China has approved two new small white broiler lines—Yisheng 817 broiler and Guanghong No. 3 small white broiler—marking a renewed focus on this fast-growing segment of the poultry industry. These approvals reflect both genetic progress and the increasing market demand for more efficient and adaptable white-feathered broiler types, following earlier innovations such as Wode 168 and Yisheng 909.
China’s National Animal and Poultry Genetic Resources Committee has announced the public review of a new batch of poultry breeds, among which are two notable small white broiler lines: the Yisheng 817 broiler and the Guanghong No. 3 small white broiler. These additions mark the first official approval of new small white broilers in recent four years..
The term “small white chicken” refers to a breed category distinct from the standard white feathered broiler—commonly known as the “big white chicken.” The origins of this niche can be traced back to the hybrid 817, initially bred in 1988 for Dezhou braised chicken production, a cross between a white-feathered broiler male and a high-performance laying hen..
The newly announced Yisheng 817 broiler line has been co-developed by the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences’ Poultry Research Institute and Shandong Yisheng Livestock and Poultry Co., Ltd. According to earlier disclosures, the updated line demonstrates a significant improvement in growth rate and efficiency compared to its 1980s predecessor.
The Guanghong No. 3 small white broiler line, meanwhile, is a result of collaboration between Nanhai Poultry Breeding Co., Ltd., and South China Agricultural University. The company behind the project, Guangdong Guanghong Holdings, has already secured a national invention patent for its proprietary breeding technology..
Guanghong No. 3 small white broiler
These approvals reflect the fast-growing momentum behind the small white chicken segment. According to the latest report from China’s National Broiler Industry Technology System, the sector has been expanding consistently since 2016, reaching 2.477 billion birds slaughtered in 2024—a 9.36% increase year-on-year. In contrast, traditional yellow-feathered broiler production has been in steady decline, dropping 7.25% in 2024 to 3.334 billion birds.
However, before this resurgence, the conventional 817 production model had already begun to reveal structural limitations. Industry experts had long flagged issues such as irregular breeding practices, subpar disease control, poor nutritional standards, and inconsistent management—all contributing to variability in performance and quality.
In 2018, Yukun Poultry—then already one of the world’s top three layer breeding enterprises—achieved a milestone when its Wode 168 line became the first small white broiler with independent intellectual property rights to be officially recognised in China.
By 2021, two more lines received approval: Yukun’s Wode 158, which incorporates local chicken genetics for improved meat quality, though with slower growth; and Yisheng’s 909, a flexible line adapted to multiple housing systems (free-range and cage-rearing), suitable for both live and processed markets. The 909 is often promoted by Yisheng as a superior alternative to the original 817, with a faster turnaround—reaching slaughter weight 2–3 days earlier under equivalent conditions.
Parent breeder stock of Yisheng 909
Despite this, the specific performance and positioning differences between Yisheng 909 and Yisheng 817 broiler remain unclear. What is evident, however, is that the 909 line achieved strong sales in 2024, with 82.99 million chicks sold, generating revenue of RMB 110 million (approx. €14 million). This represents an 8.03% increase in volume but a 4.08% decline in revenue year-on-year.
In response to shifting market demands and heightened competition, Yisheng has initiated launched R&D for an upgraded 909 line. The objective is to further refine key production traits such as feed conversion ratio, daily weight gain, survivability, and final slaughter weight—enhancing overall economic efficiency in commercial flocks.
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