Commercial turkeys are bred for extreme growth rates that cause chronic leg problems and cardiovascular disease, making genetic selection reform a central welfare priority.
The modern commercial turkey is a product of extreme selective breeding that prioritizes meat yield over animal welfare. Chronic lameness, heart disease, and reproductive inability are inherent to the standard commercial breed. Welfare reform requires transition to slower-growing breeds that retain locomotor function, alongside enrichment programs and improved housing that allow turkeys to express natural behaviors.