Genetics have improved significantly across all sectors of agriculture over the last few decades, from feed ingredients, to cotton production and in animal agriculture, especially in the broiler industry, explained genetics company Cobb Research and Development Vice President William Herring at the 2024 Chicken Marketing Summit.
“We're becoming more efficient. We're doing more with less resources,” he stated. “I don't think there's any end in sight to genetic progress or genetic change. We don't see that across agriculture anywhere, and we certainly don't see it in broiler genetics.”
To help advance poultry genetics further, Cobb created a program called “Cobb’s Proving Grounds,” which is focused on generating a large amount of data to improve its currents products and create new ones.
According to Herring, the initiative is multiplying its product data capabilities by 50 to quickly improve the genetic progress it can make in poultry. To do so, Cobb is utilizing multiple genetic research facilities with large-scale capabilities and environments comparable to commercial production conditions around the world.
Herring said that Cobb placed the first parent stock in April 2024, the second in August 2024 and it plans to place a third in February 2025 to ensure its genetic improvements are scalable on a commercial level and product consistent results.
“It's meant to generate data that one can have confidence in,” he added.
Genetics has always been a subject that is slightly over my head; it can be confusing when you start talking about how it all really works. However, it is encouraging to see how far poultry genetics have come, witness the impact they have had on the supply chain and wonder about where they are going to go next.
I have always appreciated being a part of an industry that cares about how the future generations are going to get fed.
Attend the 2025 Chicken Marketing Summit
The 2025 Chicken Marketing Summit will be held at the DeSoto Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, on July 28-30, 2025.
Serving a unique cross-section of the chicken supply chain, the Chicken Marketing Summit explores issues and trends in food marketing and consumer chicken consumption patterns and purchasing behavior.
Registration will open in early 2025.
For more information, visit: www.wattglobalmedia.com/chickenmarketingsummit/
