Intensive selective breeding of commercial turkeys has created welfare problems analogous to broiler chickens, with slower-growing breeds and better-managed systems offering significant improvements.
Turkey breed welfare mirrors the broiler welfare issue at a smaller scale. Fast-growing commercial breeds develop physiological problems - leg disorders, cardiovascular stress, inability to mate naturally - that are consequences of selective breeding for production traits at the expense of welfare. Slower-growing breeds with better physical conformity have substantially better welfare indicators. The relatively smaller scale of the turkey industry compared to broilers provides an opportunity for higher welfare systems to achieve meaningful market share if consumer demand for welfare-certified turkey continues to grow.