The welfare difference between fast-growing and slower-growing broiler breeds is one of the most significant and well-documented divides in commercial poultry production.
The broiler breed divide is arguably the most consequential welfare variable in the poultry industry. A slower-growing bird with a normal physiology that can walk without difficulty, has functioning cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and lives long enough to express normal behaviour is fundamentally different in welfare terms from a fast-growing bird that struggles to stand under its own weight in the final weeks. No amount of good management can compensate for the physiological compromises of extreme fast-growing breeds. Consumer demand for slower-growing breed chicken - supported by clear labelling - is the most effective lever for driving widespread adoption.