Commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for such rapid breast muscle growth that they experience chronic musculoskeletal problems and cannot mate naturally, raising fundamental welfare questions.
Commercial turkey genetics represent an extreme case of welfare being compromised by the selective breeding process itself. Birds that cannot walk normally, struggle to reach food and water, and experience chronic joint pain throughout their short lives are not suffering from poor management — they are suffering from the biological characteristics they were bred to possess. The solution requires changing the genetics, not just improving the housing. Several major producers and retailers have begun this transition, demonstrating it is commercially feasible.