Commercial turkey breeds have been selected so aggressively for breast muscle growth that natural mating is impossible and basic physical functions are compromised. Genetic reform is a welfare priority.
Commercial turkey genetics represent an extreme case of welfare compromise through selective breeding. Selecting for maximum breast muscle has produced birds that cannot reproduce naturally, struggle to walk, and suffer endemic cardiovascular and respiratory disease throughout their short lives. This is not an outcome of poor management — it is an outcome of breed selection that prioritizes a single production trait beyond physiological balance. Heritage turkey breeds demonstrate that commercial turkey production is possible without these welfare compromises. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds with better physiological integrity would improve welfare across the entire commercial turkey sector.