water. Millard keeps turtles that are ready to be butchered inside a pit. He drains the pit whenever he's ready to butcher. Millard also buys turtles from area trappers for 60 cents a pound. Some of the 30,000 to 40,000 turtles hatched at his farm every year are turned back into the wild. "A lot of trappers end up selling me back turtles that I put in the wild," he says. Although only 4 percent of turtle eggs will hatch in the wild, Miliward says about 90% will produce a turtle on his farm. Turtles are fattened on a diet of catfish food, ground turtle parts, beaver meat, fish carcasses, and vegetables such as lettuce, crabs, apples, etc. They grow 3 1/2 lbs. a year after the first year, cost 22 1/2 cents a pound to raise, and are slaughtered when they reach 10 to 12 lbs. Turtles hibernate underground during winter beneath railroad tie embankments built into the banks of the ponds. Millard sells turtle meat for about $2.75 a pound and retailers typically double the price. He sells deboned meat for $4.75 a pound. Some of the meat is shipped over-night via United Parcel Service: A load of turtle meat and other byproducts are flown out of Des Moines on a regular basis. Contact FARM SHOW Followup, Fred Millard, Rt 1, Boa 111, Birmingham, Iowa 52535 (ph 319 498-4364).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.