Commercial turkey production uses fast-growing large-breasted breeds with significant welfare problems. Slower-growing heritage breeds and breed reform offer welfare improvements.
Turkey breed welfare reform mirrors the broiler chicken breed welfare debate. Commercial Broad-Breasted White turkeys are bred for extreme growth and muscle development that compromises cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and reproductive health. Leg disorders, heart attacks, and breathing difficulties are common at commercial densities and growth rates. Heritage breed turkeys maintain natural mating ability, better skeletal development, and lower pathology rates. The welfare case for breed reform is strong, but market transformation requires consumer demand for slower-growing turkey at higher price points or retailer-led supply chain changes. Some premium retailers are beginning to offer and market heritage breed or slower-growing turkey products.