Commercial turkey production uses fast-growing breeds that suffer from musculoskeletal disorders, heart problems, and inability to mate naturally. Welfare reform in turkey farming lags behind progress in the broiler chicken sector.
Commercial turkey breeds represent an extreme case of selective breeding for production traits at the expense of animal welfare. The inability to reproduce naturally, high rates of leg weakness causing painful lameness, and cardiovascular disease from excessive growth rates are direct consequences of breed selection. Unlike broiler chickens where the Better Chicken Commitment has mobilized significant corporate action, turkey welfare reform has received comparatively little attention. Consumer demand for higher-welfare turkey, particularly around seasonal holidays, could drive significant change.