Commercial turkeys have been selectively bred for rapid breast muscle growth to the point that many cannot mount naturally or walk comfortably, creating welfare problems across their brief lives.
Commercial turkey breeding has followed the same trajectory as broiler chicken genetics: selection for extreme breast muscle growth that creates structural welfare problems. Turkeys so heavy-breasted they cannot support their own weight for normal activities, or sustain the reproductive act naturally, are experiencing welfare deficits built into their biology from the start. The intelligence of turkeys — often underestimated — means that these welfare deficits are experienced by animals capable of curiosity, social complexity, and emotional responses. Heritage breed programmes demonstrate that slower-growing birds with proportionate musculature live more welfare-positive lives and can behave normally. Consumer choice and retailer commitments to slower-growing breeds represent the market lever for reform.