The Hidden Cruelty in Chicken Genetics Is Worse Than You Think

When people think of animal cruelty, they often picture stray pets or mistreated zoo animals. But according to Kenny Torrella from Vox’s Future Perfect, the real suffering happens on factory farms, and it’s not just about overcrowded cages. It’s in the animals’ genes.

Chickens make up around 95% of farmed animals in the US, with over 9 billion slaughtered each year. Over the past 80 years, the poultry industry has genetically modified chickens to grow unnaturally fast and large. In 1960, chickens reached a modest 3.35 pounds in about nine weeks. Today, they grow to 6.57 pounds in under seven weeks, according to the National Chicken Council. This extreme breeding causes painful health problems, like lameness and heart failure, often making it hard for chickens to even walk to their food.

Animal advocates have called today’s chickens “Frankenchickens,” trapped in bodies too heavy for their legs. Around 6% of US chickens — more than half a billion birds — die before reaching slaughter due to issues linked to their rapid growth, including sudden death syndrome.

It’s not just chickens. Other farm animals have been selectively bred for higher outputs too, causing major health problems. Dairy cows now produce five times more milk than in the 1940s, while pigs and turkeys grow bigger and faster than ever before. All of this genetic manipulation has made meat, milk, and eggs cheaper, but at a devastating cost to animal welfare.

Most consumers never see this hidden suffering, which makes change even harder. Some companies have promised to use slower-growing breeds, but action has been slow in the US, even as Europe starts to move ahead.

Choosing plant-based foods and supporting higher welfare farming practices can send a clear message. Every small shift helps build a kinder, more compassionate food system — and it starts with what’s on your plate.

Video Source: euronews/Youtube

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