Commercial turkey production has transformed birds that once flew and foraged freely into fast-growing, health-compromised animals kept in crowded barns — and welfare problems are widespread across a sector that receives far less scrutiny than chicken or pig farming.
Commercial turkey production presents many of the same welfare problems as broiler chicken production, scaled into an industry that receives far less public attention. The extreme genetic modification of modern turkeys for fast breast muscle growth has created birds that suffer throughout their short lives from musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, and the inability to perform natural behaviours. The welfare case for slower-growing heritage varieties, lower stocking densities, and enriched environments is clear, but without consumer pressure and policy standards, these remain niche options in a sector dominated by commodity production.