The main welfare challenges in commercial turkey production including the health impacts of rapid growth, high stocking densities, and barren environments.
Turkey welfare in commercial production mirrors many of the same problems seen in broiler production but with additional concerns from extreme muscle hypertrophy that prevents natural reproduction and causes chronic musculoskeletal problems. The loss of natural mating ability in commercial turkeys is a profound welfare and ethical issue — a reproductive capacity that is fundamental to natural behavior has been selected out through genetics optimized purely for meat yield. High stocking densities, barren environments, and rapid growth compound welfare problems through feet and joint disease, respiratory stress, and behavioral frustration. Consumer demand for higher-welfare turkey products during holiday periods provides leverage for welfare improvement, but year-round consumption patterns and retail pricing structures create barriers to change.