How can rapid growth in meat chickens cause health problems?

In the context of intensive animal farming, the rapid growth of meat chickens—achieved through selective breeding for optimal production—can lead to significant health complications. Specifically, this accelerated growth rate is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and lameness in the birds.1

While modern breeding and nutritional research have successfully enabled broilers to reach market weight in significantly less time than in the mid-20th century, these gains are often at odds with the animal's overall health. Prioritizing production efficiency over biological well-being raises serious ethical concerns regarding animal welfare, as the physical strain of rapid development can compromise the birds' quality of life.21