Regeneration & Resilience Supply Chain

Study Shows Higher Nutrient Profiles in Regeneratively Raised Turkeys

In addition to improving soil health, regenerative pasture-raised turkeys have a better omega 6:3 ratio; more phytochemical antioxidants; and higher vitamin, mineral and protein concentrations.

Published 1 month ago | About a 4 minute read

Image: Monstera Production

Just in time for the holidays, let’s talk turkey: A new analysis conducted by the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University, on behalf of Regenified™ and Diestel Family Ranch, confirms that turkeys grown with regenerative farming practices are not only better for the land — they also have improved phytochemicals and fatty acid ratios.

Regenerative agriculture prioritizes the health of the soil and eliminates industrial farming practices that have been shown to negatively impact the planet — eroding soil, and reducing nutrients both in the soil and in our food. Through practices including rotational grazing, reduced tilling, crop rotations and maintaining vegetative cover crops, regenerative farming can not only sustain farms but also help them thrive and increase long-term resilience.

Earlier this year, Diestel became the first turkey producer to achieve Regenified certification — joining over 50,000 farms and 82 brands verified to meet high standards for soil health, animal welfare and farmworker fairness. Diestel’s regenerative birds were the first to be fed 650 tons of US-grown Certified Regenerative feed, which improves the health of both the birds and the soil. In addition, Diestel turkeys have access to open land that was designed to replicate their natural, shaded forest habitat.

“We’ve always known that our farming practices are better for the land; but now we have initial data to confirm that our practices directly impact the health of our birds, too,” said Heidi Diestel, fourth-generation farmer at Northern California-based Diestel Family Farms — one of the few small, family-owned and -operated ranches left in the US. “Even as a small, family-owned business, we’ve aspired to always do the right thing for our birds and the planet.”

The analysis

Lead researcher Stephan van Vliet, PhD — director of Utah State’s Center for Human Nutrition Studies — collaborates with farmers, ecologists and agricultural scientists to study critical linkages between agriculture, the nutrient density of food, and human health. For this study, Dr. van Vliet looked at a leading national turkey brand and compared the nutritional composition of its conventionally raised birds to Diestel turkeys grown with regenerative farming practices to assess whether regenerative practices resulted in improved vitamin, mineral and antioxidant levels. Dr. van Vliet’s lab used mass spectrometry-based techniques, which can analyze nutrients in our food.

The improved nutritional profile of the regeneratively raised turkeys builds on findings of another of van Vliet’s recent studies, which also highlighted the benefits of more conscious farming practices — the analysis showed higher levels of several key nutrients in pasture-finished beef (from cows that spend their lives eating grass, plants, and shrubs on pastures) over grain-finished beef from two US-based, commercial farms.

“Our analysis found that turkeys raised on pasture using regenerative farming practices have improved omega-3 and phytochemical profiles compared to conventionally raised birds,” van Vliet said. “Our findings are in line with a recent study we published on beef and point towards initial promising effects that regenerative agriculture may have on the nutrient density of meat.”

Additional nutritional benefits

The Utah State study also found the regeneratively farmed birds beat their conventionally farmed counterparts in:

Mineral content: The Diestel brand has higher levels of zinc — which is crucial for immune function and DNA synthesis — than a leading national brand.
Antioxidant compounds: Antioxidant phytochemicals — which help protect cells and prevent chronic disease — are transferred from the plants that turkey eat are transferred into their meat. The analysis found that the Regenerative Diestel ground had higher levels of phytochemicals compared to the conventional brand, likely the result of the birds consuming plants on pasture and/or the non-GMO, regenerative feed.
Vitamin concentrations: Vitamins B3 and B12 were found to be higher in the Diestel samples.
Protein concentrations: The Diestel Regenerative breast samples had slightly higher protein levels than the conventional brand.

With some of the world’s largest food, spirit and beer producers driving a global shift to regenerative farming practices, celebrating with indulgent feasts could soon become a slightly less guilty pleasure. But for now, check out Regenified’s Feast on Change holiday recipe guide for product and recipe ideas from Diestel and other regenerative brands that have already made these critical changes on the ground.