Switching from fast-growing to slower-growing broiler genetics is one of the most impactful welfare improvements available in commercial poultry production, addressing the root cause of many health and welfare problems.
The extreme growth rates achieved through decades of genetic selection have created birds whose bodies develop faster than their skeletal and cardiovascular systems can support. Leg disorders cause chronic pain that impairs mobility, social behaviour, and access to resources. Heart conditions including ascites and sudden death syndrome kill millions of birds annually. These welfare problems cannot be fully resolved through housing or management improvements alone — they are intrinsic to the genetic line. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds eliminates the genetic source of these conditions, enabling healthier, more active birds. The welfare improvement is substantial and well-evidenced, making breed transition one of the highest-priority recommendations for commercial poultry welfare.