The selective breeding of broiler chickens for extreme rapid growth has produced widespread welfare problems; breed reform to slower-growing genetics is the most effective systemic solution.
Conventional broiler breeds represent one of the starkest examples of selective breeding creating animals whose own biology causes them chronic suffering. The genetics-driven welfare problems — lameness, cardiac disease, and contact dermatitis — affect the majority of the approximately 70 billion broilers raised annually globally. Unlike many farm animal welfare problems, these cannot be fully addressed through management improvements alone; the genetic foundation must change. Slower-growing breeds with a growth rate below 50 grams per day, combined with better stocking density, lighting, and enrichment requirements, dramatically improve welfare outcomes. The Better Chicken Commitment, driven by civil society pressure on food companies, has created significant market momentum for breed reform. Consumer choice for higher-welfare chicken products directly supports this shift.