Comparative analysis of the effect of genotype on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of cobb 500 and ross 308 modern commercial broiler chickens raised in the tropics

This study evaluated the comparative effects of genotype on the growth performance and economic efficiency of two commercial broiler strains Cobb 500 and Ross 308 raised under tropical environmental conditions. A total of 200 day-old chicks, consisting of 100 birds from each of the two strains, were randomly assigned to five experimental groups per strain, with 20 birds per group. Birds were reared for six weeks, and data on body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality and production economics were collected. Results showed no significant differences in the initial body weight of the two strains. However, Cobb 500 exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) BW and WG from the first week through to the sixth week compared to Ross 308. The FI was consistently higher in Cobb 500 across all weeks, yet its FCR values remained superior, indicating more efficient feed utilization. Mortality rates were not significantly different between the two genotypes, suggesting comparable adaptability to tropical conditions. In terms of carcass characteristics, Cobb 500 broilers recorded significantly higher carcass weight, breast muscle, drumstick, and wing weights compared to Ross 308. Economic analysis revealed that although Cobb 500 incurred higher feed costs, it achieved greater final BW, higher dressed weight, and superior profit margins than Ross 308. The total profit for Cobb 500 exceeded that of Ross 308. These findings indicate that Cobb 500 demonstrates better growth performance, feed efficiency, and profitability, making it a more economically viable strain for broiler production under tropical environmental conditions.