Vijayawada: Demand is huge for the meat of dead cocks, locally called Kosa, in the Sankranti cock fights and the flesh of injured and dead cocks now cost Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 per kg as per demand.
The gamecock lovers compete to grab the flesh and would bring the roosters’ meat home to enjoy the unique taste. Gamecock growers say the Sankranti gamecocks are nurtured very carefully throughout the year with heavy diets to enable them to gain immunity and power. The flesh of these cocks would be more tasty and it is not available at other times of the year.
According to the rules for the cockfight competitions, the owner of the rooster who wins the fight would also own the injured or deceased rooster. This owner auctions the dead cock instantly.
The Kosa meat would be available only during the Sankranti days hence these meat lovers reached the cockfight arenas in Krishna, NTR, both Godavari, Konaseema, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Guntur, Bapatla and other districts on Tuesday to purchase the meat.
The gamecock growers say that as soon as a gamecock is dead, all its feathers are removed and the meat is grilled and handed over to the one who purchased it.
Gamecocks are free from fat. Fat-free meat has good demand in the market. The meat lovers, out of a craze for the meat, are ready to spend more money on it. The Kosa curries are served with pride for the newlywed sons-in-law on the eve of Sankranti.
During the Sankranti festival, it is quite normal to watch cockfights. Gamecocks usually earn the same sum if it wins or dies in a fight.
Cock trainer K Saradhi said roosters would be fed with cashew, almonds, eggs, mutton and other high-energy diets. Cocks undergo training in swimming and other techniques for the increase of stamina.
These well-trained and stamina-filled cocks would cost Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh according to their quality and fighting skills. The meat of these gamecocks would be luscious. Hence people would compete to buy the injured cocks and flesh of dead cocks at the cockfighting arenas for higher prices as it is available only at this time of the year.
Kosa lover A Venkata Ramana said a group of Kosa lovers went to the cock fight arenas in Krishna, East and West Godavari districts to buy the flesh. According to tradition, they would offer various dishes made from Kosa flesh to their sons-in-laws.
People who once tasted the Kosa meat would not forget it. Every year they would go to cockfight arenas to buy the flesh. This year, the cost of Kosa flesh hugely increased due to higher demand – the rates going up from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. Interestingly, Kosa lovers compete to purchase the injured and dead gamecocks, he said.
