SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — Cobb-Vantress, LLC, recently announced the recipients of the Cobb Research Initiative (CRI) grants. They selected seven inventive projects to be funded this year.
According to a press release, the CRI is designed to advance the science of poultry genetics by fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. These cross-disciplinary connections play a vital role in tackling the main challenges of the industry—ranging from animal welfare to production efficiency.
However, this year looked a little different for the CRI.
“This year marked a milestone for the CRI, with a record number of proposals submitted,” said Dr. William Herring, vice president of research and development at Cobb. “By combining cutting edge technology with deep scientific expertise, we’re addressing the most pressing challenges in poultry production and advancing the future of genetics.”
The CRI aims to strengthen the global poultry supply chain and deliver long-term value to producers and consumers alike by focusing on enhancing the performance and resilience of Cobb breeding stock. By including researchers from different fields, the initiative consistently discovers new insights and develops tools that support genetic innovation.
“At Cobb, our commitment to progress is rooted in strategic partnerships,” said Shelby Watkins, president of Cobb. “By supporting these forward-thinking projects, we’re accelerating discovery, driving genetic progress, and helping provide more innovative solutions for our customers.”
Among the grant recipients is Guoming Li, a researcher at the University of Georgia, whose project focuses on the development of an intelligent system for individual tracking and phenotype extraction in group-housed broiler chickens throughout the production cycle.
