Modern commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for rapid growth and large breast muscles to the point that natural behaviors and basic physical functions are severely compromised. Understanding this genetic welfare crisis is essential for reform.
The genetic modification of commercial turkeys represents one of the most extreme examples of production-driven breeding compromising animal welfare. Unlike broiler chicken reform where slow-growth breeds are commercially available and increasingly adopted, turkey breed reform has lagged significantly. The inability to mate naturally means the entire commercial turkey industry depends on a continuous artificial insemination program, itself a welfare concern. Welfare-conscious purchasing of heritage breed turkeys, while more expensive, supports breeding programs that maintain functional anatomy.