1916 Robert C Cobb Senior buys the Old Pickard Farm in Littleton, Massachusetts, on November 20. Cobb’s Pedigreed Chicks is formed.
1960 First shipment of grandparent stock is sent to Cobb Breeding Company in the UK. New ventures develop in Argentina, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Ireland.
1974 Cobb is purchased by The Upjohn Company. Tyson Foods, Inc. acquires the Vantress breeding lines.
1986 Cobb-Vantress is formed as a joint venture between Tyson Foods, Inc. and The Upjohn —Company, and positions Cobb as an international leader in poultry breeding. The company moves from Concord, Massachusetts, to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. New research complex is developed in Jane, Missouri.
1994 Tyson Foods, Inc. acquires 100% of Cobb’s stock from the Upjohn Company. Cobb opens a second hatchery facility in Cleveland, Georgia. Three Springs pedigree farm in Oklahoma becomes operational. New join-venture agreement begins in China.
1998 Cobb Germany is formed to target central and eastern Europe. Work starts on a third pedigree breeding complex at Grand Meadows in Oklahoma.
2000 Cobb-Vantress, Inc acquires the assets of Avian Farms including facilities in Kentucky and —Texas, and the Avian genetic lines. A new grandparent franchise, Cobb South Africa, is set up by Rainbow Farms. Production begins at a new grandparent complex established by Cobb Egypt.
2001 The first great grandparent centers is inaugurated by Cobb-Vantress Brasil Limitada in São Paulo complex. The Cobb 700 is introduced to the US.
2002 The new $7 million feed mill opens at Siloam Springs. A new grandparent facility with Reproductores Cobb SA in Argentina goes into full production. A new joint venture company starts in the Dominican Republic.
2004 Cobb-Vantress Brazil opens new office at São Jose do Rio Preto. Cobb Avian 48 with focus on lower chick cost is introduced. UK Bawdeswell hatchery expands to increase regional grandparent production.
2005 Cobb South Africa gains a Cobb “Valued and Prestigious Partner Award” as one of the largest and fastest growing distributors globally. Cobb Germany appointed distributor for 17 countries in central and eastern Europe.
2006 $15 million project with Granja Alvorada in the Mato Grosso do Sul region of Brazilic is completed. Cobb Europe moves EMEA regional office from the Netherlands to Colchester, UK. Cobb completes 50 years at US Poultry & Egg International Expo in Atlanta, US. New sales structure announced with Cobb’s largest grandparent customer, Agrogen Desenvolvimento Genetico in Brazil.
2007 Alliance announced between Cobb-Vantress and Hendrix Genetics. Cobb acquires Hybro and enters an agreement on joint research and development in livestock genetics. The new Cobb 700 launched in North America and Europe.
2008 Partnership announced by Cobb and Sasso, the leading French breeder of colored and specialty breeding stock for slower growing markets, leading to launch of Cobb Sasso 150 and accreditation by RSPCA for Freedom Foods products. Purchase of TimberLake farm in Texas to house great grandparent level multiplier flocks to provide for increasing worldwide needs. Completion of alliance with Hendrix Genetics, purchase of Hybro. Opening of new hatchery in Russia by Broiler Budeshego. New distributors appointed in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Cobb announces a 4 year, US$10 million genomes research program with partners Hendrix Genetics and the USDA.
2009 Cobb Europe acquires Kabir International which specializes in colored chicken for niche markets globally. Three additionall distributors are approved in Asia.
2010 Construction of new Cobb Quality Testing Center doubles laboratory capacity at Siloam Springs, USA. Arkansas honors Cobb-Vantress for export success. Cobb-Vantress Brazil invests in local communities to improve lives of children.
2011 New investment in Cobb Europe great grandparent production facilities in UK New $14 million hatchery officially opened at Lafayette, Tennessee, USA, supplied by 27 breeder farms.
2012 Fifth US research complex officially opened in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, USA, represents $22 million investment in expanding pedigree breeding New research agreement with CP Foods in Thailand New regional sales and technical office opens in Bangkok, Thailand Cobb Española opens €5 million hatchery to supply Spain, Portugal and north Africa Cobb-Vantress and Hendrix Genetics sign further joint venture research agreement.