Do you know how much does a rooster costs in Kerala? Well, it’s priced at a whopping ₹80,000!
Yes, you have read it right, unbelievable though. That is the price a Salem cock commands.
But why does the species command such an astronomical price? The answer is even more intriguing – beauty! The long plume of these roosters resembles that of a peacock.
Having the species in one’s backyard is certainly owner’s pride.
And Bhupatiraju Visweswara Rama Venkatapathy Raju of Revidi village in Padmanabham mandal is one such proud owner of the Salem rooster.
After quitting his private job in Vizianagaram, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju was aspiring to take up some avocation at his 150-year-old ancestral home in the village.
His search for a suitable occupation made him undertake trips to Salem in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. During one such trip, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju was astonished to see people buying a Salem rooster for ₹80,000 and a hen for ₹20,000.
“I saw a U.S. national buying it for ₹2.5 lakh,” he says.
At that very instant, he saw a viable business proposition in the species. So he bought a few chicks and raised them with utmost care at his home. Today, he is the owner of 20 Salem fowls.
Life span
“These birds have a life span of about 5 years, and offer a good pastime for avian lovers. An attractive sharp nose and a long tail distinguish the rooster from the traditional ones,” says Mr. Venkatapathy Raju.
“These cocks are strong compared to the traditional roosters. But in view of their weight, they are not used in cockfights. They are reared for their beauty and for the good income they command in some of the domestic market. They are also exported to Dubai,” he says.
“I was surprised when a person from Odisha came all the way to my home for the Salem rooster. I sold it for ₹40,000,” he says.
