Interview with Antonio Rosa 
24 S COLUMBUS AVE FORDS NJ

1996 Hall of Fame Winner 200-500 lofts

By Paul Walsh

Tell us a little about yourself? 
This loft is a partnership with Antonio Rosa & Son's Paul and Henry. They are flying with the Newark club and Greater Elisabeth Club with the Central N.J. Combine 400 to 500 lofts weakly, thousands of birds Antonio and son's have been flying for the past 12 years in the U.S. Antonio has flown in Portugal since 1945 as a young man . He was a champion flyer and breeder in Portugal and today his pigeon has a unmatched record. in Portugal. Antonio thinks pigeon flying is a little more competitive in Portugal compared to the U.S. Over there as he told me he learned to fly in high school and there were many more flyers then there are here in this country. He feels the federation and government are more into the sport as there is laws protecting pigeons there. Each year you register every pigeon you own with the federation. Antonio says the transfer of a pigeon ownership is done
within federation and must be done that way on all birds when they change ownership.

Do you think your position is a good one as far as combine races are
concerned? 
We fly in the middle of combine on the long end. and considers it a tuff position we feel it takes hard work and great birds to make winner here. Wind and drag are no help in this position. Do you have a original family of pigeons? When he left Portugal Antonio original family stayed there . When he got into the birds in America he got some Herman Beverdam Mulemans and some De Klak Jansen . These birds he molded into a family of birds he now considers the Rosa family. This family is able to win at all distance and at all speeds. It will win on all types of days also weather flying into a
headwind or with the wind. Antonio considers breeding as the most important aspect of pigeon
flying.

What type of birds do you now fly? 
They like a medium size well built pigeon . The boys will breed for that quality by breeding a big cock to a small hen. The Rosa number one breeding cock is on the big size.

Can you give us a little history on your champion bird? 
I.F.-96-GEF-4 was flown in 7 races and won 4 races . He was in clock every time at all stations to
the 300 .and on last race was held in truck 5 days and released came home all puffed up filled with air sac filled up air, we felt bird hit something . We contacted as many vets as possible to find out what condition caused this, in the end .Antonio decided to prick the crop with a sterilized needle and push the air out. After three weeks he was fine. GEF 4 now regularly exercises around loft with his mates. We have won with few of brothers and sisters of GEF 4 . I.F. GEF 1 was 2nd I.F... Hall of Fame in 1995 Pedigree The Rosa's considers there pigeons all Rosa's today bred out of
ROSA champion breeders Races entered. IF-96-GEF-4 won 1st 19lofts 211 birds 15 CJC 3546 BIRDS 325 LOFTS AT 296 MILES 1ST 23lofts 270 birds 4 CJC 4755 birds 405 lofts at 264 miles
1st 21 lofts 288 birds 2nd CJC 5717 birds 433 lofts at 160 miles 2nd equal to first 13 lofts 168 birds 42 CJC 5654 birds 433 lofts Story on parents and bros. is if any 2 sisters was won 3 races in old
birds 1996 . The parent's of #4 bred a GEF 1 last year who won 6 races and was I.F. hall of fame
runner up.

How many birds do you race each year? 
50 Young birds and we fly a 30 bird old bird team. Antiono goes with the light system for young bird as described by Rich Marts but flys to the perch .. In Old birds he flys simi widowhood with cocks and hens.

Do you race imports? 
No we race our own family.

Do you use a system? 
Yes the light system as described by Rick Martis video. We modified it to our own likes.

Do you fly to the perch? 
Yes we fly to the perch with young birds.

Describe you loft? 
Our loft is 8 "by 20 " with a four section which can be changed to 3. in this loft are old birds young bird, and breeders. The loft is heated and there is lots of light and ventilation.

Describe how you feed? 
Antonio tells me they buy there feed from a local feed man and they fly on a straight flying mixture with safflower added . When breeding season is in we use a breeding mixture with about 15 per cent protein these mixes are the same as everybody else buys nothing added

Is there any kind of health program you follow regularly? 
He follows the Rosa health program and that as far as the Rosa boys will say. As it takes healthy
pigeons to be on top and stay there especially in there level of competition.

Do you have any regular training schedule and do you toss regularly? 
The Rosa pigeons train every day. For young birds they start at 20 mile station when they are coming straight home from there they move to the 50 mile station. They usually stay there but Paul who is the trainer will give a occasional at 70 mile toss if the partnership thinks they need it .If Paul can't train then Henry wife takes them short 15 miles toss . They also get loft flown every evening for a hour.

How often do you race them? 
If they look ready they look ready they go every week. 

Do you believe in bird entry limits? 
The boys are satisfied with the way CJC combine is with there 15 bird limit Antonio prefers 3 bird derbies though.

Do you believe in clocking limits? 
No we do not believe in clocking limits, you should clock them as you get them.

How do you select your breeding pairs? 
We do put our champions in the stock loft and try different mating looking for results as the end product. Mr. Rosa believes in inbreeding as he tell me it is the secret for making a champion. The
Rosa team all believe breeding is main and most important factor in pigeon racing.

What were your combine results for 1996 young bird? 
C.J.C. we had first average speed young birds and First Hall of Fame pigeon for the C.J.C. combine. First champion loft and First champion bird in Elisabeth club First average speed in Newark club

Have you any advice for new flyers? 
Maintain a health program and do not think money can buy it all. Keep a eye out for what good pigeons you are competing against and find out about them . Seek out good handlers to give you needed advice , and never give up, try harder than the guy you want to beat.

Have you any advice for advanced Flyers? 
Try to keep up with the best flyers in your area and keep up the interest in the sport as a lot of guys come and go in this sport. Keep working hard like Anotiono who is in loft at 5 am working and he thinks so should you.