The extreme selective breeding of commercial turkeys for rapid breast muscle growth has created animals with compromised health, behavior, and welfare that mirrors the problems seen in fast-growing broiler chickens.
Commercial turkey welfare is compromised at its foundation by genetic selection that prioritizes breast muscle yield over functional health. Turkeys bred for extreme breast development are physiologically compromised — they cannot reproduce naturally, struggle to support their own weight, and are prone to cardiovascular failure. The irony is that the extreme selection that makes commercial turkeys maximally productive also makes them maximally unhealthy. Heritage breeds demonstrate that turkeys can be farmed with much better welfare outcomes when production objectives are moderated. Consumer demand for heritage and slower-growing turkey breeds, combined with welfare certification requirements, drives the only credible path toward improvement in this sector.