The selective breeding of broiler chickens for rapid growth has created animals whose bodies are fundamentally mismatched to their lifespan, causing endemic lameness, cardiovascular disease, and suffering.
Fast-growth genetics represent the root cause of most broiler welfare problems. Lameness causes chronic pain throughout the final weeks of life — a period when birds are heaviest and movement most restricted. The cardiovascular system cannot keep pace with muscle growth, leading to fatal ascites in many birds and subclinical cardiac stress in survivors. Skeletal development lags behind muscle mass, causing microfractions and joint pathology. Slower-growing breeds cost more to produce but demonstrate that commercial broiler farming without endemic suffering is achievable. Corporate commitments are driving market change faster than regulation in some regions — consumer purchasing can accelerate this transition.