What is SASSO Chicken: Profile and Characteristics

November 11, 2023 by Lauro Braganza

SASSO chickens are one of the most popular chicken brands in the Philippines raised in the backyard and even in large-scale free-ranging like the Pamora Farms in Abra.

SASSO (Sélection Avicole de la Sarthe et du Sud Ouest or Poultry Selection from Sarthe and South West), is a France-based poultry breeding company that was founded way back in the 1950s by French farmer Serge Perrault.

SASSO Chicken Background

In the 1950s Serge Perrault from southern France wanted to preserve the traditional chicken breeds. His work led to the development of the Sasso T lines. A project by a cooperative of farmers in the same area led to the creation of SASSO when they were involved in the development of the “Label Rouge” specifications for traditional chicken.

It was in the 1990s that SASSO opened a second location near the airport to streamline the export of the SASSO breeds.

In 2016, SASSO signed an alliance with Hendrix Genetics, leading to a collaboration in 2017, where Hendrix Genetics acts as a backup for all international SASSO breeding grandparent stock activities. They worked to the advantage of both SASSO and Hendrix Genetics, giving SASSO an international footprint while being an addition to Hendrix Genetics foray into the Traditional Poultry Breeds, which it started in 2013.

In Kenya, SASSO breeds are distributed via Tanzania’s Silverlands Company which distributes SASSO day-old chicks through small distributors in Kenya

Is SASSO a Breed?

Ano sapatos mo? Adidas
Ano bag mo? Louis Vuitton?
Ano pabango mo? Avon

See the above? No one is arguing about any of the statements above when all of these are company names and not shoes, bags, or fragrances. Why it is so difficult for us to accept when someone asks “Ano breed ng manok mo? SASSO”

This question has been the subject of many arguments similar to Kabir chickens. Although SASSO is not a breed but the name of a company, calling it a breed is not an issue and should not be criticized.

Take Louis Vuitton for example. Louis Vuitton is a fashion company and not the name of a bag. When someone asks “What is your bag?”, and you answer “Louis Vuitton”, no one is going to argue that Louis Vuitton is not a bag but a name of a company, right? The same should apply to SASSO. Yes, SASSO is a company name but there is nothing wrong with calling it a breed as well. All known breeds are cross-bred after all. And that includes Black Australorp, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Plymouth Rocks, etc. All domesticated breeds are hybrids because they are developed from different types of birds. There should be no argument about whether SASSO is a breed or not.

SASSO has many lines of breeds.

The SASSO chicken breeds are very popular in Africa due to their ability to withstand African poultry-keeping conditions. The popular lines of breeds are the SASSO Rainbow T (TR), SASSO Rainbow X (XR), SASSO Ruby C (C44), SASSO Ruby N (XL44N), and SASSO Ruby T (T44).

SASSO is the name of the company but can also be referred to as a breed, and a brand.

Why Raise SASSO Chicken?

Raising SASSO chicken has many benefits because it is big, meaty, easy, and faster to grow compared to our native chickens. SASSO is developed primarily for meat production via free-ranging but raising it for breeding and hatchery has also a big financial benefit. Many people are looking for both chicks and breeders and if you have a flock of SASSO, selling chicks is profitable.

Where to Buy SASSO?

If you want to start raising SASSO chicken, you should look for reliable sources. Many breeders are growing SASSO in the Philippines but if you take time to source and search online, you will probably find several breeders.

There are many types of SASSO chickens and you can choose depending on your preference and the availability of parent stocks and breeders.

Questions Related to SASSO Chickens

Is Sasso chicken good?

Sasso chicken is very healthy because it doesn’t require as many antibiotics due to its healthy genetic makeup. Chicken is high in protein and is a great source of amino acids. It has vitamin b12, iron, zinc, copper, and choline which are all vital for our overall health.

What type of breed is Sasso chicken?

The Sasso broiler chicken made to be hardy and a slow-growing bird is an alternative to the fast-growing hybrid broilers that are based on the cornish cross. Sasso is not a breed name, but the name of the French company that has been breeding chicken for decades.

Is Sasso chicken tasty?

The SASSO Red Chicken is unlike any chicken store or restaurant because it is naturally delicious and juicy. The taste is rich and succulent, from the wings and thighs to the breast meat, and will stay juicy long after cooking. The SASSO requires minimal preparation for a meal that won’t soon be forgotten.

Does Sasso chicken lay eggs?

production. Sasso can lay an average of 240, eggs. per year.

How long does Sasso lay eggs?

Sasso starts laying eggs after 5 months. You need to start feeding them laying mash at this point. Sasso can lay an average of 240 eggs per year .

Can Sasso eggs be hatched?

The major target in SASSO breeding program is the high production of hatching eggs from the parent breeder and a slow-growing, robust, easy-to-manage, multi-colored broiler that can be grown under different rearing systems – from indoor and intensive to Free Range and village family-based production.

How do you feed Sasso?

The recommended vaccination schedule is: Sasso chickens can be kept as layers or broilers. For laying, feed Fugo Chick and Duck Mash for the first 8 weeks, then slowly introduce Fugo Grower’s Mash until 18 weeks. At 18 weeks, slowly introduce Fugo Layer’s Compleat Meal and feed two handfuls for each chicken each day.

Is Sasso chicken organic?

Now, the SASSO chicken continues to grow in America as consumption patterns and trends have changed. There is a growing market of consumers looking for high-quality protein, raised to meet free range and organic standards, all while delivering a flavorful, delicious taste. This is all they can find in our birds.