Vijayawada: The ongoing bird flu outbreak in Andhra Pradesh has severely impacted poultry farms, forcing breeders of the prized Aseel roosters to take drastic measures to safeguard their flock.
With bird flu spreading rapidly from broiler farms to native breed farms, breeders are facing an uphill battle to protect their valuable birds.
Unlike regular poultry, Aseel chickens hold a special cultural and financial significance, particularly during the Sankranti season, when they are used in traditional cockfights. This year, an Aseel breed rooster fetched a record price of ₹3 lakh, reflecting the high value placed on these birds. Even injured roosters that win bets are often bought for lakhs of rupees. However, the recent spread of bird flu has thrown the entire industry into disarray.
Breeders have been forced to suspend the breeding process, which typically begins around this time to prepare roosters for the next season. Some have relocated their flocks to states like Karnataka, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, where bird flu fears are minimal. Others have set up isolation wards, taking extreme biosecurity measures to prevent infections.
“We are experiencing an extremely difficult time,” said K Raghuram, a rooster breeder from Nuzvid. “We have stopped all breeding operations due to the outbreak. Our top priority is saving the Melu breed. No outsiders are allowed near our farm, and we sanitize the area frequently. If any chicken shows signs of illness, we immediately isolate it. Thankfully, some of our birds are already in Bellary, Karnataka, where a friend is taking care of them.”
Veterinary authorities directed all rooster farms to maintain biosecurity measures to protect the farms from getting affected with the bird flu.
