Fighting Cocks in Asia


The Classroom @ The Coop: genetics archive: Fighting Cocks in Asia
By Somerset on Friday, April 9, 1999 - 10:27 pm:

I went to the Phillipines last year and witnessed a cock fight. I don't know anything about chickens but I'm wondering how these types of birds fit into the overall picture of chickens. Some were rust colored and others were white and black striped. Are these fighting cocks decendents of the birds that we eat? Are they even edible or is there sole pupose for this type of fighting?

Also, I am a fly fisherman and purchase neck feathers for tying flies. They are always graded as 1,2,or 3. Is there some national or international standard on what these grades mean and how they are applied?


By Asil on Saturday, April 10, 1999 - 08:15 am:

Cockfighting is an ancient sport. The cocks used are very closely related to the wild Jungle fowl.They have been bred for centuries to fight in differnt ways. In the Phillipines you probably saw them fight in a long knife. These battle Cocks are bred for a fast high flying battle.The Cocks are light flying type birds. In India they breed a whole differnt type of battle cock for a whole differnt battle.They are called Asil's.Asils are heavy boned, slower, very powerful, non flying in battle. The trainer cuts natural heel to about 1/4 inch and then wrap it with cotton cloth,to make a boxing glove. These fights last for a much longer time than the Phillipine style long knife.
The birds used in the Knife are completely differnt than the birds used to fight in the boxing style.There are many ways that cocks are fought.each style of battle has it's own style of battle Cock.
Tape Boxing (India), Long Knife( Phillipine's),
Short Knife (Mexico),Long Gaff and short Gaff (USA)
Postiza (Puerto Rico) Naked heel (Asia) To mention a few.
Almost all of our Commercial poultry are decendent's of Game fowl. There are some very important gene pools in Game fowl as far as diesese resistance, Stamina over all natural health. Health is a # 1 factor in Gamefowl! Not the case in the Commercial industry(production 1st) medication and chemicals keep them cranking out the eggs.
I'm not sure on grading the feathers for fly tying. I have skinned a lot of necks and saddles for fly tyers.They really like the Game cocks feathers. Martin



By Benny on Wednesday, May 19, 1999 - 09:05 pm:

He's right,probably asil.Another thing though;in India they would put tape on the spurs so the fight was a trial of endurance,individual fights could last for days!


By Bobby Martin (Az_redman) on Saturday, June 24, 2000 - 03:53 am:

somerst

fighting gamefowl is rilgion your ethier into it or your not.


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