Male turkeys in commercial production are bred for extreme muscle mass that compromises mobility, cardiovascular function, and natural behaviour, raising fundamental welfare concerns.
The welfare of commercial male turkeys is fundamentally compromised by extreme selection for breast muscle yield. The resulting body conformation causes lameness, cardiovascular disease, respiratory distress, and inability to perform natural behaviours. These welfare problems are intrinsic to the breed type rather than addressable through management improvements alone. The most meaningful welfare solution is selection away from extreme growth phenotypes toward slower-growing breeds with body conformations compatible with normal function.