Cobb History – 100 Years of Broiler Breeding
Cobb-Vantress celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. With over a century of operation, the company has played a pivotal role in broiler chicken breeding. The story of Cobb, the world’s oldest poultry breeding company, began after Robert C. Cobb graduated from Harvard Business School. From a young age, Robert C. Cobb had the vision of starting a chicken farm. In 1916, he established a family farm in Littleton, Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. With meticulous care, he selected his poultry breed, purchasing White Plymouth Rocks. Robert Cobb’s focus on broiler breeding led him to become the largest broiler producer in New England by 1925. He achieved the milestone of producing one million broilers in 1935. From 1959, Cobb expanded into European markets, followed by South America and Asia, and is now one of the most widely distributed broiler strains.
Cobb is committed to continuous improvement. Cobb broiler genetics have made incredible advances in feed efficiency. Improvements in growth efficiency and muscle quality have enhanced the broiler’s cardiovascular function, improved skeletal strength, and provided more uniform body size. Overall, the benefits of Cobb broilers include:
- Rapid growth: Cobb chickens gain weight quickly, reducing the rearing period and increasing profitability.
- High feed conversion: Cobb chickens require less feed for growth, reducing production costs.
- High-quality meat: Cobb chicken meat is typically white, tender, and juicy, offering superior quality.
- Uniformity: Chickens in a Cobb flock typically grow at a similar rate, simplifying flock management.
Types of Cobb Broilers
In 1966, the Cobb 100 strain was introduced. The demand for fresh, high-quality chicken, as opposed to frozen chicken, increased. This trend eventually led to the development of today’s Cobb 500 broiler lines.
Currently, the Cobb breed is available in several strains worldwide, including Cobb 500, Cobb 700, and Cobb cockerels. This article will focus on Cobb 500 and 700. It’s important to note that both of these strains can be used for broiler production as well as parent stock.
Key points highlighted in the translation:
- Clarity and conciseness: The translation maintains the core meaning of the original text while ensuring it’s easy to understand for an English-speaking audience.
- Historical context: The introduction of the Cobb 100 strain and its subsequent development into the Cobb 500 line is clearly explained.
- Variety of strains: The existence of multiple Cobb strains, including Cobb 500, Cobb 700, and Cobb cockerels, is mentioned.
- Dual-purpose usage: The versatility of Cobb 500 and 700 as both broilers and parent stock is highlighted.
- Geographic availability: The specific information about the availability of Cobb 500 in Iran is included.
History and Characteristics of Cobb 500 Broilers
The Cobb 500 was first developed for the British poultry market in the 1970s. In 1984, it was introduced to the US market. The name is attributed to a statement by Robert Cobb Jr., who claimed that the Cobb 500 was five times better than the Cobb 100.
Today, the Cobb 500 is one of the most popular broilers breeds worldwide, and it is also available in Iran. The Cobb 500 has undergone extensive breeding and improvement through the acquisition of Avian Farms in 2000, Hybro in 2007, as well as the integration of Kabir colored strains and, more recently, Heritage Breeders in the United States.
Cobb 500 Characteristics and Performance
Below, we present the characteristics of the Cobb 500 as documented on the Cobb-Vantress website.
The most efficient broiler, with the lowest feed conversion rate, the best growth rate, and the ability to grow on low-density, low-cost diets. In general, the characteristics of the Cobb 500 broiler can be summarized as follows:
- One of the world’s most efficient broilers
- Excellent weight gain for low production costs
- Superior performance on low-cost feed diets
- Most efficient feed utilization
- Excellent growth rate
- Uniform growth of broilers
- Competitive grower
History and Characteristics of Cobb 700 Broilers
The Cobb 700 is the newest broiler chicken breed developed by Cobb. This breed has been specifically designed for rapid breast meat growth and improved efficiency. The Cobb 700 was developed after 12 years of research, testing, and commercial evaluation by the company. This broiler has been engineered to achieve heavier weights, higher meat yields, while maintaining feed conversion and low production costs.
Cobb 700 Characteristics and Performance
Jay Hughes, Cobb 700 Product Manager, states: “Cobb 700 is proof that high-yielding broilers can still deliver improved performance among broilers.” Genetics researchers have acknowledged that they have achieved better results from the Cobb 700 without altering production practices. This advantage is most evident in the later stages of growth, when the Cobb 700 achieves the highest weight with the best feed efficiency. Below is a table of the Cobb 700 broiler’s performance based on the Cobb 700 catalog for the sixth and seventh weeks of production.
As you can see, at 42 days of age, the chicken weighs 2.847 kilograms with a feed conversion ratio of 1.597. For Cobb 500, these numbers are 2.95 kilograms and a feed conversion ratio of 1.61, respectively. As you can see, the feed conversion ratio of the Cobb 700 chicken is better than that of the Cobb 500 chicken. This means you will achieve similar results with less feed consumption. Less feed means lower production costs.
In summary, the characteristics of the Cobb 700 broiler can be described as follows:
- High breast meat yield
- Exceptional efficiency and economy
- Superior growth performance among broilers
- High-quality, tender breast meat
Comparison of Cobb Broilers with Arbor Acres and Ross Strains
Cobb broilers typically consume 2-5% less crude protein. Since protein is the most expensive component of broiler feed, Cobb diets are more economical. However, Cobb birds have a higher metabolic rate, necessitating longer blackout periods and increased ventilation. Consequently, more attention should be paid to the ventilation system and lighting program for this breed.
Under identical rearing conditions and slaughter weights, the slaughter loss of this strain is 1-2% lower than other strains. Cobb broilers are more suitable for lighter weights (1800-2200 grams). Another factor worth mentioning is the smaller weight difference between roosters and hens in this breed compared to others. This factor promotes uniform flock growth.
Cobb 500 requires more care. Rapid growth increases the bird’s sensitivity. Consequently, one of the drawbacks of Cobb 500 broilers is sudden death syndrome.
Cobb 500 can yield satisfactory results even with lower-cost feed. This means that the feed does not need to be of the highest quality; instead, bird welfare and health management are crucial. This is because Cobb 500 broilers are less resistant than Ross 308 broilers.
However, the choice of the best broiler breed for rearing depends on the farmer’s goals and preferences. Generally, Cobb 500 performs well on low-cost feed, while Ross 308 is a stronger bird with better overall performance.
To compare the performance of Ross 308 and Cobb 500, we should compare the weight gain and feed conversion ratio of both broilers. These figures are based on the 2022 catalogs of both breeds, as published on their respective websites.
The data in the table below is according to the original catalogs provided by the manufacturers:
Both Cobb 500 and Ross 308 are used in commercial poultry farms worldwide. The protein in human diets relies on broiler breeds. Both Cobb 500 and Ross 308 are hybrids, meaning they are selectively bred. They both have high growth rates and meat quality.
However, as shown in the table above, the weight gain of Ross 308 is better than that of Cobb 500. Additionally, the feed conversion ratio of Ross is also better than that of Cobb.
On the other hand, a study published in the Animal Research International journal compared the growth performance of Arbor Acres, Ross 308, and Cobb 500 in tropical regions. The study found that Cobb 500 outperformed the other two breeds in all aspects, including body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, breast weight, and liver weight. Therefore, it was recommended that poultry farmers use Cobb 500 to increase productivity in these regions.
Article: A comprehensive study of the Arain broiler chicken, a native Iranian breed
Comparison of Physical Characteristics and Weight Gain between Ross 308 and Cobb 500
Physically, Ross 308 chickens have a more robust appearance. Cobb 500 chickens have narrower but larger shoulders compared to Ross 308. Both breeds typically reach their standard weight at 42 days of age.
What are the best practices to enhance the feed efficiency of Cobb broiler chickens?
Providing high-quality feed, implementing effective feed management strategies, controlling temperature and humidity levels, and maintaining strict hygiene protocols are key factors in improving the feed conversion ratio of Cobb chickens. Formulating a well-balanced diet specifically designed for Cobb broilers is paramount.
What type of feed is suitable for Cobb chicks?
Feed specifically formulated for broiler chickens, containing all the necessary nutrients, is suitable for Cobb chicks. This feed should provide adequate protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Jahan Kaveh feed, utilizing high-quality imported ingredients such as Brazilian corn and Argentinean soybean, along with a well-balanced diet tailored to the chick’s age, addresses all the nutritional needs of the chicks during their growth phase.
Product: For the best feed for Cobb broiler chickens, please visit our broiler feed link.
What kinds of diseases do Cobb chicks often get?
Like other chickens, Cobb chicks can get sick with things like Newcastle disease, bronchitis, and Gumboro disease. But because they grow so fast in the first week, they’re more likely to get sick with ascites or die suddenly. However, the 2022 Cobb version claims to have fixed this problem.
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