Modern broiler chickens have been selectively bred for rapid growth, causing chronic pain, lameness, and heart and lung failure in billions of birds annually.
The suffering caused by fast-growing broiler breeds is one of the largest-scale animal welfare issues in the world. Billions of birds experience painful lameness, spend time lying in ammonia-rich litter because they cannot comfortably walk, and suffer cardiovascular stress. The birds' welfare is compromised at a genetic level before they even enter the farm environment. Switching to slower-growing breeds such as RSPCA Assured or Better Chicken Commitment compliant breeds dramatically reduces this baseline suffering.