Commercial turkeys are bred for extreme muscle growth that causes severe welfare problems including lameness, cardiovascular disease, and inability to mate naturally — welfare challenges comparable to fast-growing broiler chickens.
Commercial turkeys experience chronic lameness from developmental skeletal disorders and the weight of hypertrophied breast muscle. Cardiovascular disease (aortic rupture, cardiomyopathy) causes sudden death in a significant proportion of flocks. Birds spend prolonged periods sitting, unable to access feeders and drinkers comfortably. Feather pecking and injurious behaviours are common in barren intensive environments. Slower-growing heritage breeds maintained in enriched outdoor systems show dramatically better welfare outcomes.