Broiler cross ROSS-308

There are special breeds of chickens that are characterized by rapid growth and are most suitable for commercial cultivation. One of such breeds is ROSS-308. Its main advantage is the possibility of breeding, not only in poultry farms, but also in the conditions of an individual household. It is highly productive with proper care and maintenance.

Selection

About how to bring a universal chicken breed, which would have a high fleshy and different rapid growth, scientists thought back in the XIX century. At that time, the work of American breeders was the first broiler chicken in the world.

British scientists, taking these pioneers of the broiler industry as an example, closely engaged in the examination and study of the genetic code of the new species, its advantages and disadvantages.

So, in the XX century, a new breed emerged, which to this day has not lost its popularity - ROSS-308. This is a broiler hybrid, that is, the full potential is aimed at increasing the meat component and at high growth rates.

The broiler of this breed is distributed by Aviagen, which owns all rights to chickens and hatching eggs. Their products are distributed in more than 100 countries around the world.

Exterior

The body of a broiler is powerful, with a broad, as if outstanding forward chest, shaped like an oval. Thighs are well developed and have impressive muscle mass. Legs are yellow, widely spaced. The back is sloping, rounded.

Check out the best breeds of broilers, learn how to properly maintain and feed broilers, how to grow broiler cross ROSS-708 and Hubbard broiler breed (Isa F-15).

Breed differs in a pure white color without the slightest impregnations. If they are present, the individual is rejected as not meeting the standards of the breed. The skin of the bird is thin, very flexible, which especially attracts buyers.

On the short neck is placed a small head with a comb, similar to a leaf. Both the comb and the earrings have a rich red color. Despite the fact that the ancestors of broilers are the fighting breeds of chickens, in the process of selective selection they managed to completely eradicate aggression. Only the general outline of the body resembles the roots, but the nature of the birds is quite peaceful. Even young animals do not differ in their collective nature and quite peacefully live together with their fellows, and with their neighbors in pasture.

It is worth noting the high adaptability of chickens of this breed to any conditions of detention, which allows them to grow even in cages. However, experts have a negative attitude to this method, since the low mobility of the bird affects the quality of the meat.

Did you know? A hen cannot be made to lay an egg in the dark, even if the time has come. To complete this process, the bird needs light (natural or artificial).

Productivity

High rates of weight gain - a distinctive feature of the breed ROSS-308. With proper organization, it is possible to raise broilers all year round even at home, fully providing the family with meat and selling surplus.

Precocity and taste of meat

Newborn broiler chickens are no different from other breeds. They are born weighing only 45 grams, covered with delicate white down, but after a month they acquire full-fledged plumage. Growth rates in chickens are amazing - they gain 55-60 g.

At the age of 30 days, the chicken weighs 1.5 kg and can already be slaughtered. The maximum age of a broiler is 2.5 months (weight can reach 5 kg). Further maintenance of chickens is not advisable from the economic side. A cut up carcass suitable for consumption makes up about 75% of the total mass. In this case, the breast is the main part of the meat and is 20-23%. Thigh - 12-13%, shin - about 10%.

Egg production

Since the breed ROSS-308 was originally planned as a meat one, no one expects high egg production from it. But, as practice has shown, it is in vain. With proper care and a balanced diet, layers can produce as many eggs as meat and egg breeds usually produce (about 150 pieces per year).

Learn how to increase egg production in chickens.

One egg weighs an average of 60 grams. During the molting period, chickens do not rush, but they need additional vitamins and minerals.

What to feed

For the full development and set of the necessary weight, the birds need to ensure proper nutrition. Feeding patterns will depend primarily on age.

Chickens

First feedings are carried out with great care and attention. Until one week old, chickens are fed ground ground oatmeal, millet, or other finely ground cereal.

Important! It is not worth the risk, starting feeding with wet foods. There is a danger of the development of bacteria and, as a result, various diseases.

You can enter into the diet boiled eggs, but they should be given immediately after cooking. Even after heat treatment, protein is a nutrient medium for pathogenic microorganisms, and babies of the first days of life are very sensitive to them. From the third day give fresh chopped greens. The main thing - wash it thoroughly. You can also give cottage cheese, germinated barley. Be sure to include in the diet of vitamin and mineral complexes.

We advise you to read about how to feed broiler chickens correctly, why broiler chickens die and how to treat infectious and non-infectious diseases of broilers.

When the chickens have reached two weeks of age (maybe a little earlier), boiled vegetables such as potatoes and carrots are introduced into the menu. These products are rich in carbohydrates and vitamins and are needed for the full growth and development of young stock - this is the period when active muscle growth begins.

In addition to vegetables in the diet, you can enter special feed for broiler chickens. In these mixtures, nutrients have already been calculated and selected in the correct proportions, which is very important for growth indicators. Up to 4 months per 1 kg of chicken weight takes about 1.5-2 kg of feed. Accelerated growth requires more vitamins and minerals. If you miss this point, the chicks will continue to gain weight, but more slowly and less efficiently. It will also negatively affect the nutritional and taste parameters of meat.

If you give special food, then there is nothing to worry about - all the needs of the growing organism are taken into account. If you grow chickens on the products at hand, you will have to give the vitamin complex in addition.

We recommend reading about what feed is and how to prepare feed for chickens.

Adults

Feeding adult birds is different from feeding young. Specialized foods are no longer aimed at growing and strengthening muscle mass, but at improving the taste of meat. There are also special complexes for providing laying hens with substances useful during the laying period. Therefore, grain mixtures contain premix and pigment. One chicken of breed ROSS-308 needs about 150 g of feed per day. Diet - feeding 3 times a day. In the summer season, the diet is naturally complemented by various herbs that the chickens themselves find on the range.

If you want to feed the chickens yourself, without using ready-made mixes, then you will have to take care of the nutrient balance. The protein in the cereal feed should be a large part, the rest - vegetable fats and carbohydrates. The most useful types of grain are wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Also do not forget to periodically enter into the diet "mash". This is a moist food, consisting of cereal porridge (brewed meat broth), vegetables, mineral and vitamin supplements. There may be trimming meat or fish, greens.

Important! Vitamins and minerals are added to already cooled food, otherwise they are destroyed at high temperature.

Content Features

Chicken herd spends most of its life indoors, so a lot of attention needs to be paid to the arrangement of the house. As artificially bred species, broilers are more susceptible to the influence of various pathogens, so they need special housing conditions (almost sterile).

In the house

First of all, the house can not be close. Birds should be comfortable and spacious, otherwise it will reduce physical activity and worsen growth rates. In addition, you need to create conditions for daily walks.

It will be useful for you to read about how to choose a chicken coop when buying, how to make a chicken coop with your own hands, how to equip a chicken coop for the winter, as well as how to make ventilation in the chicken coop.

It has long been tested and proved that birds that walk, have more tasty meat than grown in cages. There is no need for special perches, since the hens have powerful dimensions. It is necessary to lay a deep litter on the floor, and for purity and disease prevention to provide it with a layer of lime. The breed does not have frost resistance, so you need to take care of heating the house with heaters. If this is not possible, then at least warm the walls so that the temperature in winter does not fall below +5 degrees.

Watch out for humidity - this is also very important. Humidity levels above 60% can trigger the development of various bacterial infections, primarily affecting the respiratory tract. Newborn chicks up to ten days of age are placed in brooders with clean bedding, water and feed.

There are general guidelines for chick care:

• the initial air temperature should be + 30-32 ° C;
• every 3 days the temperature is reduced by one degree;
• after about a month (reaching the mark of + 20 ° C), the decline stops (this is the most successful temperature regime for broilers);
• humidity in the room for newborn chickens should be 70%, after 10 days - 60%;
• Light is needed 23 hours a day during the first week, then the indicators are reduced to the most optimal (individually).

Important! Ventilation is absolutely necessary in the house. At the same time try to prevent the occurrence of drafts.

In cages

The way of keeping broiler chickens in cages is more economical, but, as mentioned above, the lack of mobility affects the quality of meat. At some points, for example, reducing the risk of infectious diseases, cell culture is in the black.

But as for the care, the daily cleaning of the cells will take a lot of time and effort. Moreover, freeing the cage from birds, it must be thoroughly disinfected, and only then new inhabitants will be settled.

We advise you to get acquainted with the peculiarities of keeping chickens in cages, as well as learn how to make a broiler cage with your own hands.

Cells can be equipped independently, and you can buy ready-made complexes. Consider that a room like a house is still necessary, because the cages must stand somewhere. And that means that light, and ventilation, and heaters will also be needed. In summer, bird cages can be kept outside.

Do you need a walk

For the full development, as well as to improve the taste of meat, birds need walks. They should be long and regular.

ROSS-308 and COBB-500: comparison

Also, the color of the skin of the breed KOBB-500 is yellow, and the plumage is white. The skin color of the bird does not depend on the feed, so it has a profitable color for sale in any case. It is worth noting that, in general, both breeds in their characteristics are not inferior to each other, and the comparative figures given above play an important role only in the case of serious commercial breeding of broilers.

Advantages and disadvantages of cross

Advantages of cross-country:

1. rapid growth (and early slaughter as a result);
2. high-quality muscle mass;
3. light skin without yellowness;
4. high egg production (as for meat breed).

Breeders did not find any disadvantages of the breed ROSS-308, so feel free to introduce these broilers into your farm. If you plan to breed broiler chickens for your family, whether for sale, try to start with the breed ROSS-308.

Video: broiler growing ROSS 308 An unpretentious bird with a high rate of muscle growth and amazing performance will help the newcomer get comfortable in the process of breeding poultry. With minimal labor, time and money you will get a real chicken farm, which gives a good income. And the presence in the diet of homemade meat will positively affect the health of your entire family.

Watch the video: broiler farm 40 day old ross 308 (May 2024).