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Managerial Aspects of Fighting Roosters

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Chidambaranathan Arumugasami Sudhanya Nath

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Article
Managerial Aspects of Fighting Roosters
Chidambaranathan
Arumugasami
B.V.Sc. & A.H. Student,
Veterinary College and
Research Institute, Tirunelveli,
Tamil Nadu - 627358
Dr. Sudhanya Nath
PhD Scholar, Department of
Animal Nutrition, West Bengal
University of Animal &
Fishery Sciences, Kolkata,
West Bengal – 700037
Abstract
Rooster-fights are ingrained in many parts of India and other countries. These were widely
broadcasted in the eighteenth century as animal sports that cut across class lines. In this
sport, two or more specially bred birds, known as gamecocks, are placed in an enclosed pit to
fight, for the primary purposes of gambling and entertainment. A typical cockfight can last
anywhere from several minutes to more than half an hour and may cause severe injuries,
even death of birds. Although rooster-fights are illegal in most jurisdictions, it is still
prevalent across the nation in all sorts of communities. This article focuses on the types of
fighting roosters and their management including feeding, vaccination, diseases and
treatment.
Keywords: Rooster-fights, Gamecocks, Management, Feeding, Treatment

Introduction fighting is also practiced in most of Ÿ Peela (golden red).

A rooster, also known as a cockerel or the places of Tamil Nadu. Body weight of different stages of
cock, is a male gallinaceous bird, with Ÿ Places in Tamil Nadu where rooster Aseel:
cockerel being younger and rooster fighting prevail mainly are
being an adult male chicken (Gallus Poolavalasu, Thanjavur, Pattukotai,
gallus domesticus). A rooster often sits Mannarkudi, Salem, Kaviloor and
on a high perch during the daytime, some southern parts of Tamil Nadu.
usually 3 - 5 feet off the ground, to serve Places of Growing Roosters
as a lookout for his group (hence the
All places of Tamil Nadu. Although
term "rooster"). He sounds a distinctive
Chennai has become the Metropolitan
alarm call if predators are nearby and
City, most of the fighting roosters are
will frequently crow to assert his
grown in and around Chennai.
territory. Roosters are desi chickens that
are born with high level of ferocio- Breeds Mostly Used In Fighting
usness and aggressiveness. Behaviour Aseel/ Asil: This breed is found in Varieties of Aseel with Pictures
of aggressive fighting begins to South Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan,
develop at the age of 3-4 months. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They
Rooster Fighting are mainly known for its high stamina,
pugnacity and have dogged fighting
Ÿ It is a traditional game that is played
qualities. They are mainly used for meat
to maintain the prestige and dignity
production as they are poor in egg
among the society. It is first
production. They have the long and
developed by Tamilans.
slender face which is not covered with
Ÿ Rooster fighting is being practiced feather, compact eyes, long neck, and
from ancient times as prestigious small tail and has strong and straight
game and game of leisure time fun. legs. They have black, red or mixed
Ÿ It became the platform for color feathers. The most popular
displaying of bravery and prize varieties of Aseel are as follows:
money was introduced for partici- Ÿ Reza (light red),
pation encouragement.
Ÿ Teekar (brown),
Ÿ It is the act of enhancing the level of
Ÿ Chitta (black and white silver),
ferociousness and aggressiveness
by practice and sharpening of spur. Ÿ Kagar (black),
Ÿ During pongal festival like Jallikattu Ÿ Nurie 89 (white),
(bull dominance sport), rooster Ÿ Yarkin (black and red),

Volume 02 | Issue 07 | October 2020 | Poultry Square | 14


Age of Rooster at Fighting
Ÿ 4-5 months after crowing (1.5yrs)
Crowing: The rooster is of ten
portrayed as crowing at the break of
dawn ("cock-a-doodle-doo"). However,
while many roosters crow shortly after
waking up; this idea is not exactly true. A
rooster can and will crow at any time of
the day. Some roosters are especially
vociferous, crowing almost constantly,
while others only crow a few times a
day. These differences depend upon the
r o o s t e r 's b r e e d a n d i n d i v i d u a l
personality. A rooster can often be seen
sitting on fence posts or other objects,
where he crows to proclaim his territory.
Rooster crowing contests are a
traditional sport in several countries,
such as Germany, the Netherlands,
Belgium, the United States, Indonesia
and Japan. The oldest contests are held
with long-crowers. Depending on the
breed, either the duration of the
crowing or the times the rooster crows
within a certain time is measured.
Judging of Rooster
Roosters are judged based on the
following characteristics:
Ÿ Eye structure,
Ÿ Face structure,
Ÿ Length of beak and neck,
Ÿ Body conformation,
Volume 02 | Issue 07 | October 2020 | Poultry Square | 16
Ÿ Length of leg, Ÿ Before the exercise, rooster should
Ÿ Spur development, be allowed for walking for 20
minutes.
Ÿ Tail shape,
Feeding Management of Rooster
Ÿ Wings and feathers.
Roosters require higher protein and
Selection of Rooster
lower calcium than laying hens.
Fighting roosters are being selected by
On Season
pedigree analysis based on the
performance of the ancestors. Ÿ Morning - Pulses
Types of Fighting Roosters Ÿ Afternoon - Non veg mixture, spleen
of goat, one egg, gills of fish, dried
Ÿ Naked Leg Fighter - Yakuth, Kather,
fish etc.
Java, Noori, Peela, Seetha, Dhummer
Ÿ Evening - Grinded mixture of grains
Ÿ Knife Leg Fighter - Black Assel, Parrot
should be roasted and provides for
beak assel (Kilimooku Seval),White
all roosters for 21 days to enhance
assel (kokkuvelai assel),Vallorr assel
the strength and fighting ability of
(whole white), Red color (sevalai
cock.
seval), Keeri seval, Ash color aseel,
Peacock seval. Protein
Note: Rooster that is meant for fighting
should be segregated from breeding
fence before 1 month.
Daily Practice
Ÿ Rubbing of face portion for better
cutaneous circulation.
Ÿ Grooming the whole body of rooster
with warm water.
Water
Ÿ Stretching of wings to certain extent
For the starter phase, i.e., the first water
which should not cause any pain to
of chick should include 1/4th cup of
rooster.
sugar and 1 teaspoon of Terramycin/
Ÿ Washing the legs to get devoid of gallon and second water should include
faecal material that adheres the legs 1 teaspoon of Terramycin and then
and to destroy the germs present in normal water should be given. One
the surface. quart of water should be provided to
Ÿ Just making them to walk upright by every four chickens. Water must be
holding the tail of the rooster to fresh and clean.
some extent. Carbohydrate
Training of Roosters Ÿ Carbohydrates are important to
Ÿ 21 days of training should be maintain temperature and are
required for all the fighting roosters. difficult to digest.
Ÿ Training person should be in close Ÿ Carbohydrates should not be more
contact with the fighting rooster than 10%.
every day at least twice; in morning Mineral
1hr and evening 1hr.
Ÿ Minerals are important to build
Ÿ Every morning rooster should be bones and eggs.
allowed for swimming for the
Ÿ They are also important for other
tightening of muscle and to enhance
body works.
the speed of the rooster in the battle
and for regulation of heat. Ÿ The diet should include the
following minerals: Calcium,
 Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Ÿ Handling of chicks should be done carefully while taking out from the incubator.
Phosphorus, Chlorine, Sulphur, Ÿ After taking out chicks from the incubator, they are placed in the brooder. For
Manganese, Iron, Copper, Iodine, the first week the temperature of brooder must be 95°F and for every following
Zinc, Cobalt and Selenium. week, it must be dropped by 5°F.
Care of The Breed Ÿ Proper feed must be given to chicks and clean water must be available every
Shelter and Care: time in the brooder.
Ÿ Suitable land must be chosen for Vaccination Schedule:
chicken farming. Vaccines required for maintaining
Ÿ The shelter should be built at some chicken's good health are as follows:
height from the road so that rain
water will easily flow out and it Diseases and Treatment
should be safe from flood.
Ÿ Clean water should be provided.
Waterers and feeders should be
cleaned regularly.
Ÿ Electricity supply is mandatory for
24x7.
Ÿ The shelter must be away from the
urban areas because the dropping of
chicken which contains more
ammonia causes environmental
pollution and flies' problem.
Ÿ Exposure to air pollution, especially
the smoke from industries, causes
respiratory distress in birds and
increases their susceptibility to
respiratory infection, short-term
increase in mortality and decline in
egg production. So shelter should
not be near to factories.
Ÿ Noise pollution affects the birds in
myriad ways, including physical
damage to ears; stress responses;
fright–flight responses; changes in
reproductive success. So, the shelter
should be away from noisy
environments.
Care of Newborn Chicks:
Ÿ Raising baby chicks requires proper
attention and an incubator.
Ÿ Eggs are placed in incubator for
about 21 days by giving suitable
temperature (99-102°F) and relative
humidity (day 1-17: 50-55% and day
18-21: 70%). Ventilation should be
increased as embryos grow bigger,
especially from days 18-21.
Ÿ After hatching, chicks are removed
form incubator after 48 hours.

Volume 02 | Issue 07 | October 2020 | Poultry Square | 18

 CONCLUSION
A rooster-fight is a game of skill. The selection
of the handling of the roosters during the
fighting time needs a tremendous amount of
skill and techniques to help in the process of
betting that evolves throughout the fight in
cockpit. Fundamental to betting is the
capacity to estimate the condition of the
cocks during the fight. This article doesn't
promote rooster fighting; rather it portrays
the pride of roosters and provides a basic
knowledge about roosters, their types,
handling, feeding management and
treatment of diseases. There is no such breed
of domestic fowl with this much aggression
and pugnacity. In every decade we are
continuously losing our key species. So these
unique native breeds must be conserved.
Roosters are the symbol of brave and
strength. Thus, we should safeguard our
native roosters which are our pride.
References
Ÿ http://www.poultrydvm.com/
Ÿ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asil_chicken
Ÿ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooster
Ÿ https://www.apnikheti.com/en/pn/livesto
ck/chicken/aseel

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Volume 02 | Issue 07 | October 2020 | Poultry Square | 20
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