Modern broiler chicken breeds have been selected for rapid growth that causes significant welfare problems, and breed reform is a critical welfare intervention.
Broiler chicken breed welfare is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available in the food system. The extreme growth rates of conventional broiler breeds cause suffering that is intrinsic to the genetic selection rather than a result of management failures - even in the best-managed conventional broiler flocks, leg disorders, heart conditions, and contact dermatitis are near-universal. Slower-growing breeds with better cardiovascular fitness, stronger legs, and more natural activity levels show dramatically improved welfare outcomes. Corporate commitments to transition to slower-growing breeds represent high-impact welfare wins.