Modern broiler chickens have been selectively bred for extreme growth rates that cause chronic pain and disease. Addressing this breeding trajectory is one of the most impactful interventions for farmed animal welfare.
The welfare problems of fast-growing broilers are structural — built into the genetics of the animal. No amount of improved housing fully compensates for a body that grows faster than its cardiovascular and skeletal systems can support. Lameness causes chronic pain; affected birds show reduced activity, reluctance to access food and water, and behavioral indicators of suffering. The Better Chicken Commitment — signed by hundreds of companies — commits to slower-growing breeds and improved husbandry. Consumer pressure and corporate commitments are the primary levers for driving breed changes across the industry.