Conventional fast-growing broiler breeds suffer chronic lameness and cardiovascular disease as a result of extreme growth selection, while slower-growing alternatives demonstrate that production and welfare can coexist.
Broiler breed selection is the upstream determinant of welfare across the entire production system - a bird that cannot walk normally is impaired in every welfare domain simultaneously. The shift to slower-growing breeds represents the highest-leverage intervention available in broiler production because it addresses the root cause rather than managing symptoms. Corporate commitments to slower-growing breeds, when fulfilled, protect billions of birds from chronic pain. Consumer purchasing aligned with these commitments creates the market signal that sustains the shift.