Rooster breeders race to meet Sankranti demand in AP

Vijayawada: With cockfights set to begin Wednesday as part of Sankranti festivities, rooster breeders across Andhra Pradesh are racing to meet soaring demand after heavy losses from bird flu. To ensure enough birds are ready for the arenas, breeders adopted accelerated feeding and training techniques, raising younger roosters on high-protein diets to quickly build strength and stamina.Traditionally, only roosters aged 14 months and above are considered fit for competitive fights. This season, however, birds aged 9–12 months are being prepared, with intensive feeding from the sixth month and structured training from the eighth. Breeding centres in Nuzvid, Bhimavaram, Tadepalligudem, and Agiripalli have stepped up activity, putting birds through long walks, muscle-building drills, and even swimming sessions to improve endurance."Normally, we would not send a bird younger than 14 months into the arena," said Inti Pradeep, a breeder from Agiripalli in Krishna district. "But with fights starting from Wednesday and demand peaking, we adapted quickly under veterinary supervision."Breeders say diets of mutton keema, boiled chicken breast, eggs, butter-based supplements, multivitamins, probiotics, and protein-rich black soldier fly larvae are helping younger birds bulk up. "Non-vegetarian protein helps rapid muscle development. As long as the feeding is balanced and monitored, it does not pose serious health risks," he said. However, these methods sharply increased costs. "Special feed, supplements and training doubled our expenses," said K Raghu Babu, a breeder from Kalidhindi. "Without this diet, younger birds cannot compete."The shortage of birds, combined with rising costs, pushed rooster prices sharply upward, worrying buyers. "Prices have skyrocketed just before the fights," said Srinivas, a buyer from Vijayawada. "But with the season beginning, people are still willing to pay."Despite mounting challenges, breeders say demand remains strong as cockfights resume, making this one of the most demanding Sankranti seasons in recent years.