Welcome to the site all about cockfighting!
What will be shown is a basic overview on what it is and details going into it. You will find on the sidebar various items to click on. Most of them will be some type of information, while a couple include external links attached. Have fun looking around and hope you like it!
For the country of the Philippines, cockfighting is a billion dollar industry. One of the biggest contributors being the food market to feed the gamefowls, valued at P15 billion (Samson). Other expenses stem into living expenses and health care like medicines.
For the betting aspect, birds typically entered already has the trainer/owner to place a bet on the bird for the competition. Depending on the type of match to be taking place, the earnings can be large or small. With larger earnings, the likelihood of becoming addictive to the sport can increase greatly.
For well developed countries, the gambling aspect in cockfighting has been in competition with other gambling events, like horse racing and casinos. In lesser developed countries, like the countries mentioned in the History section, would continue in the gambling aspect, legally or illegally, to earn a living or simply splurge on cash. As researchers have investigated before, the course of gambling, like in cockfighting, can become an addition. To skip the neuroscience of gambling addition, I have linked the pathology about it. The reason for mentioning this, is that with the link between the gambling addiction and cockfighting will continue the cycle of breeding poultry for a fight that simply puts a gamefowl’s life in danger.
In attempts to keep the name of “Ye Olde Fighting Cocks” to show awareness of the history of cockfighting, the pub that dates back to the 8th century is under pressure to change its name in order to abide by the animal rights group called PETA. Attendees that attend the pub regularly have argued that the name is to show history.
Sourced from: https://search.proquest.com/docview/2165851711?pq-origsite=summon&accountid=14656
In a sort of fairness among the birds to compete, each of the birds fights within their own weight class. This is similar to weight classes for material arts. For the fight, there several different types of matches that can be held legally and in the rural areas, illegally. Like the way material arts are held, the type of battle can regulated in a style of a tournament. In a less practiced way, a battle royale can take place as well. Many birds are placed into the pit and the last two remaining birds are then taken into a one-on-one match to determined the victor.
If the fight is done legally, there are certain regulations needed to abide by for the bird to compete. For instance, the trainer or owner needs to register the bird for competing. This would constitute in the an entrance fee that varies depending on the popularity of the event, and the bird undergoing a rigorous checking process in order the fight between the birds is as fair as possible. For instance in according to the casebook, “Any/ length of heel that is round from socket to point is fair, although tradition and predetermined agreement may call for a short heel, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches, or a long heel, longer than 1 1/2 inches. Trimming of the bird is allowed only with the tail, wing, and saddle feathers along with the feathers around the vent.”
In some cases, the bird may be able to sneak by some of the processes done. This may include enhancement drugs that could increase strength or a stimulant to extend the lifespan of the bird. Other violations could include the influence of the crowd. Certain audience members could introduce means to distract the opponent, giving the bird in favour an advantage. Under such acts being caught, an advantage can be given to the other bird or even disqualification.
Depending on the location of where the event is held, the size of the arena varies. In the standard size, according to Britannica, the arena is usually circular with a diameter of 6 meters. To keep both the birds and spectators safe, a barrier of some sort is usually built.
Again, like the arena, the rules for the match usually depends on the region. To begin the match, under the control of the trainer, the birds would begin pecking at each other in a process called ‘billing’ (“Cockfighting | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.”). The two birds would then be placed at a predetermined distance from each other, indicated by a line in the sand, and the match begins. For regions with tight regulations, the match would usually end once a bird draws first blood. Before regulations are put in place or in regions where it is done illegally, the match would normally continue until one of the two birds dies.
As the sport evolved, what had begun as a pastime, introduced the thought of gambling. In those situations, the results of a match would entail a distribution of winnings to those who bet on the bird that lives. For the those who lost the bet, they lose any potential earnings. But worst of all, the owner of the bird that died, may have lost a close companion.
Taken from Hernández-Jover, Schemann, and Toribio, “A Cross-Sectional Study on Biosecurity Practices and Communication Networks of Poultry Exhibition in Australia.”
For the those unfamiliar with the lifestyle of gamefowls, they are typically larger than your everyday rooster (Garber). With that being said, these birds would then need to consume greater amounts of resources than a normal rooster would. Since gamefowls, are part of the avian family, there is a probability they could carry a strain of the avian flu.
With gamefowls coming in and out of different area, they can pose a risk to the poultry industry. For times the sport of cock-fighting is done without regulation, the care for the birds may not be of standard. This unregulated business can quickly spur into several birds obtaining a disease. Then by having the disease, to spread it to others, both human and bird. In addition, as these birds are often sold and/or taken care of through illegal means, the likelihood of seeing a veterinarian for treatment can be quite low.
As there is evidence of humans catching the avian flu, gamefowls make it easier for this disease to spread. The reason gamefowls make the disease spread faster is through the fact that they travel a lot. These “athletes” travel to various areas, possibly worldwide, to compete. If the bird is carrying the disease, the spread can happen much easier. To add on to it, the birds would be competing in an area surrounded by people who want to watch. This added variability, granted the people become infected, can lead to a devastating outbreak of a disease linking back to a strain of the avian flu a gamefowl is carrying.
The beginnings of cock-fighting can be traced back to the ancient Greek times, although it is argue to date with Persia. In reality, according to Britannica, the sport originated in parts of Asia, spreading to parts of Europe. For the longest time, predating the time of Jesus Christ, the sport of cock-fighting was limited to Asia and Europe.
In the time where fighting and war was of the norm, having the sport of cockfighting can be a great asset for the warriors to get pumped. According to Hawley, the use of cockfighting was a means to help the warriors gain courage and fortitude to fight till death (HAWLEY, “Organized Cockfighting.”).
It was around the 17th to 18th century when cock-fighting has entered North America. It was also with that introduction, that laws were made against this sport to support the opposition of animal cruelty. It was in times of war in the United States that the soldiers have enjoyed watching cockfighting for a similar reason the warriors of the Ancient times have used them for mental inspiration.
While the practice of cockfighting as diminished with laws implemented and the stigma around it for ethical reasons, there are still areas that still partake in this spectacle. Latin America and parts of Asia, especially Puerto Rico and the Philippines are the centers that participate in cockfighting.