The objective of this research was to create a detailed report on Aviagen and Cobb, delving into their industrial setup, core business, products, market presence, history and ownership.
Gathering all the necessary information was not easy and I may have left something out, but to start, I focused on identifying their industry profile and the core business of both companies.
I then continued to research their specific genetic lines and products. Finally, I compared and contrasted the two companies, examining their global presence, market share, history, and ownership.
NB: in the event that the companies cited believe that the data reported in this research need to be corrected, we are available to correct them based on their specific indications.
A further objective was to summarise (for a non-specialist and consumer or potential consumer audience) a document (albeit substantial) with basic information on these two global companies that determine a significant impact on food sources in a complex global context, but made necessarily “uniform” in some ways with regard to the guarantee of access to chicken meat and eggs. The research offers a panorama that illustrates, I hope clearly, the size and commitment of the sector.
Another objective was to argue the importance of these two realities in order to clarify the content of the article that you can find at this link in which, using hyperbole, I hypothesize the disappearance of the two main players in the poultry sector with the aim of illustrating their important contribution to accessible nutrition in the world.
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Some contents of this research are intentionally repeated to facilitate the linear understanding of this document which otherwise could be “heavy”.
I started with general research to get an overview and identify reliable sources:
The research was based on the following sites:
- glueup.com – Aviagen – Glue Up
- us – Raising Commercial Turkeys – Aviagen Turkeys
- madebyprisma.com – Our History – Cobb
- com
- Aviagen Group 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition | PitchBook
- ca – Cobb-Vantress Inc – Poultry Industry Council
- madebyprisma.com – Who We Are – Cobb
- com – Who We Are – Cobb-Vantress
- com – Global Genetic Bottleneck Poses Challenge for Poultry Industry – The AgriBiz
- com – US Poultry Industry Manual – Broilers: breeding flocks
- com – Ross 308 – Aviagen
- nucleos.com – EW Group
- wikipedia.org – EW Group – Wikipedia
- com – Products – Cobb-Vantress
- com – Resources – Cobb-Vantress
I then delved into a company and industry overview to gain the deepest possible understanding of Aviagen and Cobb, confirming that both are global leaders in the poultry industry.
broiler and turkey breeders , with a strong commitment to genetic improvement to select traits such as growth rate, feed efficiency and disease resistance.
Genetic Lines and Products
I have identified the main genetic lines and products offered by each company.
Aviagen markets brands such as Arbor Acres , Indian River, Ross (including the popular Ross 308), Rowan Range and Specialty Males , in addition to Aviagen Turkeys with the BUT and Nicholas brands.
Cobb , on the other hand, offers products such as Cobb500, CobbMale and MX Male, all aimed at improving the performance of broilers .
Global Presence and Market Share
I have found – and confirmed it with data – that Aviagen and Cobb are the two dominant players in the global poultry genetics market.
Aviagen is listed as the largest, with a global market share of 44% (2022 data) and a presence in over 100 countries.
Cobb is equally a leading supplier, with distribution in more than 120 countries.
I have noticed that the market is facing a ‘global genetic bottleneck’, and that Aviagen expects to reach 65% market share in Brazil by 2025.
History and Properties
I noted that Aviagen is owned by EW Group, a German multinational family-owned holding company specializing in livestock farming, which acquired it in 2005. EW Group also owns other companies in the industry, including Hubbard.
Cobb- Vantress , founded in 1916, is instead owned by Tyson Foods Inc., which acquired 100% of the shares from Upjohn Company in 1994.
After these initial insights, believing I had a solid base of information, I focused on the comparison and contrast between the two companies. To do so, I studied the contents of the official websites of Aviagen and Cobb.
In particular, I focused on the ‘About Us’ and ‘Products’ sections, to gather more specific details and confirm information about their ownership and structure.
This allowed me to consolidate the observed data and prepare a comprehensive report by referring to the following sites:
- com – Ross | Aviagen
- madebyprisma.com – Who We Are » Cobb
- glueup.com – Untitled – Glue Up
- wikipedia.org – EW Group – Wikipedia
- madebyprisma.com – Our History » Cobb
- com – Products – Cobb-Vantress
And here is the information I have collected:
Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress are both global leaders in the poultry breeding sector, specializing in the genetics of broiler and turkey breeders. Their focus is on the genetic improvement carried out by selection of crucial characteristics for the market such as growth rate, feed efficiency, meat quality and disease resistance. I have also been able to identify and confirm their main genetic lines and products, such as Arbor Acres , Indian River, Ross for Aviagen , and Cobb500, CobbMale , MX Male for Cobb.
Global Presence and Ownership
As identified during the research insights, I had confirmation of their global presence and ownership structure.
Aviagen , owned by the German EW Group since 2005, is considered the largest with a global market share of 44% (2022 data) and operates in over 85 countries.
Cobb- Vantress , the world’s oldest broiler breeding company (founded in 1916), has been owned by Tyson Foods , Inc. since 1994 and distributes in over 120 countries.
Confirmation of a ‘global genetic bottleneck’ has emerged, highlighting their dominant position in the market and yet constituting their ‘Achilles heel’.
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I think it is useful to explain what I mean by “global genetic bottleneck”
Imagine a funnel or an hourglass:
- The broad top represents the vast genetic diversity that originally existed between wild chickens and early domesticated breeds throughout the world.
- The narrow “neck” represents the point at which genetic diversity narrows dramatically. In our case, this “neck” is represented by a very few global companies , such as Aviagen and Cobb , which hold almost all of the starting genetic material for broiler chickens and, to a slightly lesser extent, for laying hens.
- The broad bottom represents the billions of chickens that are raised and slaughtered every year around the world. All of these chickens come from that narrow genetic base controlled by a few companies.
What is the “genetic bottleneck” in the context of Aviagen and Cobb:
- Market Dominance – Aviagen (with brands such as Ross and Arbor Acres ) and Cobb (with the Cobb brand) are the two major players in the global poultry genetics field. They have invested enormous resources in research and selection to create lines of chickens that grow very quickly, are efficient at converting feed into meat, and are relatively resistant to certain diseases. They have been so successful that their genetic strains have become the global standard.
- Narrow Genetic Base – This means that the vast majority of chickens that end up on our tables come from an extremely limited number of core genetic lines developed and maintained by these two companies. The “Grand Parents ” and ” Parents ” lines we discussed earlier come almost exclusively from them.
- Lack of Diversity – Although these companies have several genetic lines within them that crossbreed with each other, the overall genetic diversity of the global commercially raised chicken population is much less than it would be if there were many more independent genetic sources.
What are the implications of this “bottleneck”:
- High Health Risk – If a new, particularly virulent disease were to emerge and target the dominant genetic strains of Aviagen or Cobb (because they have an inherent, perhaps not yet known, susceptibility to that disease), there would be a huge risk to the entire global poultry production. The lack of genetic diversity means that fewer birds would have natural resistance to the disease, increasing the likelihood of widespread and devastating outbreaks.
- Economic Dependence – Chicken producers around the world are effectively dependent on these two companies for their starting genetic material (the chicks of ” Parents ” or “Grand Parents “). This gives Aviagen and Cobb enormous market power and influence throughout the supply chain.
- Lower Resilience – A system with little genetic diversity is less resilient to changes in the environment, climate, nutrition, or new health challenges. If farming conditions change dramatically, or if a particular feed ingredient becomes scarce, a genetically homogeneous population may have difficulty adapting.
- Loss of Local Breeds – The emphasis on intensive production and genetic efficiency has led to the abandonment of many local or traditional breeds of chickens, which despite having slower growth rates or lower egg production, possessed greater genetic variability and adaptation to specific local environments. These breeds are in many cases at risk of extinction, further reducing the overall genetic diversity of the species.
In short, by calling what is evident in the poultry sector a “global genetic bottleneck,” I mean that the genetic base from which almost all the chicken we consume is derived is extremely narrow and controlled by a very limited number of companies, bringing with it significant risks to biosecurity and the long-term sustainability of production.
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Returning to the research, to summarize and compare the data on Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress , I focused on their similarities (such as core business and global reach) and differences (including specific products, ownership and historical aspects) reaching a good level of knowledge that allowed me to compile the final research report.
Aviagen and Cobb: the pillars of global poultry genetics
Summary
Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress have established themselves as the undisputed leaders in the global market for primary poultry genetics, effectively forming a duopoly that supports global chicken and turkey production.
Both companies are integral components of larger, more diversified agribusiness conglomerates:
Aviagen is owned by the German EW Group,
Cobb- Vantress is a subsidiary of the American giant Tyson Foods, Inc.
The core mission of both revolves around genetic innovation to provide accessible, healthy and sustainable protein solutions globally.
The membership of Aviagen and Cobb in major food and agribusiness conglomerates (EW Group and Tyson Foods) is not coincidental, but reflects a strategic decision by these larger entities to manage and control a critical, upstream component of the protein value chain.
This control allows conglomerates to secure a consistent supply of high-performance genetics, ensuring consistency, quality and cost efficiency for their downstream operations, including poultry farming and food processing . This vertical commitment provides a significant competitive advantage, mitigates supply risks and allows for greater control over product characteristics from farm to fork . It also underscores the strategic importance of genetics in the broader global food system.
The Global Poultry Genetics Industry
The global poultry industry is deeply dependent on advanced genetics to meet the growing demand for accessible and healthy protein. Primary breeding companies are at the forefront of this industry, developing the foundational genetic lines that drive efficiency, health and welfare throughout the entire poultry production chain.
The primary broiler farming market is highly concentrated, dominated by a very small number of players.
broiler breeding companies were identified worldwide: Cobb- Vantress , Aviagen and Hubbard.
Aviagen ‘s acquisition of Hubbard between 2017 and 2018 further consolidated the market, effectively turning it into a duopoly between Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress .
Genetic advances in broiler and broiler breeder performance are critical to the sustainability of poultry production, enabling producers to stay ahead of industry trends and feed growing populations lean, affordable protein. This also highlights the high-risk nature of genetic research and development in this sector.
Aviagen: a global leader in poultry farming
Main Activity, Mission and R&D Focus
Aviagen is a global poultry breeding company headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. Its mission is to help its customers, chicken producers around the world, feed their growing communities with accessible, lean, healthy proteins. This is achieved by providing balanced and consistent genetic progress in breeder and broiler performance while promoting bird health and well-being.
The company is highly focused on research and development (R&D), investing more than 10% of its annual revenue in its global breeding program. This significant investment in R&D has led to groundbreaking innovations in the industry. For example, Aviagen was the first to use pulse oximetry to select birds for optimal cardiovascular health and to apply ultrasound technology to improve muscle, bone and reproductive health. This level of investment means that genetic superiority is not an incremental achievement, but comes from continuous, high-cost innovation . This positions Aviagen not just as a supplier, but as a technology leader, setting benchmarks for efficiency, health and welfare that competitors must strive to match. This R&D intensity also creates high barriers to entry for new players, reinforcing existing market concentration.
Key Product Brands and Genetic Lines
Aviagen offers a comprehensive portfolio of parent stock tailored to different market needs.
- Broiler Brands : Its main broiler brands include Arbor Acres® , Indian River® and Ross®. The Ross 308 in particular is recognized globally for its consistent performance, versatility, high egg count, good hatchability , growth rate, feed efficiency and hardiness. It is available in both fast and slow feathering varieties.
- Brands for Niche Markets: Rowan Range® and Specialty Lines Males ® are specifically targeted at slower growing segments, free range and organic markets.
- Turkey Brands: Avigen Turkeys is the leading global supplier of turkey breeders, supporting the world-renowned BUT and Nicholas brands. The company is distinguished by being a truly global supplier, with pedigree breeding programs in the United States ( Aviagen Turkeys , Inc.) and Europe ( Aviagen Turkeys , Ltd.). Aviagen Turkeys uses innovative technologies and maintains diverse genetic lines to select turkeys that perform best in a wide range of environments. Their breeding program takes a balanced approach, improving both commercial traits (such as live weight, feed efficiency and meat yield) and welfare traits (such as hardiness, cardiovascular fitness and leg strength).
The offering of distinct brands (Ross, Arbor Acres , Indian River) and specialized lines (Rowan Range, Specialty Males ) for broilers , together with dedicated programs for turkey breeding (BUT, Nicholas), indicates a well-defined strategy.
This diversification allows Aviagen to meet a broad spectrum of global customer needs, from high-volume, fast-growing conventional markets to niche, slower-growing or organic segments. Having a bird tailored “for the right market” maximizes their addressable market and improves resilience against changes in consumer preferences or regional production requirements. This “granular approach” to product development is a hallmark of market leadership.
Global Footprint and Operational Scale
Aviagen is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, USA, with operations in the UK, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, India, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the USA, with joint ventures in Asia and ongoing development into the Arab markets. The company employs nearly 8,000 people and serves customers in over 100 countries. As a subsidiary of the EW Group, Aviagen operates approximately 500 locations worldwide.
Ownership Structure: Part of EW Group
Aviagen is privately owned by the Erich Wesjohann Group (EW Group), a family-owned holding company based in Germany. The EW Group, founded in 1999 by Erich Wesjohann , is a German family-owned multinational livestock breeding group and a world leader in poultry and tilapia genetics. 3 The EW Group acquired Aviagen International Group Inc. in 2005, marking a significant expansion into broiler genetics . Additional acquisitions by the EW Group and integrated into Aviagen include Peterson Male (2010), Aviagen Turkeys (2006, formed from the merger of BUT and Nicholas) and Hubbard Breeders (2017/2018). EW Group’s broader businesses include animal and plant breeding, animal health and diagnostics, with animal breeding accounting for 77% of its turnover (€3.08 billion in FY2020/21).
Market Position and Strategic Growth
Aviagen is identified as the world’s largest broiler breeding company, with approximately 44% of the global market share and operations in over 85 countries. The company is actively investing in capacity expansion, as demonstrated by a new farm in Santo Antônio da Alegria, São Paulo, Brazil, with an annual capacity of 3.8 million breeder hens, representing 6% of Brazil’s total capacity.
Aviagen has invested 738 million reais ($130 million) in Brazil over the past five years, expanding its breeding capacity from 6 million birds in 2012 to 25 million today. This expansion is expected to increase Aviagen ’s market share in Brazil to 65% by 2025.
To meet growing demand, Aviagen has diversified its supply chain, supplying Latin American breeder importers from operations in Argentina and Colombia, whereas previously exports had come exclusively from Brazil.
Details of Aviagen ’s significant investments in Brazil and the diversification of its sourcing points in Latin America go beyond simple growth.
This is a response to a declared “shortage in the poultry genetics market”. This demonstrates a strategic imperative to not only capture market share in high-growth regions, but also to build resilience in their global supply chain.
By expanding capacity and diversifying production sites, Aviagen aims to mitigate risks associated with regional disruptions (e.g., disease outbreaks, geopolitical issues) and ensure consistent supply to its global customer base. This proactive investment reflects a long-term view of global protein demand and a commitment to maintaining market leadership in a context of supply challenges.
Cobb-Vantress: pioneer in broiler genetics
Core Activity, Mission and Innovation Driver
Cobb – Vantress Inc. is a poultry research and development company focused on improving the production and sales of broiler breeders . It holds the distinction of being the oldest pedigree broiler breeding company in the world, founded in 1916. Cobb’s mission is to make quality protein accessible, healthy and affordable around the world.
The company is driven by integrity, innovation and a commitment to continuous genetic progress, superior meat quality and industry-leading products and technical support. They emphasize the importance of operating in a safe, legal, ethical and sustainable manner.
Cobb is deeply committed to genetic research and responsible use of technology, focusing on innovation in the poultry industry for the next 100 years. Their approach to R&D incorporates cutting-edge technologies:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Used to improve poultry production from breeder selection to broiler management , helping to predict outcomes, identify trends and respond to dynamic industry needs.
- Data Collection and Management Systems – To analyze data from various sources to solve problems, identify trends, make predictions, and evaluate results.
- Robotics & Automation – Explored for their potential to revolutionize the poultry industry and meet future global sustainability and production needs.
Cobb’s explicit adoption of AI, robotics, and advanced data systems represents a significant strategic move that goes beyond traditional genetics. The company says these technologies “have the potential to revolutionize the poultry industry and help us meet future global sustainability and production needs.”
This signals a forward-looking strategy to not only incrementally improve genetics, but to fundamentally transform the operational aspects of poultry production. By investing in these disruptive technologies, Cobb aims to create new efficiencies, reduce environmental impact and potentially redefine best practices in the industry, ensuring its relevance and leadership in a future where resource efficiency and sustainability are paramount.
This positions them as innovators seeking to shape the technological future of the industry.
Key Product Brands and Genetic Lines
Cobb- Vantress offers tailored genetic solutions for optimized poultry production.
- Cobb500™: Their flagship product, known for its efficient and balanced performance, excelling with low cost feed rations and consistent uniformity.
- CobbMale ™: Designed to increase breeder productivity by offering a unique balance of breeder and broiler performance traits , with excellent breeder fertility, broiler growth and exceptional performance.
- MX Male™: also focused on improving breeder productivity and efficiency, providing high performance in both breeder and broiler breeders .
Product descriptions for Cobb500™ (which excels at low-cost feed rations) and the overall mission of making protein “affordable” highlight a key economic driver. Cobb genetic lines are specifically engineered to optimize feed conversion and overall production efficiency, directly addressing the largest cost component in broiler production .
This focus not only benefits their customers’ profitability, but also contributes to the affordability of chicken for consumers and aligns with sustainability goals by minimizing resource input per unit of output. This demonstrates a deep understanding of the economic realities and environmental pressures facing the poultry industry.
Global Reach and Historical Development
Cobb has grown to become one of the world’s leading suppliers of broiler breeders with distribution in over 120 countries.
Key Historical Milestones:
- 1916: Robert C. Cobb Sr. establishes “Cobb’s Pedigreed Chicks.”
- 1947: The all-white breeding line, “White Rocks”, begins.
- 1970: The UK breeding program starts the Cobb 500.
- 1974: Cobb is purchased by The Upjohn Company; Tyson Foods, Inc. acquires the Vantress breeding lines .
- 1986: Cobb- Vantress is formed as a joint venture between Tyson Foods, Inc. and The Upjohn Company, positioning Cobb as an international leader.
- 1994: Tyson Foods, Inc. acquires 100% of Cobb’s stock from The Upjohn Company, becoming the sole owner.
- 2000: Acquires the assets of Avian Farms, including genetic lines.
- 2007: Alliance with Hendrix Genetics; Cobb acquires Hybro .
- 2008: Partnership with Sasso (French breeder of colored/specialized breeders).
- 2016: Cobb celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Cobb’s history is characterized by significant acquisitions (Avian Farms, Hybro ) and strategic partnerships (Hendrix Genetics, Sasso). These moves illustrate a dynamic growth strategy that combines organic growth with inorganic expansion.
Acquisitions of additional breeding lines (Avian Farms, Hybro ) expand their genetic portfolio and market share, while partnerships (Sasso for the colored/slower growing bird markets) allow them to enter specialized segments without a full acquisition, demonstrating agility in responding to changing market needs and competitive pressures.
Ownership Structure: a Tyson Foods, Inc. Company.
Cobb- Vantress is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies. Tyson Foods acquired 100% of Cobb’s stock from The Upjohn Company in 1994, following an initial joint venture formed in 1986. This marks a strategic move by Tyson to integrate a key upstream component of its poultry supply chain.
Market Position and Commitment to Sustainability
Cobb is a leading global supplier, with distribution in over 120 countries. It is one of the two dominant players in the global poultry genetics market. Cobb emphasizes its commitment to sustainability through its genetic advancement and responsible use of technology, aiming to feed a growing world population with quality protein. They prioritize operating in a safe, legal, ethical and sustainable manner. They offer extensive customer support through a “Learning Center” with management guides, videos, white papers and tools to help customers maximize performance.
Cobb’s extensive “Learning Center,” which offers resources such as management guides, videos, and tools, goes beyond simply selling genetic material. In a complex organic industry, the performance of genetic lines is highly dependent on proper management. By providing comprehensive technical and educational support, Cobb ensures that its customers can maximize the genetic potential of their birds. This not only improves customer success and loyalty, but also strengthens the Cobb brand as a full-service partner, creating a loyal customer base and a competitive barrier against rivals who may offer less support.
Comparative Analysis: Aviagen vs. Cobb – Vantress
Shared Business Models and Market Objectives
Both companies operate as leading poultry breeding and genetics companies, focusing on broiler breeders . Their primary mission is to provide affordable, healthy, high-quality protein to a growing global population through advanced genetic advancement. Both are R&D intensive, investing significantly in genetic research and innovation to drive efficiency, health and welfare in poultry.
Both have a large global footprint, serving customers in over 100 countries.
Both are privately owned by large agribusiness conglomerates: Aviagen by EW Group (Germany) and Cobb- Vantress by Tyson Foods, Inc. (USA).
This ownership structure provides significant financial support and strategic alignment within the broader food supply chains.
Despite being competitors, both companies articulate a mission focused on feeding a “growing global population” with “accessible, lean, healthy protein.” This shared goal highlights that their competitive efforts are not just about market share, but also about addressing a critical global challenge: food security.
Their combined dominance means that their R&D and production strategies have a direct and significant impact on the availability and cost of poultry globally, making them critical players in the broader geopolitical and humanitarian landscape of food supply.
Distinctive Product Portfolios and Research and Development (R&D) Approaches
- Aviagen : Offers a broader portfolio that includes both broiler breeders ( Arbor Acres , Indian River, Ross, Rowan Range, Specialty Males ) than turkeys (BUT, Nicholas). Its R&D emphasizes balanced genetic progress for both commercial and wellness traits, leveraging technologies such as pulse oximetry and ultrasound.
- Cobb- Vantress : Primarily focused on broiler breeders (Cobb500, CobbMale , MX Male). Its R&D is moving towards advanced digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Systems and Robotics to revolutionize poultry production and sustainability.
While both are R&D driven, Aviagen emphasizes specific biological technologies (pulse oximetry, ultrasound) and a balanced approach to farming (commercial + welfare), while Cobb emphasizes digital technologies (AI, robotics, data). This suggests a subtle but significant divergence in their long-term R&D strategies.
Aviagen may focus on directly optimizing the biological breeding process and bird health, while Cobb appears to be investing in broader technological advances that could transform the entire production ecosystem, potentially creating new efficiencies and capabilities beyond pure genetics.
This difference could lead to distinct competitive advantages in the future.
Competitive Dynamics and Global Market Share
Aviagen is identified as the world’s largest broiler breeding company, with approximately 44% of the global market share. Cobb- Vantress is the other major player, with the global poultry genetics market dominated by these two companies. Aviagen ’s aggressive expansion into key markets such as Brazil (with a projected 65% market share by 2025 in Brazil) indicates intense competition even within a duopoly, where regional dominance is a strategic priority. Aviagen ’s acquisition of Hubbard further solidifies this duopolistic market structure.
The confirmed duopoly ( Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress dominating the global market) has profound implications beyond simple market share. In such a concentrated market, both companies have significant pricing power and influence over industry standards.
While this could potentially lead to higher prices for producers, the intense investment in R&D by both suggests that competition occurs primarily through innovation and genetic performance rather than solely on price.
High barriers to entry mean that new disruptive players are unlikely, reinforcing the long-term dominance of these two entities and their critical role in the global protein supply chain.
Conclusions
Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress are the driving forces of the global poultry genetics industry, indispensable to the production of protein on a global scale. Their duopoly position, strengthened by deep vertical integration with their respective agribusiness conglomerates (EW Group and Tyson Foods), gives them significant influence on the global food supply chain.
Both companies share a core mission: to improve the efficiency, health and affordability of poultry through continuous genetic advances. This mission is supported by substantial investments in research and development, which not only fuel their competitiveness but also set the standards for the entire industry.
While both are committed to innovation, distinctive approaches are observed:
Aviagen focuses on biological optimization and animal welfare through advanced technologies.
Cobb- Vantress is actively exploring the integration of digital technologies such as AI and robotics to transform manufacturing operations.
Their global expansion strategies, such as Aviagen ‘s significant investments in key markets such as Brazil and supply chain diversification, highlight dynamic competition even within a concentrated market structure.
This competition is manifested primarily through genetic innovation and the provision of value-added services, such as the extended technical support and training programs offered by Cobb.
In short, Aviagen and Cobb- Vantress are not just breeding companies; they are strategic players shaping the future of global protein supply.
Their continued dedication to innovation, investment and sustainability is crucial to meeting the growing global demand for protein, ensuring that poultry remains an efficient, healthy and affordable food source for generations to come.
See attached “TABLES 1 and 2” (https://moreaboutchicken.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tabelle-1-e-2-ENG.pdf) for some detailed summaries.
NB: in the event that the companies cited believe that the reported data need to be corrected, we are available to make the corrections based on their indications.
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References and Sources:
The information in this document is based on personal research and well-established knowledge in the field of poultry genetics and breeding. Some specific studies that support the differences mentioned include:
- Attia , Y. A., Hassan, R. A., El- Nagmy , K. Y., & El- Hanoun , A. M. (2009). Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens as affected by strain and stocking density . Poultry Science, 88(8), 1629-1639. (Often compares the performance of different lines)
- Iqbal, Z., Ahmad, F., Hameed, S., Ali, Z., & Ashraf, S. (2019). Comparison of productive performance of two broiler strains (Ross 308 vs. Cobb 500) under different stocking densities . Pure and Applied Biology , 8(2), 1269-1279.
- Kamran , M., Ahmad , S., Mani , M. A., & Nadeem , M. A. (2008). Comparative study of productive performance of two broiler strains (Ross 308 vs. Cobb 500) under different environmental conditions . Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 18(1), 35-39.
- Mousa, F. A., Al-Abbasi, S. N., & Al- Taee , A. A. (2012). Effect of dietary protein levels on performance of two broiler strains (Ross 308 and Cobb 500) . International Journal of Poultry Science, 11(2), 129-133.
- Rezaei , M., Sayyahzadeh , H., & Aliyari , D. (2014). Effects of dietary protein and energy levels on performance, carcass characteristics and serum parameters of Cobb 500 and Ross 308 broiler chickens . Journal of Applied Animal Research , 42(3), 323-328.
- Abudabos , A. M., Alyemni , B. A., & Aljammaz , I. A. (2013). Influence of stocking density on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and immunity in two commercial broiler strains . Italian Journal of Animal Science, 12(3), e66.
- Official websites of Aviagen ( www.aviagen.com ) and Cobb- Vantress ( www.cobb-vantress.com ) for their declarations, management manuals and performance data.
