Commercial turkey production has created birds so selectively bred for breast muscle mass that many cannot mate naturally, experience chronic musculoskeletal problems, and suffer welfare compromise throughout their short lives.
Commercial turkey welfare follows a similar pattern to broiler chickens but with even more extreme selective breeding consequences. The inability of commercially bred turkeys to mate naturally reflects the degree to which their physiology has been modified to prioritize breast muscle at the expense of normal biological function. The resulting chronic welfare problems including leg disorders, respiratory compromise, and cardiovascular disease affect the majority of commercial turkeys at some point during their short lives. The concentration of turkey slaughter around holidays creates intense seasonal production pressure that exacerbates welfare compromise. Heritage breed turkeys, grown more slowly without the extreme selective breeding of commercial strains, show dramatically better welfare outcomes but command significant price premiums that limit market reach.