Slower-growing broiler breeds developed specifically for welfare show dramatically better health, activity, and behavior outcomes compared to standard fast-growing commercial breeds.
Broiler breed selection is one of the most fundamental welfare decisions in chicken farming, with effects that cascade through every aspect of the bird's life from day one. Fast-growing breeds suffer from their own rapid growth: cardiovascular stress, skeletal problems, chronic lameness, and inability to engage in species-typical behaviors including simple walking. Welfare-selected breeds that grow more slowly achieve similar final weights while maintaining the physical capability to express natural behaviors throughout their lives. The Better Chicken Commitment's adoption by major food companies represents the largest coordinated breed welfare improvement in commercial poultry history.