Modern commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for such rapid breast muscle growth that their welfare is fundamentally compromised. Understanding this issue is key to meaningful turkey welfare improvement.
Commercial turkey welfare is fundamentally limited by the genetics of the birds themselves. Decades of selection for maximum breast yield has produced animals whose physiology is incompatible with normal turkey function. They struggle to walk, cannot mate naturally, and are prone to heart failure and lameness as their musculoskeletal system fails to support their artificially inflated body mass. Unlike broiler chickens — where slower-growing breeds are commercially available — the turkey industry has made less progress toward welfare-positive genetics. Consumer demand for traditional and heritage turkey breeds, particularly at key seasons, creates market signals for producers to maintain welfare-positive alternatives.