Here’s a follow-up to an earlier blog entry on cockfighting. As reported the only state in the Union where cockfighting is still legal is in Louisiana, which gleaning from an observation from an unhappy breeder himself may eventually change in the near future. But the southern neighbors, the Mexicans, are quite steeped in its practice, are now more attuned to and conversant with it, and thus, nothing indicates that it will go away any time soon from that side of the border.
This slow-paced attrition in the US will soon spell doom to this particular industry, particularly the breeders who supply the fighting cocks for this sport. Northern California has its share of breeders whose prospects of survival clearly now hang precariously. And from what we can gather, over the years the breeders’ clientele has shifted from domestic to outside sources. Essentially now consisting of Mexicans, either permanent or temporary US residents, and Filipinos, again either now residing here or those who come here purposely to purchase fighting cocks or those for breeding.
Remember cockfighting is not only legal in the Philippines but is a healthy and thriving industry, which on the upside, generates a lot of employment and allied services. The downside, of course, is that many may say, it is a cruel and inhumane treatment of the fowls being used; and an even bigger debilitating issue, because it is gambling, a zero-sum enterprise that afflicts and destroys from among the numbers of the richest and the poorest., so pervasive that the remotest barrio in the remotest province is not spared from its pernicious practices and influences.
But the reality is, it is not also going away soon in the Philippines. Instead as earlier noted it is gaining momentum and adherents. It is commonly understood there that cockfighting which used to be limited during Sundays and important holidays, is now sanctioned almost daily in many parts of the country.
This development then throws open the opportunity to engage in a business created by an ensuing vacuum. It is easy to imagine how one may be able to serve one of its needs, and in the process reap some bountiful profits.
One possible area would be in cock breeding, which is in my estimation an easy business to learn and which requires comparatively modest capitalization. Except that the expected returns are phenomenal, given the very stiff local prices for fighting cocks, especially those with foreign bloodlines.
Yesterday, we had the good fortune of visiting two breeders located in two different but contiguous towns here in Northern California.
The pictures we took give a rough overview of the physical set-up of a breeding business that boasts of 5k cocks and hens, but mostly of the former.
Hehe, sabong in the US?
ReplyDeleteActually when I lived in Ohio, there were filipinos into cockfighting there. And dog fighting too.
Actually, Dean, stories would tend to confirm that when FilAms want to witness (and participate in the gambling) cockfighting, they travel over to Mexico, or at least in the border towns in New Mexico and maybe in Arizona or Texas.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia breeders tend to focus on the supply side of the business.
One old data I gathered mentioned that as much as 80% of US output cross over to the Mexican border. And many US breeders actually have breeding sites in Mexico.
Hi Could you tell me how I could keep the cockerels quiet at night. I am thinking is it possible to keep the birds in a totally darkened hut, would this keep the birds silent until they were let out into daylight during the day?
ReplyDeleteHi, Anon 1:27pm:
ReplyDeleteInteresting, but will have to ask a close relative who actually operated a breeding farm to find out. Except he lives abroad, so a little wait.
white legged roosters are known of what kind of breed?
ReplyDeleteFor the point of view of a exbreeder, saler, and. A exboxing figther I just to have 20 personal cockfihgt. & 15 hen's. Some over the 1grand's you don't have to o be force to use gaff's can be the rubber gloves they are like 1" wide you put it on the natural spur. They love the fighting live observe don't just talk.
ReplyDeleteI am so disappointed of what has become of,not only the sport, but of the species. We have these so called humane societies and PETAs' all over the world that it sickens me how hypocritical they are. They patrol the nation behind a facade of animal rights defenders but they are the worst violators of these rights. They kill millions a year but make millions of dollars in return. Why don't we drop all this bull about animal rights and animal cruelty and focus on the real issue, millions of dollars? The issue for PETA, HSUS, and the ASPCA is that they're not getting a piece of the pie. So if you're going to criticize breeders and cock fighters for what they do take a look at yourself and what you're defending before you make any judgment.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the fights were only to a clear winner and involved the use of sparring mitts to reduce the risk of serious injuries, I at least would have few problems with it.
ReplyDeleteI grew up where there were many Filipinos and Tejanos, and my grandmother used to keep several game hens and one game cock as pets. She would open her door, put scratch on the kitchen floor, the flock would come in, the rooster would tut tut his hens leading them to the treats; share with them, and then head out with his ladies. On his way out he would jump on the back of my grandmother's rocking chair, crow, and then hop down and lead his wives out the door.
it maybe worst to put those game fowls into blood sport but its the only way to keep them from extinction.no body will breed them for meat and for egg or pets because they not that profitable like broilers or white leghorns. PETA think about it. life of a game fowl is better than the broiler who live only for 45 days while the game fowl has the opportunity to live form 1-5 years. broilers and white leghorns live in a congested confined cage while game fowls live in the open space.
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