Transitioning from fast-growing to slower-growing broiler breeds is one of the most impactful single changes available to improve welfare in commercial poultry production.
The body form of modern fast-growing commercial broilers is so extreme that it constitutes a chronic welfare problem for every bird in those systems. Leg weakness, cardiovascular strain, and systemic metabolic problems affect a significant proportion of birds before slaughter. Switching to slower-growing breeds is not a marginal improvement but a fundamental change to the biological welfare baseline. Consumer and corporate commitment to breed reform through the Better Chicken Commitment has created meaningful market pressure for change, with major purchasers requiring breed reform as a supply condition.