Tall and heavy, yet they are quick. They pack power and cut well. They originated from French, Belgian, Spanish and oriental fowl. They are the Peruvian game fowl. And they are now here in the Philippines. Recently, the influx to the Philippines of Peruvian gamefowl, both pure and graded, has been notable. One shipper of game fowl from the U.S. claimed
that about 30% of the chickens he shipped to the Philippines were either pure graded
Peruvians. The Peruvian has become a hit, he said.It is gaining popularity, despite the fact that these bloodlines from Peru are very expensive. Trios may sell at US$3,500-US$ 5,000. Whereas, nowadays one can import a trio of good American game fowl for a landed cost
of US$ 1,500.A new group on Facebook, the Phillippine Peruvian Breeders Club already has almost 5,000 members and counting. This prompted organizers to form the Philippine Peruvian Breeders Organization (PPBO). Jayson Garces of Cebu was elected president. According to Garces, one goal of the organization is to form one association of breeders
of peruvian game fowl across the nation, in the spirit of unity, friendship and camaraderie, all for the love of the specimen. The group plans to hold derbies among Peruvian game fowl in the near future.
No doubt the Peruvian Game fowl has come of age as far as Filipino game fowl raisers are concerned. Bloodlines from Peru are getting very popular in the Philippines. Several years ago in many cockfighting countries there was an asil mania, but it didn’t catch as much fire here. The asils were not the Filipinos’ type of fighting cocks. The Peruvians seem to be. After all while asils are best in naked heels, the Peruvians are bred for the long knife, the only type of rooster fighting Filipinos had learned to love.
Peruvian fighting cocks have all the elements that will attract attention and capture the interest of Pinoy sabungeros. They are gigantic. Two Peruvians fighting in the pit can be clearly seen even from the general admission sections of our sizable cockpits. Then, fights between Peruvians are short. Filipinos love fights that are decided quickly. That’s why naked heel, gaff and even short knife fighting will never be popular. Also Peruvians are high breakers and angat. These are fighting styles familiar to Filipino cockpit goers. Another thing, feed companies will not hesitate in promoting the Peruvians. These giants consume much more feeds that American gamecocks do.
Remarkable is the fact that as far as Peruvian game fowl are concerned, the elite rich did not have as much head start as they had with the American game fowl. When the American fighting cocks or Texas first came to the Philippines only the very rich had them. But in the case of the Peruvian bloodlines, the not so rich were among the first to have them, notwithstanding the high cost of these fowl from Peru.
Nothing can replace the American game fowl in the hearts of Pinoy sabungeros. But, we can bet on it, the Peruv craze will gain momentum and excite the Filipino macho sabungero more than any other non-American bloodline.
Peruvian craze, mania or fever. Call it whatever you want. The fact is the Peruvian gamefowl is gaining popularity in the Philippines. Many Filipino breeders are now raising the Peruvian, despite its costly price. Indeed, many would vow to the ability and value of the Peruvian.A word of caution though, to Peruvian breeders and would be breeders. The Peruvian in general is just like most other types of roosters, there are good Peruvs, there are bum. The tendency to break high and ability to cut well are the main assets of the Peruvian. Good Peruvians break high and cut well. But even the best Peruvians
have at least four obvious defects. Although to some Peruvs are beautiful, to many standards, Peruvian fowl are very ugly--big head, hunch back, some with very long neck, some with bull neck, big feet, ugly feathers some even naked etc. How to get rid of these defects while keeping the two good traits is the challenge.Mathematics is against the Peruvians. Four or more negative traits and only two positive is negative. So why breed the Peruvian? Some raise the Peruv for status symbol. It is expensive and not easy to acquire. Others raise the Peruvian because it’s the “in thing.” Others really believe that Peruvians is such an excellent specimen of a game fowl. Meanwhile good breeders breed the Peruvian because of the challenge. That’s right the challenge. To me breeding the Peruv is only for real breeders, not for ‘maters,’ . Breeding the American fowl is too easy. There are so many near perfect specimens of American game cocks available, that anyone of us “maters” may be able produce super individuals by just acquiring expensive breeding stock of American game from good breeders. On the other hand, when you breed the Peruvian it is almost like starting from scratch. You have to work your way up. With the Peruvian you have to know what you’re doing. You have to be a true breeder. That’s the hardest part. But, that makes the Peruvs fascinating.