What are the breeds of broilers
In order to get a lot of poultry meat in a short time, breeders have developed special crosses. Let's look at the most popular breeds of farm broilers that can be grown both in mass rearing conditions and in small farms.
Broiler breeds
Bird features
There is no such thing as a broiler breed in science. In the professional literature, farm broiler breeds are called crosses or hybrids. Like plants, birds have absorbed the best parental qualities that they cannot pass on to their offspring.
Broiler chickens of a farm breed quickly gain weight and go to slaughter by 3 months. Unlike adults, they have tender dietary meat, devoid of a specific species flavor. More products can be obtained from one carcass than from conventional farm chickens.
They have high productivity and are easily kept in artificially created conditions.
Cross-country representatives are recognized by their large size. At the age of 2 weeks, chickens gain at least 1.5 kg, and by 5 months they are from 4 to 5.5 kg. The main features are as follows:
- short limbs;
- compact body;
- calm character.
Egg production in hybrids is poorly developed, although females perfectly hatch chicks. Phlegmatic hens do not run away from the clutch and, without whims, bring natural incubation to the end. The most common view problem is falling on paws due to the rapidly increasing weight.
Foreign selection
The first breeds of chickens among broilers were bred in England. Farmers have noticed that from crossing individuals of different meat breeds, you can get chickens that grow quickly and gain weight. Which hybrid is better? Let's analyze the main favorites.
ISA F15
The Isa Hubbard is an original French breed that is extremely popular with meat producers. Compact chickens with a small head have white plumage and yellow skin pigmentation. The females have a broad, muscular chest, while the males have a medium one. Strong feet can easily support the weight of the hybrid.
What is the uniqueness of this special breed? Professionals classify broilers as meat and egg... In addition to tender products, the farmer also receives a high-quality large egg. If you create favorable living conditions and provide the pet with adequate nutrition, the bird is kept without problems.
The description of the cross indicates that all individuals demonstrate excellent weight gain without significant costs. Thanks to the compact body, the chicks have a survival rate. Chicks quickly adapt to any climate, so they are in high demand.
By week 7, females reach 2.6 kg, and males - almost 3.5 kg. Many farmers slaughter their livestock at the age of one month. This feature saves feed, allowing you to receive finished products much earlier.
Arbor Acres
Are there new breeds of broilers? Recently, the hybrid Arbor Akers (Aikres) has been popular among farmers.He belongs to the Isa Hubbard group, but has some distinctive features.
The characteristic says that cross-breed chickens are large birds with white feathers and yellow skin. The massive skeleton easily carries the enormous mass. Individuals have strong short legs, very developed legs and thighs. On a small neck, there is a medium head with a leaf-shaped comb.
The breed is considered one of the best and most productive. Chickens quickly build muscle, so by a month their weight reaches almost 2 kg, and after 10 days - 3. Patient farmers can get huge carcasses, which grow up to 6000 g. Low-calorie meat has a subtle sweetish taste and does not cause allergies.
When purchasing chicks, you should be aware of their weaknesses. Often, videos only talk about the pros, forgetting to indicate the cons. To grow a cross without problems, one must take into account the thermophilicity of birds. At the slightest fluctuations in temperature, the young grow "sad" and fall ill. For those looking to get the most out of it, you should consider appropriate content.
Master gris
An interesting foreign cross, which is used both as a source of meat and for the production of eggs. An unpretentious and hardy bird was received by French breeders. With proper care and maintenance, the survival rate of chicks approaches 99%.
The characteristic says that roosters can reach 7 kg, and females - almost 4 kg. Pets have delicious juicy meat without foreign aromas and low in fat. Unlike other broilers, representatives of the species begin to lay at 28 weeks, their productivity is up to 300 pieces per year.
A characteristic feature of the variety is the color of the plumage. Most often, the meat crosses are white, but the Master Gris Chickens will surprise you with a mixture of gray shades. Rough plump specimens can live like in cages, and in aviaries.
Foxy chick
Ideal for home breeding for beginners. For growth and mass gain, you do not need to make a lot of effort and purchase professional mixtures. Chicks develop naturally without problems, with a minimum mortality rate.
The main feature of the cross is red or brown feathers. Bright large chickens reach a weight of 4 kg, and males - 7 kg. In the photo they can be recognized by their wide chest and short massive legs.
Many farms practice raising young stock for eggs. During the year, the laying hen gives a little more than 240 pieces, while the mass of one copy is at least 70 g. Not all of them show such indicators. egg breeds.
Sasso XL 551
For lovers of the original flavor of meat, French breeders presented an unusual shape that tastes like game. Red birds with yellow skin and paws are unpretentious in care and feeding, so they will take root in any household.
broiler chickens of this breed can be raised free-range. Chickens gain weight well by feeding on pasture. By 100 days, the mass exceeds 4 kg. In the same period, hens begin to lay large eggs: from 80 to 95 g.
The initial growth rate lags slightly behind the commercial species, but they are designed for small-scale farming and outdoor grazing. Reviews of the farmers who owned the cross are always positive. After meeting with the hybrid, many switch to these birds. These are special broilers, these types of breeds give an output of more than 95% of the survival rate, which makes them as profitable as possible.
Domestic selection
To get a productive cross, it is not necessary to purchase expensive imported materials. Our scientists regularly breed interesting breeds that become worthy competitors. Let's take a look at the best ones.
COBB-500
A popular hybrid of chickens, popularly called "cop". A feature of the broiler breed is bright yellow skin, which is why the products are in high demand among consumers. After 6 weeks, the chicks have reached 2.5 kg and are ready for slaughter.
You can recognize chicks by their large massive paws and white plumage. They have wide breasts.In a herd, individuals practically do not differ in shape and characteristics: the difference between a male and a female is up to 500 g. Chickens have poor egg production.
Unlike other crosses, chicks of this species please with good survival and do not have digestive problems. The low cost of finished products is achieved due to the excellent ratio of the used feed to the obtained meat.
ROSS-308
A unique hybrid that is extremely popular. With proper feeding, chickens gain over 50 g per day. The active formation of muscle mass allows you to get about 2.5 kg of dietary meat by week 7.
Compact birds with white plumage have good productivity. A characteristic feature of the species is pale skin and a broad chest. Adults can please the owners with a very high egg production: about 185 eggs per year.
Calm chickens are not capricious in relation to food, therefore they do not react sharply to changes in the diet, but experienced farmers recommend not experimenting and prefer professional mixtures. In this case, death is excluded, and the weight will increase without problems.
ROSS-708
What is the best breed? Domestic breeders have developed a unique cross that combines all the positive characteristics of popular broilers. But the main advantage of birds is early maturity. A comparison of hybrids showed that a month after birth, the weight of chickens reaches 3 kg.
Due to the fact that young animals do not have time to mature, the finished product will have pale skin. Individuals can be recognized by powerful thick paws and a wide, weighty chest. All livestock have standard white plumage.
The price of chickens is always more expensive than that of COBB-500 and ROSS-308, so you need to choose trusted poultry suppliers. For maximum efficiency, it is recommended to feed the chickens with professional mixtures. Babies are vulnerable only in the first weeks, and then they adapt to the conditions.
Competitor-3
Another domestic cross has excellent characteristics. It is not as famous as COBB or ROSS, but it is highly productive. To get meat chickens, you need to cross breed birds Plymouth Rock and Cornish.
Chicks are distinguished by maximum vitality and uniformity of young stock in terms of live weight. The daily growth is at least 50 g, so at 6 weeks the chickens reach a weight of 2 kg. If you follow all the rules of keeping, then in 35 days you can send the livestock for slaughter.
From 5 months, chickens begin to lay. On average, productivity reaches 160 copies per year. Females produce excellent quills, although most often individuals are sent for meat.
Broiler-M
To obtain a cross, they are crossed Adler Silver with Yerevan Red. The result is a compact bird with short legs. The weight of males reaches 3 kg, and females - 2.5.
A versatile breed that was bred relatively recently, it is used to obtain both meat and eggs. Small body size allows you to place more individuals in one place. Low feed costs and free range make it possible to grow broilers in private plots.
Egg production peaks in the first year, then productivity begins to decline. The meat has a pleasant aroma and juiciness. The disadvantages of the breed include a tendency to rapid obesity, so it is recommended not to overfeed them after 6 months.
Growing features
Broiler farm bird breeds always gain weight quickly, but at a young age they are most vulnerable. To avoid problems, it is necessary to take into account all the subtleties of care and feeding. Let's analyze the important points.
Premises
To raise chickens, you need to think about the chicken coop in advance. In large factories, meat breeds are grown in cages, and in households, there is enough aviaries... Compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards will protect young animals from death.
The room temperature should not drop to 18 ° C and exceed 24 ° C. For the first 48 hours, chicks are kept at 32 ° C.Any sudden fluctuations will cause stress and illness.
The humidity in the chicken coop is 70%. Drafts or stuffiness should not be allowed. For active growth in the first weeks, they provide round-the-clock lighting, then gradually reduce it by 3 minutes: by the time of slaughter, daylight hours are 17 hours.
Feeding
Many people think that broiler breeds, like pigs, eat everything. Such errors lead to the fact that diarrhea begins in the livestock, a massive death occurs. Sensitive digestion reacts to any new additives, which is why professionals prefer to raise livestock in special mixtures.
In the conditions of the personal plot, chickens of meat crosses are fed in several stages.
- Elementary. After birth, the diet is the same as that of normal breeds.
- Protein. At the age of 5 days, the amount of protein food is gradually increased.
- Carbohydrate. After 12 days, some of the grain can be replaced with boiled potatoes.
- High-calorie. After a month, the nutritional value of the diet is improved.
If you follow all the rules, then by 7 weeks the chicks reach 2.5-3 kg. To prevent obesity from starting, it is recommended to reduce the number of servings and provide more greens. Vitamin-mineral complexes are added regularly.
Which breeds are best? Domestic and foreign breeders constantly delight with interesting works. The recommendations given will allow you to choose the optimal meat cross.