Decades of selection for production traits in farm animals have created welfare problems as genetics outpaced physiological capacity; welfare-inclusive breeding indices are now a key focus.
The genetic trajectory of farm animal production has prioritised measurable output at the expense of health and welfare traits whose costs are diffuse and often externalised. Modern breeding indices increasingly incorporate lameness, fertility, and longevity alongside yield, recognising that a healthy animal that lasts longer is ultimately more productive. Welfare-inclusive selection is technically feasible; the constraint is commercial will to accept short-term production trade-offs for long-term welfare and sustainability gains.