Chabro
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.
Practical Overview & Field Action
Field Verification Checkpoints
- FCR Benchmarks: 2.48 at 7 weeks (lowland intensive); 2.46 at 7 weeks (Kashmir Valley); 1.50–3.00 up to 8 weeks (high-altitude Leh-Ladakh)
Breed Characteristics
Economic Importance
Chabro is notable for its high adaptability to varied climatic conditions, including high-altitude cold zones such as Leh-Ladakh. It is recommended for smallholders and rural backyard operations in Northern and Central India. Scientific studies have shown that supplementing Chabro diets with Moringa leaf meal or alternative green proteins like Azolla can significantly improve FCR, carcass quality, and immune status.
Overview
Chabro (also known as Chabro-Black / Coloured Chabro) is a dual-purpose, multi-colored commercial crossbred developed by the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO), Chandigarh, and introduced in India in the 2010s. It was designed to support backyard and semi-intensive poultry farming in Northern and Central India. The Chabro-Black variant is highly popular in northern regions.
Origin
Developed by CPDO, Chandigarh. Alternate names include CPDO Chabro and Chabro-Black. Latest genetic versions include Chabro-Black and Coloured Chabro.
Production Performance
| Performance Parameter | Lowland Intensive (CPDO Specs) | Kashmir Valley Winter Intensive | High-Altitude Leh-Ladakh (11,500 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Age | 7–8 weeks | 7–8 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
| Weight at 4 Weeks | 1.000–1.100 kg | 0.352 kg | 0.342–0.410 kg |
| Weight at 7 Weeks | 1.400–1.500 kg | 1.111 kg | 0.701 kg |
| Weight at 60 Days | — | — | 1.00 kg |
| Adult Weight (Males) | 2.50–3.00 kg | N/A | 1.50–1.80 kg |
| Adult Weight (Females) | 2.00–2.20 kg | N/A | — |
| FCR (Grow-out) | 2.48 (at 7 weeks) | 2.46 (at 7 weeks) | 1.50–3.00 (up to 8 weeks) |
| Livability Percentage | ≥96.0% | 94.5%–96.5% | 91.5%–96.5% (3.5% mortality in week 1) |
| Dressing Yield | 66.0%–68.0% | 65.0%–67.5% | 62.0%–65.0% |
Key Characteristics
- Feather Color: Multi-colored plumage; Chabro-Black variant highly popular in northern regions
- Heat Tolerance: High — excellent climate adaptability
- Cold Tolerance: High — performs in high-altitude cold zones including Leh-Ladakh
- Leg Strength: Good — maintains robust metabolic health under standard conditions
- Alternative Feed Responsiveness: Moringa leaf meal (up to 3%) shown to improve weight gain, FCR, and carcass protein
Management Requirements
- Housing: Highly adaptable — intensive, semi-intensive, and backyard conditions
- Brooding Temperature: 33°C on day one, reducing weekly
- Stocking Density: 1.2–1.3 sq. ft. per bird in intensive systems
- Water: Encouraging water intake is critical in high-altitude zones to prevent gut impaction
- Feed Program: Standard commercial starter and finisher feeds; Moringa leaf meal (up to 3%) shown to improve weight gain, FCR, and carcass protein; Azolla can also improve FCR, carcass quality, and immune status
Health Considerations
- Excellent general disease resistance and climate adaptability
- Standard vaccinations for Newcastle Disease and Fowl Pox highly recommended
- In high-altitude zones, cold-induced ascites and gut impaction (associated with low water intake) are primary health challenges — maintaining adequate brooding temperatures, proper ventilation, and encouraging water intake are critical
- Leg strength is good — robust metabolic health under standard conditions
Economic Importance
Cost-effective for smallholders and rural backyard operations, delivering reliable growth and production under varied conditions. While growth rate is slower than specialized commercial broilers, high adaptability, lower feed costs, and premium prices in local markets help ensure consistent returns.
Advantages
- High adaptability to varied climatic conditions, including high-altitude cold zones
- Excellent dual-purpose utility, delivering competitive meat and egg yields
- High resistance to local diseases and environmental extremes
- Strong performance on alternative, low-cost feed formulations
Limitations
- Slower growth rate and higher FCR compared to commercial broilers in intensive systems
- Slower growth and higher risk of ascites under high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia
- Phenotypic variation in color and size may not align with industrial processing demands
Best Suitable Farming Systems
- Backyard and semi-intensive farming in Northern and Central India
- High-altitude cold zones (Leh-Ladakh, Kashmir Valley)
- Rural backyard programs with low-cost feed formulations
References
- Juvenile growth performance of Chabro birds in Kashmir Valley — SKUAST Journal, 2014, SKUAST-K Portal
- Growth performance and survivability of Chabro-Black at high altitude — ResearchGate Publication, 2022, ResearchGate
- Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on Chabro performance — International Journal of Livestock Research, 2020, IJLR
Review official commercial growth, feed intake, and FCR efficiency trajectories for Cobb 500, Ross 308, and VenCobb 430 with governed biophysical comparability.
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