Turkeys raised for meat production face welfare challenges from genetic selection for rapid growth and intensive rearing systems that cause chronic health problems.
Turkey welfare problems are structurally embedded in the genetics of modern commercial breeds. Birds selected for maximum breast muscle growth develop disproportionate bodies that impair walking, lying, thermoregulation, and cardiovascular function. Breast blisters from lying on hard litter in densely stocked barns cause chronic pain. Heart failure is a predictable consequence of cardiovascular systems unable to support the metabolic demands of extreme muscle growth. Welfare improvements require either genetic reform (slower-growing breeds) or dramatically better management conditions — or both. Consumer choices and corporate commitments are beginning to shift turkey production toward slower-growing breeds.