Commercial turkey production faces welfare challenges similar to broilers including growth-related disorders from intensive selection for rapid breast muscle development.
Turkey welfare shares the fundamental problem of broiler welfare: genetic selection for rapid breast muscle growth has created birds whose bodies cannot always support the demands placed on them. Cardiovascular failure, leg disorders from excessive body weight, and inability to mate naturally are direct consequences of these selection decisions. The welfare case for slower-growing turkey genetics, lower stocking densities, enriched housing, and access to natural light parallels the Better Chicken Commitment framework for broilers. Heritage breeds that maintain natural behavior and mobility provide a welfare-superior alternative for consumers willing to pay premium prices and accept longer production cycles. The scale of turkey production makes even incremental welfare improvements significant in their impact on individual birds.