Transitioning commercial broiler production to slower-growing chicken breeds is one of the most evidence-based welfare interventions available, addressing the root cause of many health problems rather than managing symptoms in fast-growing birds.
The shift from fast-growing to slower-growing broiler breeds represents the most fundamental structural welfare improvement available in commercial chicken production because it addresses the root cause of lameness, cardiovascular disease, and other growth-related welfare problems rather than attempting to manage their consequences. The skeletal and cardiovascular systems of fast-growing commercial breeds are under continuous physiological stress throughout their brief lives, resulting in widespread chronic pain that is difficult to eliminate through management interventions alone. Slower-growing breeds have more robust physiology, better locomotor health, and engage in more natural behaviors including foraging, dustbathing, and movement than fast-growing counterparts. The welfare gains are consistent across research studies and welfare audits. The challenge lies in the economic cost premium, which makes retailer and food company commitment through programs like the Better Chicken Commitment essential for driving industry-wide change.