Vijayawada: The demand for Kosa, the meat of cocks killed or grievously injured in the rooster fights during the Sankranti festivities, hit the sky with each selling for ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. Cockfights, held day and night from January 13 (Bhogi) to January 15 (Kanuma), ended on Wednesday.
These fighting roosters are nurtured well with special diet and are said to be very tasty. Their meat is in high demand as it is available only once a year during the Sankranti season.
As per the rules of cockfights, owner of the rooster who wins the fight also owns the injured or dead rooster. The owner auctions the dead or injured bird immediately after the fight. The Kosa meat is said to be free of fat.
Kosa curries are served with pride to newlywed sons-in-law during Sankranti.
Kosa meat lover K. Koteswara Rao said elephants are valuable whether they are alive or dead. The same applies to gamecocks. They fetch money dead or alive.
Fighter rooster trainers say these birds are fed cashew, almonds, eggs, mutton and other high-value diets. The cocks go through training, including swimming, for increasing their stamina. Koteswara Rao said a well-trained rooster could cost ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh according to its quality and fighting skills.
Kosa meat lovers arrive at cockfight arenas in NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Godavari, Bhimavaram and Konaseema districts to buy Kosa flesh in auctions. They say once a person tastes Kosa meat, s/he would like to have it every year.
