Commercial turkey production involves welfare challenges including breast meat genetics, respiratory disease, and leg problems that require targeted management.
Turkey welfare shares challenges with broiler production due to similar pressures from rapid growth genetics. Broad-breasted turkeys selected for maximum breast muscle growth develop respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal problems at rates that reflect the limits of what bodies designed for natural weight can sustain. Behavioral welfare is also affected — turkeys are curious, social birds that show exploratory and play behaviors in enriched conditions, but these behaviors are suppressed in barren, overcrowded environments. Heritage breeds and slower growth rate commercial breeds offer improved welfare baselines at the cost of longer production cycles and lower body mass yield.