Description and characteristics of the Ross 308 broiler chicken breed, weight table by day

To obtain dietary chicken meat, broilers are bred, of which Ross 308 is one of the most productive. With proper care, chickens gain 3 kg by 2 months, which makes growing a hybrid economically profitable. The bird is well suited for households due to its calm temperament, tender meat and unusually high egg production for meat chickens.

Origin story

The Ross 308 broiler was developed in the UK by Aviagen in the last century. Successful representatives of meat breeds served as the genetic material; the main goal of scientists was to obtain a hybrid that would quickly gain weight, and it was successfully achieved. Ross 308 is not a full-fledged breed, but a cross, which means that offspring with all the characteristics of a broiler cannot be obtained at home. The rights to distribute eggs, chickens and chickens belong to Aviagen, which has sales offices in different countries; Ross 308 broilers are sold under the Ross brand.

Description and characteristics of the Ross 308 broiler

Ross 308 chickens are similar in appearance to other broilers with a strong build, developed muscles, and a wide, large carcass. It is difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish this cross by appearance from representatives of other meat breeds. What are the main characteristics of these broilers?

Appearance of birds

The plumage of Ross 308 broilers is snow-white; inclusions of other colors are unacceptable; such birds are rejected. The skin is elastic, painted in one light shade - these characteristics were given special attention during selection to give the carcass a marketable appearance. The legs of broilers are strong and widely spaced, which indicates the presence of fighting breeds in their ancestors. Ross 308 chickens have an oval body with a wide, protruding chest. The broiler's head is small, crowned with a bright red leaf-shaped crest, and small earrings are also red. The weight of an adult bird reaches 5.5-6 kg.

Breed Temperament

Despite the fact that broilers contain the blood of fighting roosters, Ross 308 chickens are absolutely not aggressive. They get along well with other inhabitants of the poultry house. It is possible to keep them in cages, since the cross adapts well to different conditions and can withstand a sedentary lifestyle.

Maturation and egg production of laying hens

Ross 308 broilers are distinguished by their versatility: they are bred mainly for tasty dietary meat, but at the same time the chickens lay quite a lot of eggs for representatives of the meat breed. Birds begin to lay eggs at the age of six months.

Meat indicators

The weight of an adult chicken reaches 5.5-6 kg, but broiler chickens are sent to slaughter earlier, starting at two months, when they gain 2.5-3 kg. With proper maintenance, daily weight gain is 55-60 grams. Up to 75% of meat is obtained from one carcass.

Egg standards

Despite the fact that the Ross 308 broiler is a meat-oriented hybrid, laying hens in terms of egg production are close to meat-egg hens. With proper care you can get up to 200 eggs per year. The egg weighs 55-60 grams.

Product quality

Chicken meat is a dietary product. Chicken meat is given to children, recommended to people on a diet, as well as during the rehabilitation period after illness, since it is a source of protein, vitamin B and PP, ascorbic acid and beta-carotene. Soft broiler meat is suitable for preparing broths and main courses; it is served boiled, fried, stewed and baked.

Chicken eggs are indispensable in the diet because they are rich in vitamins and microelements, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, iodine, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, boron and sulfur. Proteins are easily absorbed by the human body; they contain all the essential amino acids.Regular consumption of chicken eggs has a complex supporting effect on the body.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ross 308 chickens have many advantages, which include the following:

• Fast weight gain.
• Versatility: in addition to dietary meat, you can get valuable eggs.
• Peaceful, accommodating character.
• Inactive, allowing them to be kept in cages, while significantly saving space.
• High survival rate.
• It is economically profitable to maintain Ross 308 broilers.

There are not many disadvantages of the cross, and the most significant is the impossibility of obtaining offspring with all the characteristics of the parents at home. To raise broilers, you need to purchase eggs or chickens from a reliable supplier.

Another difficulty in keeping birds is the need for strict nutrition control. In order for the chicks to be healthy and gain weight well, you should carefully monitor their diet, quality and quantity of food.

As a minus of Ross 308 broilers, one can also note their unstable immunity. Birds often suffer from respiratory tract infections.

Growth chart by day

Ross 308 chickens gain weight well from the first day of life, which is clearly shown in the table below. Subject to the recommended conditions of detention and diet, they gain an average of 55 grams per day. This rate of weight gain is practically the highest among all existing crosses.

Features of cultivation

Broilers can be kept either in cages or in a poultry house, with netting or litter serving as the floor.Regardless of which room is chosen for chickens, it should be disinfected before use and then ventilated. Equipment and supplies should also be treated to destroy pathogens. Disinfection can be carried out using a solution of caustic soda, soda ash, formalin or other means.

The room for raising broilers must be closed. Lighting is installed around the clock. At night, you can turn on red lamps, which will provide both light and additional heating.

On the litter

In households, broilers are most often placed on litter. The main requirement for it is good absorbency, which is achieved due to sufficient dryness and friability of the selected material. Wood shavings, sunflower husks, straw or sawdust are well suited for use as bedding. The thickness of the layer is selected depending on the time of year: in winter at least 15 cm, in summer 5-7 cm is enough. The litter needs to be changed regularly to help prevent the spread of disease..

On mesh floors

The mesh cells should be of such a size that the birds cannot stick their paw through, but the droppings can easily fall through. The mesh is stretched in the prepared poultry house, securing it with a wooden beam. The advantage of a mesh floor is that it helps keep the floor clean without unnecessary labor costs, and also saves on bedding. More often, mesh is used as a floor in large industries.

In the poultry house

When keeping a poultry house, care should be taken to keep it warm, for which purpose heating is carried out in cold weather. The room must be sufficiently ventilated.Great care must be taken in cleaning and disinfection to ensure that chickens are not exposed to infections.

In cells

The disadvantage of cells is that they are difficult to properly clean and disinfect. The main advantage is saving space, since the cages can be installed in several tiers. When raising birds in this manner, it is important to ensure regular cleaning, temperature, humidity and ventilation.

When to worm?

Helminths are deadly to chickens if the disease is not treated. From one infected bird, parasites can spread to the entire flock. In addition, helminths enter eggs and meat, and therefore pose a danger to humans. To prevent helminthiasis, it is enough to take appropriate preventive measures.

Seasonal prophylaxis is carried out during periods of highest infection - in spring and autumn, for this purpose anthelmintic drugs are added to the feed once every 5 days for 2 months. Antihelminthic therapy is also carried out for newly acquired birds; the medicine is given to chickens up to 10 days of life.

Features of the diet of crosses

For broilers, it is recommended to use special feed, but you can prepare the food yourself, if you take into account the birds’ need for a balanced composition necessary for weight gain. Feeders should be designed in such a way that birds cannot rake the food with their paws. Dry food and water should be available at all times. The diet of chickens and adult birds has a number of differences.

Chickens

Small broilers need to be fed properly from the first days of life. Chickens up to 5 days old are given millet, sometimes chopped hard-boiled eggs are added.Finely chopped greens, sprouted barley and purchased complexes are introduced into the diet as a source of vitamins and minerals. From the 10th day of life, vegetables are introduced. At two weeks of age, it is advisable to switch to special mixtures for broiler chickens for rapid weight gain.

Adults

Adult birds can be fed commercial feed with a balanced composition, which will provide the body with all the necessary substances - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements. If you choose your diet yourself, be sure to include a grain mixture from protein-rich varieties. In addition, birds are given wet food containing boiled vegetables, bran, and vitamin and mineral supplements. A drinking bowl with clean water should be available to chickens at all times.

Incubation mode

Priority should be given to egg selection. Since it is impossible to obtain breeding material at home that is guaranteed to have the required characteristics, you need to find a bona fide seller. Products must be provided with certificates; each egg must be marked with the designation of the hybrid and the date of production. If you have the opportunity to choose eggs yourself, you should carefully inspect them for damage, giving preference to those that are the same size and of the correct shape.

After laying the eggs in the incubator, you must follow the instructions for the device. Usually the standard temperature for hatching chickens is maintained at about 38 degrees. The humidity is increased in the last 3 days so that the shell does not dry out and is not too hard, otherwise the chickens will not be able to break through it from the inside on their own.

Bird diseases and their treatment

Broilers can become infected with incurable diseases such as Marek's disease, aspergillosis, Newcastle disease, avian influenza, chicken pox. Sick birds must be immediately separated from the flock and destroyed.

Diseases that can be treated include bronchopneumonia, salmonellosis, pullorosis, coccidiosis, and mycoplasmosis. Chickens are treated with antibiotics and other specialized drugs.

To prevent diseases, it is necessary to vaccinate broilers and follow preventive measures. The following measures will help prevent illness:

• ventilation of the room;
• maintaining temperature and humidity in the chickens’ home;
• protection from drafts;
• a properly selected diet rich in vitamins;
• regular cleaning and disinfection of premises and equipment.

Ross 308 broilers are grown both in large production facilities and in households, since their rapid weight gain makes their maintenance economically profitable. Hybrids are more demanding in care and maintenance than other chickens, but this is compensated by the rapid production of tasty, tender meat.