Modern commercial turkeys have been bred for extreme breast muscle development that causes mobility problems, cardiovascular disease, and inability to mate naturally. Breed reform offers substantial welfare improvements.
Commercial turkey breeding has created animals whose body plan causes chronic suffering. The inability to mate naturally, the mobility problems from excessive muscle mass, and the cardiovascular disease risk all represent welfare costs built into the genetics of commercial birds. This is a direct parallel to the broiler welfare problem - welfare compromised by selective breeding for production traits without welfare constraints. Switching to slower-growing breeds is the most fundamental welfare improvement available to the turkey industry.