Poultry project members may find raising multi-colored, range fed broilers a rewarding and profitable enterprise. Private sales, local farmers markets and restaurants that feature “organically grown-locally sourced entrées” can provide niche markets for processed meat chickens.
Nevertheless, in head-to-head competition in the show ring at county fairs will lean toward the familiar white hybrid (Cornish/Cross) broilers because of economic efficiency and conformation factors
Show officials, parents and project members should recognize the genetic and environmental differences between range-fed and white hybrid broiler meat birds. Differences between range fed broilers and hybrid white broilers are comparable to the beef industry where there are considerable differences between beef breeds, dairy breeds and “grass fed” beef steers.
