Commercial broiler breeds selected for extreme rapid growth experience chronic health problems from the weight of their own bodies, making breed selection one of the most systemic welfare issues in poultry production.
The welfare problems of commercial broiler chickens are largely designed into the birds themselves through selection for extreme growth rates. No management intervention can fully compensate for the structural unsoundness of birds bred to grow faster than their skeletal and cardiovascular systems can support. Transition to slower-growing breeds that have been specifically evaluated for welfare outcomes is the most systemic available intervention. Consumer purchasing choices and retailer commitments that create market demand for welfare-breed chicken are the primary driver of breed change.