Detailed specifications and performance targets for commercial broilers and indigenous chicken breeds.
The Israeli Anak broiler line was a commercial broiler genotype developed by Anak Breeders in Israel and introduced to India in the late 1970s and 1980s. It offered good heat tolerance due to its genetic development in Mediterranean climates. However, its lack of local technical and breeding infrastructure prevented it from competing effectively with dominant localized Cobb lines, leading to its discontinuation. It is no longer commercially available.
The Arbor Acres Plus is a commercial broiler genotype developed by Aviagen Group in the United States, first introduced in the 1990s and available in India since the late 1990s to early 2000s. It was bred to deliver balanced, cost-effective performance across a range of housing systems and environmental conditions. The latest genetic version is the Arbor Acres Plus (2012/2019 Performance Objectives).
CARIBRO-Dhanraja (also known as CARI Dhanraja or Dhanraja Coloured Broiler) is a multi-colored commercial broiler genotype developed by ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Izatnagar, in the 1990s. It was developed to support backyard and semi-intensive poultry farming in India. It is primarily utilized by small-to-medium-scale farmers who require a colored broiler that fetches a premium in local live-bird markets.
CARIBRO-Mritunjaya (also known as CARI Mritunjai or Mritunjaya Broiler) is a commercial broiler genotype developed by ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Izatnagar, in the late 1990s to early 2000s. It incorporates the Naked Neck gene, which reduces feather coverage on the neck and body by approximately 20%–30%, improving the bird's ability to dissipate heat and survive in high temperatures. It was developed specifically for hot and dry agro-climatic zones of India.
CARIBRO-Tropicana (also known as CARI Tropicana or Tropicana Broiler) is a commercial broiler genotype developed by ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Izatnagar, in the late 1990s to early 2000s. It incorporates both the Naked Neck and Frizzle genes, which significantly reduce feather coverage and modify feather structure to improve heat dissipation and survival in high temperature and humidity. It was developed specifically for hot and humid coastal and tropical regions of India.
CARIBRO-Vishal (also known as CARI Vishal or Vishal Broiler) is a commercial white-plumaged broiler genotype developed by ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Izatnagar, in the 1990s. It was developed to deliver balanced, cost-effective performance under Indian environmental and management conditions. It topped the 30th Random Sample Poultry Performance Test (RSPPT), demonstrating its genetic potential and adaptability.
Chabro (also known as Chabro-Black or CPDO Chabro) is a dual-purpose, multi-colored commercial crossbred developed by the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO), Chandigarh, in the 2010s. It was developed to support backyard and semi-intensive poultry farming in Northern and Central India and has been recommended for propagation under rural backyard programs due to its high adaptability and disease resistance.
The Cobb 100 was a commercial broiler genotype developed by Cobb-Vantress in the United States, historically distributed in India by Venkateshwara Hatcheries. Introduced in India in the 1970s–1980s, it was the dominant commercial broiler genotype in India during the 1980s and 1990s, accounting for approximately 60%–70% of all broiler placements. It has since been phased out and replaced by more advanced lines.
The Cobb 500 is a highly popular commercial broiler genotype globally, developed by Cobb-Vantress in the United States and introduced to India in the late 1990s to early 2000s. It maintains a strong presence in India primarily within major integrated operations that value high breast meat yield and low production costs. The latest genetic versions include the Cobb 500 MV Male and Cobb 500 Slow Feather.
cobb500
The Hubbard Efficiency Plus is a commercial broiler genotype developed by Hubbard (a subsidiary of Aviagen Group) in France and the United States, introduced in India in 2018–2019. It was developed to combine high breeder productivity with a robust, feed-efficient broiler that performs well under varied, challenging environmental conditions. The latest genetic version is the Hubbard Efficiency Plus (Conventional Male M77).
The Hybro broiler line was a commercial broiler genotype developed by Euribrid in the Netherlands, introduced to the Indian commercial market in the late 1970s and 1980s. Due to its limited local technical service infrastructure and the strong early position of adapted Cobb genetics, the Hybro line did not achieve major market share and was eventually phased out. It is no longer commercially available.
Krishibro (also known as DPR Krishibro or Krishibro Coloured Broiler) is a multi-colored commercial broiler genotype developed by ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research (DPR), Hyderabad, in the 1990s. It was developed to support poultry farming in rural, backyard, and semi-intensive systems in India. The parental lines — PB-1 (synthetic colored broiler male line) and PB-2 (maternal female line) — have undergone continuous selection over 29 generations.
The Kuroiler (also known as Kuroiler FFG) is a dual-purpose commercial crossbred developed by Keggfarms Private Limited in India in the early 1990s. It was developed to thrive in harsh, low-input rural backyard conditions while delivering high meat and egg yields. The breed has reached over one million poor rural households across 19 states in India.
The Ross 308 AP is a premium-performance commercial broiler genotype bred by Aviagen Group to deliver balanced performance, combining a high-yielding, feed-efficient broiler with a highly productive breeder. Developed in the United Kingdom and United States, the Ross 308 standard was first introduced in the early 2000s, with the AP (Aviagen Performance) variant gaining prominence in India in the 2010s. In India, it is the primary alternative to the dominant Vencobb lines.
Vanaraja is a dual-purpose commercial crossbred developed by ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research (DPR), Hyderabad, in the late 1990s to support backyard poultry farming in rural, tribal, and remote areas of India. Over 3.8 million birds have been distributed across all agro-climatic zones, from Jammu & Kashmir to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The parent lines (PD1 Male / PD2 Female) are registered with ICAR-NBAGR as unique genetic resources.
The Vencobb 400 and its updated variant, the Vencobb 400Y, are commercial broiler breeds developed by Venco Research and Breeding Farms Private Limited in partnership with Cobb-Vantress. They were developed to optimize commercial broiler performance in tropical climates, particularly in traditional open-sided housing systems. First introduced in India in the early 1990s, the breed is distributed through VH Group's network of more than 300 franchisee hatcheries, securing approximately 75% market share of India's broiler industry.
The Vencobb 430 and its updated variant, the Vencobb 430Y, are commercial broiler breeds developed specifically for high-density, environmentally controlled (EC) housing systems. Developed by Venco Research and Breeding Farms Private Limited in collaboration with Cobb-Vantress and introduced in India in the 2010s, the Vencobb 430 has become a popular choice for integrations operating in Southern, Western, and Northern India as the Indian poultry industry invests in automated EC systems.
