Our Process

OUR UNIQUELY GENTLE AND SUSTAINABLE PROCESS

Transparency in All We Do

  • We carefully source every turkey from within our network of family farms, ensuring full traceability and trust.
  • Our farmers are dedicated to respectful animal care from the moment turkeys hatch to the end of their journey.
  • We uphold strict animal welfare standards, beginning with thoughtful, responsible farming practices.
  • Dakota 44 turkeys enjoy a vegetarian diet made from farm-grown grains, supporting natural nutrition and consistent quality.
  • Turkeys are raised in spacious barns and transported in custom-designed crates that minimize stress and ensure comfort.
  • Our mission is rooted in doing good — delivering high-quality food with care, purpose, and integrity.

44 Family Farms

  • Dakota44 has its roots throughout the Midwest in Hutterite colonies. Each colony is a small, self-sustaining agriculture community.
  • The brand name, Dakota44, originated from the 44 original Hutterite farms, whose commitment to better food for the better good has carried over into our brand.
  • While our farms are family-run, they are not small in scale. Every step of our farm practices is thoughtfully planned and carefully executed to ensure the highest level of care and quality.
  • The family farms producing products are GAP (Global Animal Partnership) certified, and each works diligently to follow sustainable practices. Plus, they’re inspected annually by the USDA.
  • We follow sustainable practices throughout our farms, including proprietary heating and cooling systems that reduce energy consumption while producing or sourcing everything needed to support our communities.
  • Our state-of-the-art processing facility in Huron, South Dakota, allows us to efficiently and sustainably process our quality poultry products on a large scale.

Dakota44: The Trusted Brand

Farmer Transparency

Our farmers are proud of where they live and what they do for our families. You can learn about the family farm that raised your product through our Farm Finder on our website.

Vegetarian Turkeys

Our birds are 100% vegetarians; NO ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS EVER are fed to our birds. Our bird’s corn is also grown from the farm they are raised.

Never Administered Antibiotics Ever

Our birds never are given antibiotics, even before being hatched. We understand that all living creatures may have off days, so our processes include a more preventative approach. Our birds enjoy the benefits of many natural soothing products, which many of us use today. Our birds receive pre and probiotics daily, essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, thyme, and many more. These natural additives, as you know, help with balancing hormones, boost immunities, fight infections, prevent inflammation, support digestion, and more.

Humanely Raised

Our birds are allowed more space to express their natural behaviors and are never caged or crated.

Good Night’s Sleep

All our birds are guaranteed six consecutive hours daily with the lights out in the evening to rest.

Committed to a Smaller Carbon Footprint

Dakota44 is all about sustaining our futures for all, which means we must farm, act, and process responsibly. Our sustainability team proactively identifies and implements greener products and procedures for the benefit of all. Here are some of the ways we’re currently working to reduce or offset food-related carbon miles. 

  1. Transportation
    1. Our farms are less than three hours away to reduce food miles and afford a shorter trip for our bird’s overall comfort and wellbeing.
  2. Bulk
    1. We sell in bulk in many local South Dakota retail outlets and online at Dakota44 and Wyshbone Market. Selling in bulk reduces the number of store trips and home deliveries needed. 
  3. Packaging
    1. All our packaging is recyclable ready; please do your part at home. 
    2. We use biodegradable compost-ready shipping materials for all online orders. Your gardens will love this!

Air Quality

We maintain a state-of-the-art ventilation system designed to ensure clean, fresh air circulation in every turkey house.

Loading Process

Our loading system is uniquely designed with animal welfare in mind. Unlike many manufacturers that rely on heavy machinery, which can cause unnecessary stress or injury, we take a gentler, hands-off approach. By using quiet guidance techniques, we calmly encourage our birds to move at their own pace, prioritizing their safety and comfort throughout the process.

Waiting In Line

At Dakota44, we recognize the impact that extreme weather conditions can have on our birds’ stress levels and overall well-being—which is why we take additional steps to ensure their comfort year-round.

During the warmer months, our birds benefit from specialized cooling systems, including misting and ventilation, to help them stay calm and comfortable. Our facilities also feature cooling sheds that allow transport trucks to remain shaded and temperature-controlled while on site.

We’re equally prepared for harsh Midwestern winters. To protect our birds from the cold, we insulate and enclose our trucks, preserving heat and shielding them from winter elements during transit.

E-commerce

Our packaging is designed with the planet in mind, recyclable-ready and shipped in compostable materials.

Shop Smarter. Shop Sustainably.

Explore Dakota44:

  • Shop Dakota44 Products
  • Shop in Bulk

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