The various clubs and racing associations in Taiwan have taken the necessary steps to put into place various rules and regulations to make the racing as fair and honest as possible.  Although these rules are strict, they are necessary to keep all fanciers at the same level before the race series starts.  All fanciers start off equal, and all have the same chances to win the large prizes and pools.  For this reason, other countries recognize Taiwan as having the reputation for the fairest and most prestigious racing in the world.

If all is equal and fair before the race series starts, then why do some win frequently and others do not?  The difference in winning or loosing must be that some fanciers have better quality of birds, that some fanciers are better trainers, or a combination of both.  Therefore, if all is equal and fair at the start of the race series, the winner must have the better birds or be a better trainer who practices better diet, hygiene and medication.

A good trainer always makes sure his birds have a proper diet (METABOLISM) to compete at their highest level.  Metabolism is the chemical and energy changes associated with the consumption of food and oxygen, the production of heat and the calories used in physical activity.  The metabolic rate is the speed at which this is achieved efficiently.  Metabolism is different for every individual, as it is to each one of our racing pigeons.  Observations at feeding time show individual birds will chose grains to meet their own metabolic needs.  Some eat more corn, others extra peas, some more safflower or peanuts, etc.  The bird's brain tells the bird its metabolic requirements at that moment, the quantity and type of grains that it should eat.  What is good for one individual bird may not be needed by another.

This is why we must provide a feed mixture with various types of grains and in enough amounts that the birds can select what they need and the proper amount at each feeding.  There should always be some feed left when the birds have finished eating.  Mother nature has provided the ability for our birds to select the right grains when properly provided, and we must accept that the birds know more about their own metabolic needs than we do.  Since we keep our birds in an unnatural environment, and sometimes they do not receive all of the necessary vitamins, minerals and electrolytes that they need from grain alone, it is extremely important to give them the extra supplements they need in their water 3-4 times a week.

The racing in Taiwan is the most challenging and difficult for the young racing pigeon.  The ages vary from 3 to 6 months.  The strenuous schedule and the very young age of the birds require them to have the best food sources available (grains, etc.), with the greatest nutritional value from the first day they are born until last day of the race series.  Young birds should never miss a meal or be kept hungry.  Hunger is the most destructive factor for our race birds.  Hunger first effects the birds brain.  The brain is the seat of all consciousness, with all nerves leading to it:  the epicenter of life.  Hunger brings about a rapid deterioration in the birds efficient functions.  This may cause a series of problems like memory loss, fatigue, low concentration, etc.  Hunger may be caused, not by lack of food, but incorrect diet, deficient in the metabolic needs to sustain prolonged flight or endurance.  Always feed your birds for a race or training with the expectation of a tough, hard race and longer duration of flight.  If a bird is prepared for that little bit extra, then it should have few problems when the race is easier than anticipated, and it should handle the tough races with no problem.

Remember, our birds always need a full tank of gas for every race journey, and that is how they should be fed.  We should use race mixtures of 15%-17% protein with at least 12-16 different grains.  We should always feed raw Spanish peanuts and extra safflower for hard tough races.  We should always feed our birds all they want to eat, and a little extra.  They should never be hungry or want for food or water during training or during a race series (7 straight weeks of racing).  In Taiwan racing, peanuts and safflower should be part of the birds' regular feeding program everyday during training and racing.  The tough sea racing has many problems we cannot predict from hour to hour.  If the birds become very hungry during the race, memory, fatigue, lose of weight, etc. can become serious problems.  Homing becomes secondary to the need just to survive, many times causing the loss of the birds.  Well prepared, healthy, properly fed and quality pigeons do not get lost.  When they fail to home, usually something else has happened during the race.  It is the fancier's responsibility from the very first day of birth to provide the birds with the best sources of feed, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes that money can buy.  No short cuts and no cheap feed!  If you neglect your birds at this part of their life, they will not develop in strength, stamina, muscle growth, good feather, physical and mental maturity to race home successfully to win the large prizes.

There is no success and large financial rewards without the proper pigeons necessary to compete.  The pigeons in Taiwan must possess the following qualities to have any chance to compete successfully:

1.     Birds that have a strong history of successful young bird racing in the past, generation after generation of young bird results in tough hard races at distances of 100-350 miles.  Also, yearling races of 400-500 miles are good signs of fast maturing pigeons with proper physical and mental qualities. Many times these birds are less than one year old, and they fly 500 miles successfully.  Remember good bloodlines like this do not disappoint you on race day.

2.     Bloodlines from a family of birds that have already proven themselves to be successful in Taiwan's tough style of racing, especially in the area in which you race (North, Central or South Taiwan).  I realize many fanciers are very secretive about their source of birds, however, some information about the birds maybe available.  If you can find out the source of the birds, go to that fancier directly, and offer to buy from the same bloodlines.

3.     Pigeons that possess excellent health - strength, stamina, endurance and quick recovery time.

4.     Pigeons that have intelligence and navigation qualities along with a good compass and homing instinct.

5. Birds with good heredity for heart and the determination that fits the style of racing in Taiwan.  History of proven results in bad weather conditions, extreme heat, temperature change, difficult land / sea courses and hard changing winds are necessary. Genetics have proven that "Likes Breed Likes".

If we agree that we need tough weather birds, then that is all we breed from, the bloodlines selected for years to produce that type of bird.  I realize it is easy to list all of the qualities we need in a good family of birds.  However, some fanciers select birds to breed from with qualities that have no chance of success, because they are of little use in the Taiwan racing style. 

1.   Stay away from families of birds that mature at 2-4 years of age.  When you look at their race records you see no race results or even races for the first few years.  These late developing champions are suited and bred for the style of racing in their own country, and they take at least 2 years to become good racers.  They are of little to no use in young bird races.  We need birds to race competitively at 3-6 months.  The Taiwan fancier needs results from young birds, so birds that do not have a history of good young bird race results should not be bred. Remember we said "Likes breed Likes".  These late developing racers produce late developing off-spring.

2.   Stay away from "SPEED" families.  These birds fly short races, 30-100 miles.  They fly in good weather and over easy land courses.  They are bred for that style of easy racing, and when flown in Taiwan, are easily lost.  When we see their race records, we see large numbers of wins and prizes, but not the distances or speeds that they flew to win such prizes.  In full page fancy advertisements for these famous birds, you will not see the distances of the races.  They are left out on purpose.  WHY?, because the breeders know that these birds are not suited for tough racing, long distances and duration of flight.

3.   Stay away from the so called "PEDIGREE BREEDERS". The magazines are full of them.  They advertise some famous bird or birds throughout the pedigree.  Look at the pedigree, and you have several generations of non-flown birds that are not proven in the air or breeding loft.  To breed this type of unproven bird is always a big risk, with little success.  Generation after generation of young bird race performance in the pigeon's pedigree is a must, not the fancy pedigree without the race results.

4.   Stay away from birds that cannot race 3-4 weeks in a row. They are of poor health and have no recovery power.  They cannot compete in a tough series of races and are a definite loss after the second week of a series.  They cannot race week after week, nor in all types of conditions.  The bloodlines and history of the bird's sire / dam and grandparents will give you a idea of what type of recovery period the bird should possess.  If you see race results where the bird only flies 1 or 2 races a year, then that is not the type you want because they need 3-4 weeks rest between races.

5.   Stay away from the "PROFESSIONAL GRADERS" who claim they can pick out champion breeders / flyers from certain physical characteristics.  They look into their eyes, check the wing, back, etc.  There is no human on this earth, regardless of what he believes or says that can pick out champions by physical appearance.  Those who profess this ability as a professional grader have done more harm than good to our sport.  They should be ashamed of themselves for taking your time and money for their unqualified services.  It is nothing more than fraud on their part and foolishness on the fanciers' part for listening and following such bad advice.

Also, stay away from the so called "experts" in your club who offer you free or cheap birds and all of their great advice and expertise.  They have not won a large prize or had a bird finish a race series in the last 5-10 years.  They tell you of their great birds and all of the excuses in the world why they do not win.  Look very closely at these so called experts.  If they are not consistently in the top prizes, you do not need their birds or advice.  A bad pigeon costs more to breed and train than a good one.  The same goes for bad advice.  The results are always the same, disappointment and expense.  You can be your own expert by obtaining only those bloodlines that have a good young bird record in tough hard races:  "LIKES BREED LIKES".

We know that success in racing and breeding pigeons starts with good health and the fancier's willingness to accept that an excellent hygiene and medication program is necessary to keep his birds healthy and competitive. It is advisable for all serious fanciers to attend seminars regularly on the latest medications, treatments and dosages.  A fancier should talk with an experienced pigeon veterinarian to keep track of any changes and to receive advice or recommendations about scientifically proven, legitimate pigeon products that are effective for pigeons.

Taiwan fanciers must be very careful for the following reasons:

1.     Large numbers of imported birds every year;

2.   The country's warm climate with high humidity;

3.     Strenuous racing series and the competing birds young ages;

4.     Various breeding and racing seasons during the year; and

5.     Overcrowded conditions, the reason for most health problems.

BECAUSE OF TAIWAN'S UNIQUE STYLE OF RACING AND ITS CLIMATE, ITS FANCIERS MUST MEDICATE BEFORE AND DURING THE BREEDING AND RACING SEASONS.

The most common pigeon diseases are Coccidiosis, Canker, Paratyphoid, E-Coli, Worms, Adeno-virus, Paramyxovirus, Respiratory Infection, Pigeon Malaria, and Pigeon Pox.

A good fancier will have the best products to use for each of the above specific problems.  Stay away from the hocus pocus magic tonics.  They are a waste of money and not effective.  Remember, the highest priced drug is not always the best drug to use. 

Also, just as important are the most common external parasites that pester our birds:  Feather Lice, Red Mites, Pigeon Fly and Mosquitoes.  Since parasites like these are external and visual to our eyes, and occur in almost any climate, but especially in warm climates, we must account for them when we plan for good health and hygiene in our lofts.

The above parasites can cause considerable discomfort and effect your birds rest.  Your birds rest is very important, as important as a good diet.

You can use the following mixture for race season as a preventative.  GIVE 1 OR 2 DAYS EARLY IN THE WEEK WITH VITAMINS, 1 GALLON OF WATER, AT FULL STRENGTH.

     1.     1 TABLESPOON RIDZOL

     2.     1 TEASPOON AMPROL OR SULMET

     3.     1 TEASPOON AUREOMYCIN CONCENTRATE

     4.     1 TEASPOON VETISULID

     5.     1 TABLESPOON BEST VITAMINS

After 1 or 2 days of the mixture, you should give the birds 2-3 days of liquid vitamins and minerals.  When the birds return home from the race, the first 24 hours they should have the best liquid vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, plenty of quality feed and a few raw Spanish peanuts.  This first 24 hours is a very important time for recovery:  plenty of rest, feed and supplements.  With light training for the next 4 to 5 days, the birds should be ready for race day.

As much as we like to believe that racing pigeons today is a sport, many treat it as a business.  We can understand why when we see the large prizes available to win.  We must study every area of the racing game and try to improve our knowledge and put into practice these improvements concerning feeding, training, medications, loft design and breeding.

I am very proud of the many friends that I have made in Taiwan.  I have continued to learn more about its style of racing each year for last several years.  I have watched the many changes that have taken place to improve the sport.  Regardless of all the changes, some things are still the same: good quality pigeons, top trainers, the best feeds and a excellent medication program are necessary to be competitive each year.  Those that practice these techniques are rewarded with the large prizes. Those owners or trainers that do not give a 100% effort in these areas are usually disappointed for the race series.  The old saying that you must spend money and quality time in the racing game to make money is very true.  However, the expenses are very small compared to the large rewards.

BEST OF LUCK TO MY TAIWAN FRIENDS FOR UPCOMING RACING YEAR!