Aseel Breeds in Pakistan

In this blog I will discuss about different type of Aseel Birds. I will share my views according to my experience in this fields.

                                                    

Basic types of Aseel breed are found in Pakistan

 

1.     AMROHA ASEEL

This is a rare and much contested breed of Aseelused in Pakistan and India. While originating in the Amroha state of India the evidence of this breed in India remains precarious today. Very few of these roosters exist in their pure form even in Pakistan where various groups of aseel breeders tend to associate it with Peer Shah Alam Shah of Mianwali. Physiological Characteristics they are known to be small to medium like Mianwali. Glossy and hard feathered Amroha aseels are known for their geometrically round physical traits. The shape of their face is round with a strong beak itself round to some extent. The jaw bone on their face is slightly uplifted and eyes are human like slightly closed and narrow worth prominent eyebrows. Another usual characteristic is their thick round neck slightly uplifted in cobra snake position especially when they are held in hand. Their color is usually black breasted red or black breasted dark brown (color of dates). Another characteristic perhaps due to heavy inbreeding consists in the small size of their legs and feet. Usually they have a very small length of their feet about 3 cm maximum with small feet. As to their weight people make different claims usually in their pure form they are small but heavy with thick bone structure (Like Pit-bull dog) reaching 2 kg weight depending upon the feed. Their tails and wings have white feathers. Amroha aseels are very beautiful to look at. They are more talkative and produce more noise than other aseels. HATCHING Amroha hens would hatch 9 to 12 eggs which they lay in the month of March to April and usually in September as well. A successful hatch will keep the Amroha hen busy for at least six months sometimes even up till the male chicks start crowing. They will often hatch identical to their parents.

 

2.     LASANI ASEEL

Aseel breeders have developed different varieties of aseel breeds. But one of the rarest breed is what they call Lassani Aseel breed. They are medium size birds with powerful strikes to earn them the title of neck breakers. This breed has a typical parrot like beak and small neck size. Unlike mianwali they have a particular fight style. They don't like jumping over the opponent rather they like to come closer to the opponent touching him with their front body and then attacking on the neck. So in a typical mianwali versus Lassani fight you will see mianwali birds dominating initially but as soon as they are tired of jumping around and land on the ground somewhat tired Lasani breed cock will finish the game with a couple of hits in the neck. Amroha and lasani are closely related however lassani breeds have smaller necks and often closed eyes only few families of Nawab have got this breed in its pure form. And the notion that they are bengum type aseels is mistaken.

 

3.     MIANWALI ASEEL

This breed is mainly found in Mianwali district of Pakistan   . However, since its arrival, this breed has risen to popularity in Pakistan, currently the primary game breed used in the pits also preferred by gamblers. It is smaller compared to Sindhi aseels weighing between 1.5 and 3.5 kg depending on the preference of breeders. It is much faster and a better head hitter usually comes in small to medium height. A good Mianwali aseel should kill its opponent within a few minutes. They have been known to kill bigger roosters because of their speed and accuracy. They come in various colors such as Java(duckwing), Lakha (reddish), black and various others depending on the combination used in breeding. Very hard and a brave fighter with attitude to inspire, excellent in naked heels and metal spurs. There are many sub breeds of this breed owing to the combination used in breeding. A good tested Mianwali rooster would usually have offspring of a similar quality. Typical description would be small curved beak, strong joints, pearl/white/yellow eye color, short crow, small comb and do not have heavy body structure. May look smaller than other breeds but is excellent spurer.

 

 

4.     KATHIKAL ASEEL

Tamil local name Kathikal Peruvedai. This is a heavy type of aseel found in the erstwhile Madras province. The body type and color classification are same as that of long tail parrot beak aseel. They have a normal tail and nose unlike long tail parrot beak aseel. They are used for knife-fighting. They are predominantly found in Tamilnadu. In Pakistan most of people have such type breed

 

5.     REZA ASEEL

Reza is an Aseel Breed that Belongs to Basically Mianwali Pakistan. This Aseel breed is then divided in many breeds with reference to their colors. This type is standardized by the Asian Hard feather Society in the UK and is seen at shows throughout the UK, but is quite rare. This group of Aseel reached worldwide popularity due to books and articles written by game fowl experts such as Herbert Atkinson, Siran and Paul Deraniyagala from Sri Lanka and Carlos Finsterbusch from Chile. The Reza Aseel family according to the old (Western) game fowl literature is subdivided into following strains: (Amir) Ghan (Dark-Red), Sonatol(Light-Red), (Siyah) Rampur(Black), Kalkatiya (Kaptan)(Speckled-Reds) and Jawa(Duckwing). All these strains are identified by their specific color, these colors do not necessarily correspond with the area where the birds come from. In colonial times other colors such as whites, spangles, golden etc. were regarded as inferior. At present day the "classic" strains and names given mentioned by Atkinson are more or less forgotten. The native people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka only know the Reza-type Aseel by their local name.

 

 

6.     KULANG ASEEL

Kulang aseel (in some regions called Dakan) - one of the oldest and biggest game breeds.Descended from India and wide spread all over the Asia.This breed become the most popular in Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan. This countries become a second motherland of breed, because mostly from there Kulangs were imported to European parts of former USSR and further to Europe.This breed was used in creating of European multicolored exhibitional type Shamo. The Kulang Asil family when it comes to a championship classification is complicated. In older literature western gamefowl as "cockfighting worldwide" Finsterbusch Carlos (1938) The following varieties are mentioned: Hyderabad, Calcutta and Madras. Experts Aseel homelands use of a classification system more "modern." The large Aseel are divided into sub-varieties: North Indian, South Indian and Madras type. The North and South Indian varieties do not differ much. Only one type of comb, beak shape and body shape are different. For example: type type = North = South thin build heavier), the Madras Aseel however is significantly different. They have a low season, are heavier build and stronger bones. This variety is found in the deep south of India, the state of Tamil Nadu. In lands kulang Aseel birds reach weights of about 4 to 6 kilograms (8.8 to 13 pounds). Kulang Aseel outside the homeland and neighboring countries often differ in weight being ± 4.5 to 5.5 kg (9.9 to 12.1 lbs). Exceptions to the rule are possible as the weight is influenced by several conditions.

 

7.     BANTAM ASEEL

Bantam Aseel have been created at the end of the 19th century by an English breeder named William Flamank Entwisle. The breed got very popular after its creation but after a couple of decades interest in this variety slowly died out. Until the beginning of the 1980s nothing was heard about these little Aseel. A Belgian breeder named Willy Coppens created them again using Shamo (chicken), Indian Game and Reza Asil. The breed was also introduced again in the Netherlands and United Kingdom. At present day Bantam Asil are quite popular and they are bred in various colors. This type of aseel is very famous in Pakistan due to its size and shape. People in Pakistan keep this breed at home for beauty. Basically Bantam Aseel is the Small heighted Breed of Aseels, Their Weight is upto 750 Grams Maximum. They come in various colors such as  Java , Lakha , black and various others depending on the combination used in breeding.

 

8.     SINDHI ASEEL

Sindhi Aseel or Sindhi Asil (Sindhi: سنڌي اسيل, Urdu: سندهي اسيل) is a breed of chicken and as from the name, originates from Sindh (one of 4 major provinces of Pakistan). These cocks, or fighting cocks, are noted being tall, heavy and good at fighting, so they are bred mainly for cockpit. These Aseels are characterised by a muscular but compact body, broad shoulders, wings carried against the body, short and hard feathers, drooping tails, a large curved beak similar to that of an eagle, pea comb and no wattles.

 

9.     MADRAS ASEEL

Madras Aseel are from the southern state of Tamil Nadu and is called locally Kattu Seval or the fighting bird. These birds are tall and heavy. They seem to have been taken by the Tamil people to various parts of south Asia including Thailand and China. Madras Aseel comes in two varieties, one medium height but heavier and the other's very big and muscular. They can get up to 32" tall and the main colours are Yakuth (BBR), Peela (Red), Karupu/Kagam (Black), Saambal/Dummer (Grey), etc. The base colour as per ancestors is Black Breasted Red, Dark Red the second in line comes Black and Grey birds. Rest of the colours are mutations which may show signs lacking in fights.
The notable thing is the head. In the purest strain the beak and skull should align in a semicircle manner with thick beak and skull. The colour of face should be reddish with clear white or pearlish eyes and beak. Both walnut and triple combs are acceptable but the oldest ones show walnut combs with no wattles. When looking at the eyes the pupil at the centre should shrink and enlarge frequently. The eye guard must be very prominently protruding outside like an eagle.
The legs should look like the trunk of a tree. Longer tail is only a selective breeding principle and cannot be considered as pure. The specimens don't have straight long tails. The fully grown cocks and hens should mature only at 2 years. The crowing should start after 10 months in pure strains. With very short blunt crows. The eggs could be from 55 to 75 gms.
The best part about this breed is long tail (Kattu Seval), Tail could reach up to 60 cm and this type of breed are classified as Vaal Seval.

 

10.                         BENGUM ASEEL

 

Bengum is also called neck breaker. These are birds whose phenotype or external appearance show a throwback to the Red Jungle Fowl. They have a big, either completely or partially upright comb, with deep edges like that of ordinary poultry, as well as normal sized wattles. These birds are very hard hitter compare to other type of aseels. In all respects they resemble Aseel and are considered to be superlative fighters. Such birds are also very rare. In Pakistan People are working on this breed. There is not refine form of this breed right now.

 

 

11.                         PAKKO ASEEL

 

This breed is made by Rana Safdar from Gujranwala ;Punjab Pakistan. The Pakko breed is a very special one which is very famous for its strength and speed۔ This breed that turns the dice in a few minutes or seconds became famous not only in Pakistan but all over the world. Rana Safdar is known today only because of his pure race because it is the result of his whole life's hard work. Rana Safdar has given this breed to some People in India and this breed has proved its mettle there. We as Pakistanis feel proud of great people like Rana Safdar.