KUALA TERENGGANU: As for the Serama, bantam breed of chicken originating from Malaysia, they can fetch thousands of ringgit per head and are jealously guarded by their owners.
VALUABLE ITEM: Zahari Ahmad from Kedah excited to join the Serama competition. — Bernama photo
And why not, like a race horse, the Serama fetches a higher price each time it wins a competition and serves as the pride of its owner.
The winners are often the dream bird of the die hard fans of the Serama competitions.
The Serama resembles ‘dwarf’ chicken and is characterised by vertical tail feathers, near-vertical wings, full breast, and short legs.
They are the smallest chicken in the world, often less than 500 grammes in weight.
The recent curtain raiser for the 2010 Serama competition organised by the Sutra Beach Resort in Merang, Setiu stands testimony to the popularity of these birds.
The event witnessed the participation of more than 400 Serama enthusiasts from all over the nation and their best birds.
There were eight categories of competition – Serama without tail carriage, Serama A (350 grammes and below), Serama B (between 351 and 500 grammes), chicks , cockerels, mature cocks, Serama Chicks A (100 grammes and below) and Serama Chicks B (101 to 140 grammes).
The birds in various plumage colours enclosed in their beautifully decorated cages, complete with ‘curtains’, were evaluated one by one by the judge according to their category while their owners waited with their hearts pounding.
Tuan Hasan or Tuan Hamizan Tuan Mat, 49, a Serama breeder for the last three decades from Kampung Penarik, Setiu pointed out the big demand for the Serama or also known as ‘ayam katik’ locally.
There was once a Serama enthusiast who came to his house and wanted to trade his car for Tuan Hasan’s entire Serama collection.
“On another occasion, after I won a competition, 18 cars arrived at my home to buy the Serama,” said the breeder who won the first place in the Serama without tail carriage category.
What started as a hobby for Tuan Hasan now provides income and at present he has 60 adult birds and 20 males for breeding purposes.
He said proceedings from the birds helped him to sponsor his siblings to further their studies at higher learning institutions.
“In short, I’m earning more now, and my family is more comfortable now with my birds fetching between RM100 and RM300 for each new hatchlings and slightly bigger ones between RM300 and RM1,500,” he said.
He also provided some pointers on the preparation for the contest; “Make sure they are clean and healthy, and are in good temperament and their feathers must be shampooed and dried with a hair dryer so that they are shiny.”
Another Serama enthusiast Zahari Ahmad, 49, from Pendang, Kedah noted that he never missed any of the Serama competition even if it is held in faraway places.
“I go all over the nation to participate in the event regardless in Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang… and this is where I make new friends with the same interest,” said this man who took up this hobby some years ago.
Zahari noted that he not only comes to compete but also to buy the best available Serama.
“Even today I have spent about RM5,000 buying several Serama and if there is anymore that I like, I will finish all this money,” he said showing part of the RM13,000 cash that he brought with him.
It obvious that the competition also serves as a trading ground that promises lucrative returns.
Another of the participant Chong Chin Chuan, 27, from Alor Star, Kedah, who put the bet on his Serama named Rocky emerged as the Best Of The Best in the competition and won prizes worth RM1,050 and the challenge trophy.
Chong noted that, his bird had emerged champion twice consecutively in the competitions in Kedah and his Serama received an offer of RM10,000 which he flatly refused.
“I bought Rocky in Dungun early last year and at present I have no plans to part with it though I received good offers for the bird,” noted Chong who was obviously satisfied with Rocky which emerged champion in the Serama B category.
The salesman added his hobby has brought him great satisfaction and moreover after a hard day’s work at the shopping centre he has the opportunity to cuddle his beloved pet.
“The Serama is evaluated in various aspects by the competition judge.
Good appearance does not guarantee a win especially if the bird fails to pose in front of the judge,” said Suhasdi Yusof, the competition appraisal chairman, from the Kelab Perkasa Ayam Serama Kelantan.
In the competition, he said, the judge allocates 1 minute and 15 seconds to evaluate each of the competing bird.
“This is where the competing Serama must pose and display its aesthetic characteristics….chest up, stand upright, all these will give them marks.
“Other than this, the Serama must be healthy, including the position of the tail that must be upright at least by 90 degrees, all these will be taken into account,” he said.
This chicken that only weigh between 350 and 500 grammes and are believed to originate from China.
Today the birds are popular in Malaysia and Indonesia as pets and for sports.
According to Suhasdi, the excitement over Serama reached its peak in the end of 1990s and was on the wane between 2002 and 2004.
“However, since 2005, the interest on the Serama competition returned with the competitions held all over the nation and well received by all races.
“1Malaysia – Malay, Chinese and Indians, have shown interest in this hobby and they are willing to go anywhere in the nation to participate in the Serama competitions,” he said.
Suhasdi who is studying the bird at a local university, also plans to create a special Serama event calendar especially to avoid the competition dates from clashing.
Regardless, the Serama has made the nation proud as its name has been etched in the world of bantam breed chicken enthusiasts.
There is the Serama Club in the United States and the Serama Council of North America, both providing recognition for the Serama’s beauty and uniqueness. — Bernama