Dega - the most preferred cock breed

VISAKHAPATNAM: It is a fight not many can resist, particularly during festive season where friends and family join the fun. Cockfights were once organised for entertainment but it went on to become one of the major gambling events during Sankranti festival where the gamblers do not even hesitate to lose their properties worth crores of rupees.

But what goes into making these cocks fight? Are these cocks angry at each other or they fight with just a simple sign from their master trainers? What makes them so special when compared to other cocks and hen? While gambling running into crores of rupees is common during cockfights in the Godavari districts, it is for entertainment in north Andhra.

Cocks used for fighting are bred and trained in a special atmosphere. Interestingly, based on their experience and expertise, these trainers are paid anywhere between Rs 8,000 to Rs 15,000 a month.

Similarly, the organisers spend anywhere between Rs 200 and Rs 500 on each cock per day for their training and feeding. The fighters are selected from the herd within six months after their birth and Dega breed of cocks are most preferred by organisers.

'The selection depends on various parameters ranging from their breed, height, weight, activeness, legs, beak and other such physical fitness related issues,' explained P Tirupati Rao from Mentada mandal in Vizianagaram district who refused to give his village name fearing police raids. He breeds about 35 different cocks including about 15 from the organisers in Godavari districts.

For the next six months, the cocks are trained and fed to prepare them for the final showdown. Apart from special food, the cocks are given training in fighting and also physical exercises like swimming.

Initially, each cock is kept alone away from the herd and tied to a pole to prevent them fighting other cocks in the herd. By the time the cocks are of one year age, they are ready for the fights.

The feeding and training is no lesser than a fighter in the boxing ring. Starting at 6 am, the cocks are given food like wheat grains and millets including ragi and pearl millet.

Those preferring non-vegetarian will be given mutton kheema. This is followed by a swimming session in the nearby pond or canal to make their legs and wing mussels free and make them strong for the tough battles they have to fight. They are also forced to run inside a closed premises. They are also given hot water bath and massage.

Then starts the training session where each cock is pitted against the other. Cocks which run away from the fight are punished to sit in dark rooms and the trainers say that when the cocks are out of these dark rooms, they get rid of their fear and fight the opponent.

The cocks are given dry fruits like cashew nut and almonds in between the training but the number of times depends on the amount the organisers is willing to spend on each cock. In the evening, white part of egg yolk is fed to the cocks.

Some organisers even feed energy tablets like Revital (the same used by human beings) to increase the physical stamina of the cocks. A few also feed small tablets made from dry ginger and pepper to help the cocks digest the food easily and also increase their immunity.