Filipino men from all walks of life have an undying passion for gamefowl that surpasses most notions of other pet hobbyists. We breed fighting cocks for a very competitive and murderous sport and we enjoy every minute of it. Pardon our bloodlust for angry birds, but this kinship among gamefowl aficionados has gone on forever.
Raising competitive gamefowl for sabong is an extremely profitable industry in itself. From the haciendero with hectares devoted to imported breeds, to your neighborhood tricycle driver who raises two or three stags in carefully prepared cages at the back of his small home—everyone literally spends half his wages to keep their birds in top shape for the next cockfight derby.
Getting into the Sport:
Choosing your poison is the most important part. What bloodline do you choose and maintain? To the point that inbreeding is the most frequent choice for keeping
and continuing a bloodline rather than getting inferior stock through
cross-breeding and diluting the bloodline.
Chosen birds usually come
from a winning line of fighters plus a rudimentary requirement of
size measurements and weight measurements as well as the physical
appearance of the brood cock.
Breeding
stock is usually sourced from some winning cockfighter with a
network of suppliers for his bloodline of gamefowl. There is a
certain affinity for pure-bred fighters and if one is just getting
started in the sport, one gets advice from seasoned breeders and
cockpit veterans.
Small
breeders start with a Trio—the
popular term for a brood stag and 2 hens. Then raise at least 10
stags for fight season and up to 20 more during the off season.
Cull
the female chicks that don’t make the cut as breeding stock for
next year. You may raise these as poultry for your weekend Tinola specials to
share with the family. For the breeding hens, feed them with a low
protein diet during the off season so they won’t lay eggs but still
keep healthy. Never
shortchange feeds for your fighting cocks. Stags with a good gait
and conformation, healthy and alert, are the criteria of choice for
buyers of breeds.
Organic
methods of raising stags are also taking storm among breeders for
better and healthier birds. Also for less reliance on expensive meds
and treatments. There is available information and technology
transfers at your nearest provincial Department of Agriculture
satellite office.
Sparring your stags develops their fighting skill, an innate or bred ability that can be honed with practice matches, a keep system helps them be as conditioned as an athlete right before a fight match. Learn everything there is to know about the sport of cockfighting so that you can discuss your stock’s prowess and ability with prospective buyers. As tempting as it is to join the sport for big bucks and prestige of winning the derbies, do not lose sight of one’s goal as a breeder—to sell the best fighters and breeders at the best prices for both you and your patrons.
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