Broiler chickens are the most numerous farmed land animal on Earth. Selective breeding for rapid growth has created endemic welfare problems that welfare science is now addressing through breed standards reform.
Broiler chicken welfare is fundamentally compromised by genetics that prioritise growth rate over health. The extreme breast muscle mass of modern commercial breeds creates cardiovascular stress, leg joint deformation, and chronic pain in a significant proportion of birds. Contact dermatitis from wet litter causes burn injuries to hocks and feet affecting most birds in intensive systems. The welfare contrast between conventional and slower-growing breeds is stark and well-documented: slower-growing birds are more active, have better leg health, and lower mortality rates. The Better Chicken Commitment provides a concrete policy framework for corporate commitments to welfare improvement. Consumer and corporate pressure has achieved significant commitments; implementation and verification are the ongoing challenges.