Commercial turkey breeds have been selectively bred for such extreme breast muscle growth that birds cannot walk properly, mate naturally, or live beyond market weight without chronic welfare compromise.
Turkey welfare is fundamentally compromised by extreme selective breeding for breast muscle growth. The scale of breast muscle development shifts birds' centre of gravity, causing them to walk with a characteristic rolling gait that reflects chronic discomfort. Leg weakness and joint disease cause pain and difficulty reaching food and water, with some birds dying from starvation in group housing. The inability to mate naturally means 100% of commercial turkeys are produced through artificial insemination - a stressful procedure for both male and female birds. Slower-growing heritage breeds that can live and breed naturally represent a welfare-preferable alternative.