How selective breeding for fast growth creates severe welfare problems in commercial broiler chickens.
The welfare crisis in broiler chicken production is one of the most severe and widespread in modern animal agriculture. Selective breeding for maximum muscle mass in minimum time has produced birds whose bodies cannot support their own weight without suffering. The pain of gait abnormality is well-documented — broilers preferentially choose anti-inflammatory medications when given a choice, demonstrating their pain awareness. The scale of the problem is vast: global broiler production exceeds 70 billion birds annually. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds that maintain better health and mobility is technically straightforward; the barrier is cost. Consumer pressure and welfare labeling create market incentives for this transition.