What it is
The Ross 308 is a commercial broiler line developed by Aviagen. It is bred for rapid growth, high breast meat yield and efficient feed conversion. In Botswana it is the standard meat bird: Ross Botswana, part of the CBH Group, is the country’s leading supplier of day-old chicks and runs breeder farms and hatcheries in the south and at Francistown.
Growth and feed
Under good management a Ross 308 broiler reaches a live weight suitable for the Botswana market in about five to six weeks. Exact weights and feed conversion depend on feed quality, house temperature, stocking density and health. Aviagen publishes performance objectives for the breed; treat them as a ceiling reached under ideal conditions, not a promise.
Broilers are fed a starter, then a grower, then a finisher ration. Feed is the largest cost in broiler production in Botswana, and the government’s technical guidelines for broiler production give a cost framework for planning.
Management notes
- Brooding is critical. Chicks must be placed in a pre-warmed house with clean water and starter feed available immediately.
- Broilers grow so fast that leg problems and heat stress are the common losses. Ventilation and clean litter matter as much as feed.
- Follow the vaccination schedule given by your hatchery. See the vaccination and disease guide.
Buying Ross 308 chicks
Day-old Ross 308 chicks are ordered in boxes of one hundred. Availability from the hatchery is seasonal, with shortages common around Easter and towards the end of the year, so book ahead. Availability through chicken.co.bw is confirmed on enquiry.