Commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for rapid growth and large breast muscle to such a degree that they suffer welfare problems including lameness, heat stress, and inability to reproduce naturally.
Commercial turkey welfare parallels broiler welfare in its fundamental problem: the animal has been bred to grow so rapidly that its physiology cannot support the resulting body without welfare compromise. Lame turkeys cannot access feeders and drinkers efficiently, reducing welfare further. The inability of commercial breeds to reproduce naturally reflects a loss of important natural behaviour and creates a dependency on human management for reproduction. Heritage turkey breeds that grow more slowly and can reproduce naturally represent a welfare-friendly alternative but are not commercially dominant due to higher production costs.