Farmed Turkey Welfare: Fast Growth and Its Consequences

Modern commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for rapid growth and large breast muscles, producing welfare problems strikingly similar to those seen in broiler chickens.

Key Facts

Commercial turkeys have been bred to reach market weight in 12-16 weeks — half the time of heritage breeds
Breast muscle mass in commercial turkeys now prevents natural mating — all commercial production uses artificial insemination
Leg and joint problems are common due to the disproportionate body mass relative to skeletal development
Hock burn from contact with litter affects over 60% of turkeys in some production systems
Heritage breed turkeys with slower growth rates have substantially better welfare outcomes across measured parameters

Welfare Considerations

Commercial turkey production has followed a similar trajectory to broiler chicken production, with selection for rapid growth generating severe welfare consequences. The extreme breast muscle development that drives profitability has rendered natural reproduction impossible, imposes skeletal stress causing chronic lameness, and creates circulatory challenges. The welfare contrast between fast-growing commercial and slow-growing heritage breeds is stark and well-documented. Consumer preference for heritage and slower-growing breeds, and retailer commitments to sourcing standards that exclude the fastest-growing strains, offer the most direct route to improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose turkey products from heritage or slower-growing breeds where labeled
Support welfare certification schemes that prohibit the fastest-growing turkey strains
Reduce turkey consumption, particularly of commodity products from intensive production systems
Advocate for breed welfare criteria in national turkey farming codes of practice