Vijayawada: With the much-awaited Sankranti cockfights beginning today, the demand for Asil breed roosters, prized for their strength and agility, has skyrocketed. Buyers from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai are flocking to Andhra Pradesh‘s farms, driving the price of well-trained Asil chickens to a record 2.2 lakh, up from 1.4 lakh last year.
Cockfighting, a traditional sport deeply rooted in Andhra culture, has evolved into a major betting activity involving hundreds of crores of rupees. Across the state’s 13 districts, cockfights are a hallmark of Sankranti festivities, with hundreds of specially prepared fighting arenas drawing large crowds.
“This year, the demand for Asil roosters has far outstripped supply,” said K Nagaraju, a rooster breeder from Agiripalli. “We have fewer trained birds than last year, but the number of buyers has surged. Well-trained birds capable of prolonged fights are commanding a premium.”
Social media platforms have added to the craze, with people, mostly youngsters recording videos and creating reels with specific rooster breeds.
“Around 50% of buyers are asking for Kaki (black-coloured) roosters, but these are rare. Their scarcity has driven up prices even further,” said M Vasubabu, a farm owner from Pedda Avutapalli.
However, the soaring demand has also led to deceptive practices. Some sellers are passing off inadequately trained roosters at inflated prices, misleading the eager buyers.
Cockfighting, a traditional sport deeply rooted in Andhra culture, has evolved into a major betting activity involving hundreds of crores of rupees. Across the state’s 13 districts, cockfights are a hallmark of Sankranti festivities, with hundreds of specially prepared fighting arenas drawing large crowds.
“This year, the demand for Asil roosters has far outstripped supply,” said K Nagaraju, a rooster breeder from Agiripalli. “We have fewer trained birds than last year, but the number of buyers has surged. Well-trained birds capable of prolonged fights are commanding a premium.”
Social media platforms have added to the craze, with people, mostly youngsters recording videos and creating reels with specific rooster breeds.
“Around 50% of buyers are asking for Kaki (black-coloured) roosters, but these are rare. Their scarcity has driven up prices even further,” said M Vasubabu, a farm owner from Pedda Avutapalli.
However, the soaring demand has also led to deceptive practices. Some sellers are passing off inadequately trained roosters at inflated prices, misleading the eager buyers.
