Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Some people feel that Cornish broilers provide an excellent start for raising poultry,
but if you choose them for your first flock, keep in mind that because they are quite dif-
ferent animals from most breeds, raising them tends to give you a unique perspective on
chicken raising that, in many ways, does not translate to the raising of other breeds.
Cornish Cross
Feeding Broilers
The growth rate of the Cornish Cross broilers is impressive, as is their consumption of
feed and water, compared to that of White Rocks, Orpingtons, Jersey Giants, and other
standard breeds of poultry that take twice as long to grow to full size. The diet of the
Cornish broilers must be carefully monitored. You may have a bit of a problem if you
decide to start experimenting with lower-protein feeds. If you choose to mix your own
feed, it may be missing some of the trace elements that are essential for good growth.
Cornish do best if kept on a standard ration that is developed especially for them.
FOOD-TO-MEAT CONVERSION
The rapid growth rate of the modern broiler requires a huge food intake. It's crucial
to butcher these birds at a certain point in their development or you'll lose consid-
erable profit margin. Although it takes 16 weeks for a traditional chicken to grow to
butcher size, the feed consumption rate is less than or equal to that needed to get the
Cornish Cross broiler to that size in 8 weeks.
