NFU has the Xmas factor

- Published: 01 December, 2008

Step aside Strictly Come Dancing and pipe down Pop Idol - the NFU has launched itself into the world of popular performing.

Following in the footstep's of MTJ's triumphant meaty re-scripting of the '12 days of Christmas' carol last year, NFU staff have recorded their own version of the song, including the lyrics: "On the first day of Christmas my farmer gave to me a big fat juicy turkey..."

The Union hopes that the song will help promote UK turkey this Christmas and drive home the message of buying British, buying local and buying the best you can afford.

NFU Online senior web editor Helen Cotterill said: "We were looking for a fun way of promoting this year's UK Turkeys website and recording a Christmas song seemed like the ideal way of doing it. The lyrics are great and all the staff involved had a laugh although we're not that hopeful of claiming the Christmas number one spot."

Visitors to www.ukturkeys.co.uk will be able to listen and download the song online. The website also has a list of UK turkey producers, pages on how to roast the perfect bird and ideas on how to use the leftovers.

Vice-chairman of the NFU poultry board Mike Bailey said: "The website has a list of 200 turkey producers from across the UK. In addition, this year we've teamed up with the Local Food Shop so that consumers can buy from participating farmers online."

Cotterill added: "The website continues to be very popular with both the public and NFU members alike. Consumers can find out all about turkeys, including how they are reared with turkey farmer Paul Kelly, who does his famous turkey impressions on video.

"There's also plenty to appeal to our younger audience, with turkey gobble ringtones, jokes and farming scenes to download and colour in."