Marshall Breeders launches new broiler breeding line in India

A new broiler breeding line - Marshall UC - has been launched in the Indian market by Marshall Breeders, a company of C&M Farming Ltd.

This breed was launched after a decade of research and development of feed conversion in broilers. The breed was specially designed to be able to provide excellent feed conversion in the hot and tropical conditions of India and Asia, said company chairman Elias D'Souza.

The launching comes at a time when important feed crops such as corn are diverted into the biofuel industry. Expected growth in the Indian poultry industry fueled by rising incomes and changing dietary habits will also boost future feed grain demand.

Trials showed that a parent bird consumed an average of 389g per broiler chick while a commercial bird reached a body weight of 2.6kg in 42 days with a cumulative feed consumption of 4.5kg or an FCR of 1.7, according to Dr U. Dasgupta, director of marketing for Marshall Breeders.