Jake Harper
Broiler chickens are those that are bred and raised specifically for meat production. There are many different breeds of broiler chicken, each with its own advantages, including growth rate, meat quality, temperament, and egg-laying capabilities. Some of the most common broiler breeds include the Cornish Cross, White Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire Red, and the Egyptian Fayoumi. The Cornish Cross is the most well-known of the broiler breeds and is the type of chicken most often sold in grocery stores.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Any chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) that is bred and raised specifically for meat production |
| Global production in 2014 | 86.6 million tonnes |
| Worldwide population in 2018 | 23 billion |
| Feed conversion ratio (FCR) | 1.91 kg of feed per kg of live weight (US, 2011) |
| Slaughter weight | Reached between 4 and 6 weeks of age, slower-growing breeds reach weight at 14 weeks |
| Colour | White feathers, yellowish skin |
| Health | Susceptible to skeletal malformation, skin and eye lesions, congestive heart conditions, metabolic disorders, and leg problems |
| Common breeds | Cornish Cross, Vencobb, White Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire Red, Egyptian Fayoumi, Dorking, McMurray Hatchery's Big Red Broilers, Bresse, Red Rangers, Chantecler |
| Taste | Red Rangers taste sweeter than Cornish Cross broilers |
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What You'll Learn
Cornish Cross
Broiler chickens are those that are bred and raised specifically for meat production. The Cornish Cross is the most common and standard meat chicken for the American market and is the most well-known of the broiler breeds. It is a hybrid of certain secret strains that include the Cornish and White Plymouth breeds. The first attempts at this crossbreed were made in the 1930s, and it became the dominant commercial bird by the 1960s. Modern broilers are typically third-generation offspring, with four grandparents from four different strains.
The rapid weight gain and meat production of Cornish Cross chickens come at a cost to their health, intelligence, and longevity. They are susceptible to leg problems, organ failure, and heart attacks. Their massive weight makes it impossible for them to perch, and they often prefer to sit on the ground. They are also very loud and constantly make an annoying honking noise because they choke on their food due to eating so fast and so much.
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White Plymouth Rock
The White Plymouth Rock chicken is a dual-purpose breed, meaning it can be kept for its meat and its eggs. It was recognised as a distinct chicken breed and admitted to the American Standard of Perfection as a pure breed chicken in 1888. It was first seen in Massachusetts in the nineteenth century and was the most widely kept chicken breed in the United States for much of the early twentieth century. It is said to have been named after the rock the Pilgrims first stepped foot on in Massachusetts.
In industrial agriculture, crosses of suitable strains of White Plymouth Rock with industrial strains of White Cornish constitute the principal stock of American broiler production. The first crossbreed of a male of a naturally double-breasted Cornish strain and a female White Plymouth Rock was introduced in the 1930s and became dominant in the 1960s. This crossbreed was plagued by problems of low fertility, slow growth, and disease susceptibility, so modern broilers have become very different from the Cornish/Rock crossbreeds.
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New Hampshire Red
Broiler chickens are those that are bred and raised specifically for meat production. They are typically slaughtered between four and six weeks of age, though slower-growing breeds may reach slaughter weight at around 14 weeks. The most well-known broiler breed is the Cornish Cross, which is a hybrid of the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock breeds. These chickens are not good egg layers and are bred specifically for meat. Other dual-purpose breeds, which are suitable for both meat and egg production, are also used as broilers.
The New Hampshire Red, or simply New Hampshire, is an American breed of chicken developed in the early 20th century in the state of New Hampshire. It was created through the selective breeding of Rhode Island Red stock, with an emphasis on rapid growth, rapid feathering, and meat production. The resulting birds are a somewhat lighter red colour than the original Rhode Island stock. New Hampshires were admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1935, and in 2018, they were designated the official poultry of the state.
New Hampshires are dual-purpose chickens, selected more for meat production than egg production. They possess a deep, broad body and grow feathers very quickly. They are good mothers and make excellent family-friendly chickens, as they are placid and easy to tame. They are also good foragers, which means they require less feed. Hens lay approximately 120-220 brown eggs per year, with an average weight of about 55 grams. The average weight of mature birds is 2.9-3.9 kg, with males weighing about 3.9 kg and hens approximately 3.0 kg.
New Hampshires are included in breeding programs for broiler chickens. They were first used in an attempt to create a meat crossbreed in the 1930s, which became dominant in the 1960s. However, this original crossbreed had issues with low fertility, slow growth, and disease susceptibility. Modern broilers have since become very different from the Cornish/Rock crossbreeds, with breeding programs incorporating other breeds like New Hampshires to improve meat production.
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Red Rangers
Broiler chickens are those that are bred and raised specifically for meat production. In 2004, nearly 47 billion meat chickens were produced worldwide, with the United States, China, the EU, and Brazil being the top producers.
Murray McMurray Hatchery offers an updated version of the Red Ranger called Murray's Big Red Broiler, which is said to produce a table bird in just 12 weeks.
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Vencobb
Broiler chickens are Gallus gallus domesticus that are bred and raised specifically for meat production. Commercial broilers usually reach slaughter weight between four and six weeks of age, though slower-growing breeds may take up to 14 weeks. The typical broiler has white feathers and yellowish skin.
Today, only two or three breeding companies supply around 90% of the world's breeder-broilers. In 2004, approximately 19% of the world's meat chickens were produced in the US, 15% in China, 13% in the EU25, and 11% in Brazil. In 2005, around 5.9 billion broiler chickens for eating were produced yearly in the European Union.
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Frequently asked questions
The Cornish Cross is the most well-known breed of chicken used for broiler. They are a hybrid of the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock breeds.
The Cornish Cross breed grows very quickly and can be harvested between 8-10 weeks of age.
Yes, other common breeds used for broiler include the New Hampshire Red, Egyptian Fayoumi, Dorking, McMurray Hatchery's Big Red Broilers, and Vencobb.
When choosing a chicken breed for broiler, you should consider factors such as the approximate weight, processing time, feed conversion ratio, growth rate, meat quality, temperament, and suitability for your climate and farming setup.
