Modern commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for extreme breast muscle growth, creating a range of health and welfare problems that affect billions of birds raised annually for food.
The degree to which commercial turkey production prioritizes growth rate over animal wellbeing is striking. Birds are bred to a body configuration that causes chronic lameness, cardiovascular strain, and reproductive inability. The suffering is systemic and built into the genetics of commercial production rather than being an occasional welfare failure. Meaningful welfare improvement requires breed selection reform — choosing slower-growing breeds or heritage breeds with better health outcomes. Environmental improvements including better litter management, reduced stocking density, and access to perches improve welfare within current systems but cannot address the fundamental genetic welfare burden.