Farmed turkeys are among the most heavily genetically modified of all farmed species, with selective breeding for rapid growth creating serious welfare problems. Understanding turkey-specific welfare issues is essential for informed consumer choices.
Turkey welfare is profoundly compromised by the selective breeding choices of the past half-century. The quest for maximum breast meat yield has created birds whose bodies are poorly suited to the basic functions of locomotion and reproduction. Leg weakness causes lameness and reduces the ability to reach feed and water, increasing suffering especially as birds approach market weight. Cardiovascular disease causes sudden death in a proportion of birds. Housing in large, dimly lit sheds without enrichment denies turkeys the full range of natural behaviours. The welfare status of modern commercial turkey breeds is intrinsically poor in a way that cannot be fully resolved through management changes alone — meaningful improvement requires moving away from the most extreme growth breeds.