Turkey welfare reform initiatives are targeting breed selection, housing enrichment, and stocking density to address the chronic welfare problems created by extreme growth genetics.
Turkey welfare reform faces the same challenges as broiler welfare reform: the industry has optimized for growth rate and feed conversion at the expense of the animals' physical integrity. The welfare solution requires both housing improvements and breed transition - enrichment provision helps but cannot overcome the mobility and cardiovascular problems inherent to extreme growth genetics. Consumer willingness to pay a premium for welfare-labeled turkey is the primary driver of the commercially viable transition.