Breed Highlights
- Purpose: Meat
- Market weight within 6 to 8 weeks
Breed Description
The Cornish Cross is a hybrid breed of chicken specifically developed for meat production. This crossbred chicken is a result of crossing a Cornish chicken with a White Plymouth Rock chicken, combining the favorable traits of both breeds. The Cornish Cross is renowned for its rapid growth and efficient feed conversion, making it a popular choice among commercial poultry farmers for broiler production. Characterized by its robust and muscular build. It has a short, compact body with broad breast muscles, giving it a plump and meaty appearance. The plumage of the Cornish Cross is typically white, contributing to a clean and uniform appearance. One of the defining features of the Cornish Cross is its exceptional growth rate. These chickens reach market weight at an impressively young age, typically within 6 to 8 weeks. At maturity, Cornish Cross chickens are known for their substantial size, with dressed weights ranging from 4 to 7 pounds or more, depending on the specific breeding program and feeding regimen. Cornish Cross chickens are a staple in the commercial poultry industry, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for meat production. Their ability to convert feed into muscle mass quickly has made them a preferred choice for broiler operations, contributing to the availability of affordable and readily accessible chicken meat in the market.
