Fast-growing broiler breeds dominate global chicken production but are associated with severe welfare harms including lameness, cardiovascular failure, and chronic pain from growth rates their bodies cannot sustain.
Broiler breed selection is one of the most consequential decisions in the chicken supply chain because the genetics of the animal determine welfare outcomes that no management intervention can fully overcome. Birds bred for extreme growth rates experience chronic pain and physiological stress as a direct consequence of their genetics, not husbandry failures. The welfare science supporting breed reform is strong and increasingly acted upon by major retailers and food service companies. The cost differential between fast- and slower-growing breeds is real but modest relative to overall food costs, and consumer-facing campaigns have been effective at building commercial momentum for the Better Chicken Commitment in multiple markets.