Commercial turkey production uses breeds selected for rapid breast muscle growth that creates significant structural and metabolic welfare problems throughout the birds lives.
Commercial turkey welfare is compromised at the genetic level: breeds selected for maximum breast muscle growth produce animals whose bodies are structurally mismatched with normal locomotion and physiological function. A turkey that cannot walk without pain, cannot reproduce naturally, and dies from cardiovascular stress at a fraction of its natural lifespan is experiencing welfare deficits that are built into the breeding program itself. This represents a deeper problem than husbandry or housing — it is a welfare problem embedded in the genetics of the production animal. Slower-growing and heritage breeds produce turkeys with better musculoskeletal health, lower cardiovascular disease rates, and more normal behavioral repertoires. The transition to welfare-positive turkey production requires breed change as well as housing improvement.