Modern commercial turkeys have been selectively bred to the point where their bodies cause them constant physiological stress, representing one of the most extreme examples of welfare-compromising selective breeding in agriculture.
Commercial turkeys represent an extreme case of selective breeding for production traits at the expense of welfare. Their rapid growth creates skeletal and cardiovascular systems under constant physiological stress. Many birds spend their lives in chronic pain from leg disorders. The genetics themselves cause suffering that no amount of improved housing or management can fully address. Heritage breeds and reduced consumption represent the only meaningful welfare solutions at present.