Commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for breast muscle mass to such a degree that they can no longer reproduce naturally and suffer from leg problems and cardiovascular issues similar to broiler chickens.
Turkey welfare problems arising from extreme genetic selection parallel those of broiler chickens but receive less public attention due to lower consumption volumes. The inability to reproduce naturally is perhaps the most profound indicator of how far selection has deviated from biological viability. Heritage breeds and slower-growing commercial lines demonstrate that welfare and production are not inherently incompatible, just differently valued.