Replacing fast-growing broiler breeds with slower-growing alternatives is one of the most impactful welfare improvements available in chicken production.
The extreme growth rates of commercial broiler breeds cause leg disorders, cardiovascular problems, and chronic pain affecting the majority of birds in the final weeks before slaughter. Selective breeding for maximum growth rate has compromised basic physiological function. Slower-growing breeds with growth rates below 50g per day have dramatically lower rates of contact dermatitis, gait problems, and sudden death syndrome. The welfare improvement from breed change alone is substantial and represents a commercially viable intervention at scale.