Origin: Taiwan
Classification: Asian Hardfeather. Large Fowl.
Egg colour: White or tinted
The Taiwan is a very large bird of Malayoid type. The breed is sometimes called Taiwan Shamo, but as this is not a Japanese breed that name is incorrect. The breed’s origins are in the island of Taiwan (formerly Formosa)
It is of a similar type to the Shamo, but generally bigger and heavier with longer legs.
There is a tendency in Europe to call any unidentifiable big Asian Game breed ‘Taiwan’, and these birds are often clumsy and of poor carriage. Birds of similar type have been called ‘Saipan’ in USA, also ‘Chinese Shamo’.
The true breed is an impressive, strong, agile, upright bird.
General characteristics:
Male
Type and Carriage: General appearance large, powerful, alert and agile, balanced and full of aggressive spirit.
Body: Large, firm and well muscled.
Breast: Broad and full with deep keel.
Back: Long, broadest at shoulders, sloping down towards tail and gradually tapering from upper side of thigh. Backbone straight.
Wings: short, big, strong and bony, carried close to the body, not showing on the back.
Tail: carried horizontally or below, length to give balance to the bird.
Head: Strong, deep and broad with wattles and earlobes small or absent. Beak powerful, broad and curved downwards, but not hooked. Eyes deep-set under overhanging brows. Comb triple or walnut, set low on a broad base.
Neck: Long, strong-boned and slightly curved.
Legs and feet: Legs long, thick and strong with slight bend at hock. Thighs long, round and muscular , shanks shorter than thighs. Toes four, long and well spread. Hind toe straight and firm on the ground.
Plumage: Feathers short, narrow, and hard, often showing red skin at throat, keel and point of wing.
Handling: Extremely firm fleshed, muscular and well-balanced. Strong contraction of wings to body.
Female
The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for natural sexual differences.
Colour
Black/red (wheaten) is the most common colour, but no colour or combination of colours is disqualified.
In both sexes and all colours:
Beak yellow or horn.
Legs and feet – yellow, or yellow with blackish over-colour in dark coloured birds
Comb, face, throat, earlobes and any exposed skin – brilliant red.
Eyes pearl to gold. Darker eyes acceptable in young birds.
Weights
Male approx 5 - 7kg (11 – 15lb plus)
Female approx 4 - 5.5kg (9 - 12lb plus)
Scale of points
Type and carriage 40
Head 20
Feather/condition 20
Legs and feet 20
100
Serious defects
Lack of attitude. Lack of size. Overlarge comb. ‘Duck’ feet.
Sumber : julia keeling
Versi 2
In 2002 the Asian Gamefowl society has send out a survey to its members regarding the Taiwan. They were asked what physical features are typical for the so called Taiwan breed. The results reported were counted and below you see the overall outcome
Comb pea or walnutcomb (Malay-type)
Head longer as Shamo
Beak longer as Shamo
Weight 6 Kg+ (13.2 Lbs)
Shoulders not protuberant like the Shamo, more round like the Asil
Tail more horizontal (not drooping down)
ankle joint very thick developed, the spur is attached to this strong and thick ankle bone
Toes the outer toe is curved
Size over 85 Cm (33.4 Inches)
Fighting style powerful, strong and persistent
As said the above reported physical features are simply the result of a worldwide survey under AGS members. Everyone should value this result to his her own impression of the so called Taiwan. Any other remarks ? Fire away and lets discuss this issue.
Regards, Willem
Source: the Asian Gamefowl Society Newsletter 2002-nr 1 issue
BattlePosted: Fri May 30, 2008 4:22 am
Post subject: Taiwan the quest Reply with quote
There is a lot of confusion about the Taiwan. For me personally this case is still unsolved. I have received pictures some years ago taken in Taiwan. This together with other photo material shows us three types of fighting fowl ; a Shamo-type, a Malay-type and a Kulang Asil-type. The weights of the birds on the pictures I received are in the range of 5 to 6 Kg+ (11 to 13,2 Lbs). I do not want to offend breeders or owners of the so called Taiwan (aka Taiwan-Shamo, Chinese Shamo or simply Chinese) but I was never told the specific physical features of this "breed". Years ago on behalf of the Asian Gamefowl Society I have contacted (by letter) three institutes in Taiwan (even got help from the Taiwanese diplomatic mission in The Hague !). But only got one reply from the Taiwan Livestock Research Institute saying "we are looking in to it". This till present day ! Tracing back photo material of genuine Taiwan fighting fowl being imported in 1983 by Johnny van Impe into Belgium failed. So we can only assume things. Belgian cockers very quickly adopted these birds crossing them on everything with feathers. Those imported strains are gone I presume. Some history lessons :Taiwan was occupied from 1895 till 1945 by the Japanese. They even forced Japanese culture upon the Taiwanese people. Japanese farmers have been send to Taiwan. It is quite possible that Japanese Shamo have been brought in by the Japanese and through times have been crossed with local fowl (most likely large Kulang Asil and Malay-type) as these can be found on mainland China too. Finsterbusch mentions a giant Malay-type of bird named "Ainoku" which was kept by Japanese farmers for fighting and meat production. Anyway a lot of stuff for speculation. Interesting note: Jean Marie Vangansberg (from Belgium) told me that Mr.Terramoto exchanged birds a few times with a breeder from Taiwan. As in Japan the big birds of Mr.Terramoto were known as "the monsters" this interesting note gives us more play for speculations !!!!
Addresses of instituts in Taiwan
Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan
112 Farm Road Hsinhua, Tainan 71210 Taiwan
Email: angrin@mail.angrin.tlri.gov.tw
Department of Animal Science
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
National Chung-Hsing University
250 Kuo-Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: +886-4-22870613, Fax: +886-4-22860265
swroan@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Chih-Feng Chen
Lecturer of Animal Science
National Chung-Hsing University
250 Kaokung Road
Taichung, Taiwan
Phone: (886) 04-2870613ext.214
Fax: (886) 04-2860265
E-mail: cfchen@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Regards, Willem
