Modern broiler chickens grow so fast they suffer chronic musculoskeletal problems. Slower-growing breeds and better management dramatically improve welfare without prohibitive costs.
Broiler welfare is fundamentally determined by genetics. Breeds selected for maximum growth rate reach slaughter weight before their skeletal and cardiovascular systems can support their body mass. The resulting lameness, heart problems and skin lesions affect a substantial proportion of the 70 billion broilers produced annually. Slower-growing breeds with target slaughter weights at 56 days rather than 35 demonstrate that comparable meat production is achievable without the welfare compromise of extreme growth genetics. Consumer and retailer pressure through the Better Chicken Commitment has created meaningful industry movement toward breed reform, representing one of the most significant welfare improvements achievable in poultry production.