The breed of broiler chicken used in commercial production fundamentally determines welfare potential. Scientific evidence now clearly demonstrates which breeds enable better welfare outcomes.
No single intervention in broiler farming offers greater welfare benefit than switching from fast-growing to slower-growing breeds. The welfare problems of fast-growing breeds are not primarily about housing or management — they are inherent to the genetics. Chickens bred for extreme rapid growth cannot sustain healthy physiology: their cardiovascular and skeletal systems fail to keep pace with muscle development. The result is pervasive suffering from joint pain, respiratory distress and metabolic disease. Slower-growing breeds retain biological capacity for normal behaviour, including walking, perching and dustbathing. The cost difference per kilogram is modest. Consumer and retailer demand for slower-growing breeds is the most powerful lever for large-scale welfare improvement.