Pascal Duenk, Mario Calus
The health and welfare of broiler chickens are increasingly important in the context of sustainable food production, societal expectations, and global challenges, such as climate change. The breeding industry has and will continue to play an important role in improving the health and welfare of broiler chickens. This chapter explores the history and development of broiler breeding goals, emphasizing the shift from growth and feed efficiency to balanced breeding that includes health and welfare traits. It then discusses global developments impacting broiler welfare, such as climate change and consumer concerns, and outlines future directions for breeding, including diversification, optimizing breeding goals, phenotyping, improving genomic selection, and breeding for disease resistance. By addressing these challenges and opportunities, the broiler industry can continue to enhance the health and overall welfare of broilers, ensuring sustainable production practices that meet the demands of farmers and consumers worldwide.