The Chicken of Tomorrow Contest was an animal husbandry contest held between 1946 and 1948 and sponsored by the American grocery store chain A&P, in partnership with the

US Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and producti ...

(USDA), to encourage the development of

broiler chickens Breed broiler is any chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') that is bred and raised specifically for meat production. Most commercial broilers reach slaughter weight between four and six weeks of age, although slower growing breeds reach slaug ...

breeds with more meat. Most broiler chickens around the world descend from the contest such as the

Cobb 500 The Cobb 500 is a fast-growing Broiler, broiler chicken breed. They can reach a 2 kg slaughter weight at 33 days old. They make up around half of all globally farmed chickens as of 2016. The Cobb 500 is controversial due to their health problems. ...

History

In 1945, A&P was convicted by the

U.S. Justice Department The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of Law of the Unite ...

for criminal

restraint of trade Restraints of trade is a common law doctrine relating to the enforceability of contractual restrictions on freedom to conduct business. It is a precursor of modern competition law. In an old leading case of '' Mitchel v Reynolds'' (1711) Lord S ...

. To improve its image during and after the trial, A&P decided to start the contest in addition to other public service work and press releases. In 1946, the competition began with state contests. Farmers and breeders brought hatching eggs to purpose-built facilities where the chicks were hatched and then raised in controlled conditions. The chicks' rate of growth and health was monitored for 12 weeks. They were then slaughtered, weighed, and judged on the basis of edible meat produced. In 1947, regional contests were held. From the regional contests, 40 finalists were selected to compete in the national competition for the title of "Chicken of Tomorrow". The final competition was held in 1948 at the University of Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station. The winners of the contest in the purebred category were the White Rocks belonging to Henry Saglio of Arbor Acres farm. Saglio was the son of an Italian immigrant who grew fruits and vegetables on a small family farm in

Glastonbury, Connecticut Glastonbury ( ) is a town in the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, United States, formally founded in 1693 and first settled in 1636. It was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is ...

. Saglio began raising chickens in a small coop he made from an old piano. The Red Cornish crosses from the Vantress Hatchery won the overall contest. After his win, Saglio built his family farm into one of the leading poultry development companies. He created the Arbor Acre breed, a cross of his White Rocks and the Vantress Red Cornish. Today, the genetics from the line are found poultry farms globally. In June 1948, the contest had a three mile long parade through

Georgetown, Delaware Georgetown is a town in and the county seat of Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the population of the town is 6,422, an increase of 38.3% over the previous decade. Georgetown is pa ...

which included a Chicken of Tomorrow Queen who rode in a carriage in the parade. The contest is described in the 1948

documentary A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

'' The Chicken of Tomorrow''.

References

{{reflist

External links

Chicken-of-Tomorrow Contest Papers at the University of Arkansas
Competitions in the United States The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Poultry farming in the United States 1946 establishments in the United States 1948 disestablishments in the United States