The Kabir breed was established in Israel by the Katz family and has been owned for the past three years by the Italian Avizoo company headed by Dr Stefano Pollarini.

The Kabir gene pool includes a number of pure lines used to provide a range of products with specific coloured and naked neck characteristics. The gene pool is unique, considered to be close to the traditional fowl from which the modern broiler chicken has been developed.

Steve Parsons and Dr Stefano Pollarini, [centre left and right] pictured with their colleagues from Cobb Europe and Avizoo

Cobb Kabir30, one of the coloured breeds being marketed initially.

Selection has always been focused on natural traits, bred to perform robustly in more extensive environments and organic systems. Typically they are grown to 80 to 90 days of age to enhance meat quality and flavour.

This acquisition, following the purchase last year of Hybro with a number of coloured lines and the strategic partnership with Sasso, will put Cobb in a strong position to supply the coloured and alternative chicken markets in the future.

“With our pool of Hybro and Kabir, along with the Sasso colour genetics, we have a unique opportunity to find the best product combinations for current and future market opportunities,” says Steve Parsons, managing director of Cobb Europe.

“The acquisition could also provide further opportunities within our portfolio of white broilers as we have established that certain Kabir genes are showing a potential that could be beneficial to the Cobb white broiler breeding programme.

“At the same time Kabir gives us direct access to established markets in certain key countries in Italy and southern Europe. We see the Kabir range as being very much complementary to our existing colour genetic products, while also allowing us to develop other alternative products through our strategic partner Sasso for particular market segments."

Avizoo is the leader in the Italian coloured broiler market and to maintain continuity and relationships with these customers, Avizoo will continue to supply Kabir products into this market.

Dr Pollarini states: “Kabir International has a small but select group of customers in Italy, other parts of southern Europe, China, Malaysia, Thailand and the USA. I firmly believe there are many opportunities for Kabir’s current product range and for its test products to find a key place in the increasingly welfare-conscious chicken markets across the world.

“I am delighted that Cobb has recognised this potential,” he adds. “I am confident that under their stewardship and global guidance the Kabir breed will go from strength to strength.”