Author: cest-pharma

Detoxification is an alternative treatment that aims to eliminate toxins, substances accumulated in the body that can have negative effects in the short or long term.

Our pigeons’ body  accumulates toxins, resulting from the processing of food and supplements or medicines used. Some of them result from cereals, containing herbicides or pesticides, others result from preservatives found in the products received and others result from metabolic chemical processes. In either case, the accumulation of toxins is not beneficial and if we do not intervene to eliminate them periodically, their effects will be negative and undesirable. A very good method in winter is black fasting, which eliminates accumulated toxins, but during competitions, moulting and young birds rearing, it is not possible. This is why we have developed two complementary products that together work very well in the gut, cleansing and detoxifying the body.

Moor Active is a 100% natural product that contains liquid peat charcoal. Activated carbon was once considered the universal antidote. Coal works by capturing toxins and chemicals in the gut, preventing their absorption. The porous texture of coal has a negative electrical charge, which makes it attract positively charged molecules, such as toxins and gases. Because activated carbon is not absorbed by the body, it can carry various toxins that bind to its surface out of the body, through the droppings.

Detox Plus, also a natural product, improves digestion by increasing the absorption of nutrients, detoxifies the body, helps eliminate parasites, protects against contamination with mycotoxins (such as aflatoxin) present in cereals. It is also recommended in respiratory infections because it has a drying effect on mucous membranes and it’s a natural expectorant. Also rich in minerals and trace elements, such as: calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, silicon, sulfur, cobalt, sodium, chlorine, aluminum, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, phosphorus, germanium, zinc, silver, bromine, vanadium, rubidium, boron. Detox Plus clay is an addictive clay that attracts toxins from the intestine and eliminates them through feces, increasing the detoxifying capacity of the Moor Active product. The two compositions are deposited between the intestinal cilia and clean in their depth, garlic and cinnamon acting as natural antibiotics and natural anti-parasites directly in the depth of the deposits between the intestinal cilia.

Used together for a day, in the middle of the week, when we compete weekly, or 2-3 days between long distance races, when we compete every two or three weeks, it ensures the cleansing of the intestine of toxins. What do you get out of it? Quite simply, an organism from which we eliminate toxins and a clean intestine can absorb nutrients more efficiently from food. The cilia in the intestine, released by the residues deposited between them, are those through which the necessary nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal surface, under the influence of probiotics and with the help of chemical reactions generated by them and the acidic environment of the intestine. The cleansed intestine will increase the absorption and so we will see how, with the same amount of food received, our pigeons will be healthier, more active and they will fly better. Otherwise, we will see the exact opposite and we may intervene with drugs or increase the doses of supplements, wich brings even bigger negative effects, and at the end of the season we will look behind unhappy, without even understanding what happened exactly. Detoxification can make a big difference and in a visible way!

Phosphorus plays an important role in the nucleic acid synthesis, energy metabolism, muscle function, enzymatic activity, lipid metabolism, and bone mineralization. The concentration of phosphorus is found mostly (about 85%) in the bone as hydroxyapatite. About 10% of the total phosphorus in the body is made up of organic phosphates from nucleotides, phospholipids, and phosphoproteins.

Serum phosphorus (5%) is found in the form of the following (inorganic) phosphate ions: HPO4– and H2PO4-. The determination of serum phosphorus encompasses all forms in which it is found. It varies with serum pH, as phosphate acts as a buffer system.

The functional role, nucleotide formation has a role in energy metabolism – through adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and in the storage and transmission of cellular genetic material, through the formation of nucleic acids – deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Calcium also plays a role in intercellular signaling (eg cyclic adenosine monophosphate – cAMP is a second-order messenger that is formed by stimulating a receptor coupled with an alpha-G-protein subunit that activates adenylate cyclase that converts ATP to cAMP. phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of some enzymes takes place during their activation, respectively their inactivation.

Bone formation is dependent on dietary phosphorus concentrations. Low phosphorus diets have been shown to limit the growth of birds, while high phosphorus intake has adversely affected calcium (Ca) metabolism and bone properties. Phosphorus concentrations in serum and bone may reflect changes in phosphorus homeostasis, and the content within a normal range is important for normal physiological function and optimal bone mineralization.

Calcium Depending on age, calcium stored in the bone can reach up to 98-99% of the total calcium in the body. It is stored in two forms: one that is easily mobilized – quickly used by the action of parathyroid hormone in case of a decrease in calcium in the blood; another difficult to mobilize, stored at the level of the bone compact from the surface of the bone.

Functional role of calcium, intercellular communication, being a second-order messenger, cellular excitability. Through the different distribution of ions (Na +, K +, Ca2 +) between the inside and the outside of the cell, at the level of the cell membrane a resting membrane potential is realized, and the transmission of the nerve impulse at the level of the synapses and the muscular contraction. Calcium plays a role in the release of acetylcholine (chemical mediator) in the synaptic cleft through calcium-dependent exocytosis. It depolarizes the muscle cell membrane and creates a potential for action at this level.

Cereals are a major component of the pigeon diet and have high concentrations of phosphorus, most of which are considered biologically unavailable. However, it should be noted that the ingredients for food are plants, especially wheat, which may contain significant endogenous phytase activity. Phytases can also be produced by various bacteria. Some authors have suggested that phytate is hydrolyzed by phytases produced by microorganisms present in the small intestine.

In addition, inorganic phosphorus supplements are added to the diet to fully meet the requirements of the birds as recommended by the phosphorus. Incorporating inorganic phosphorus levels into practice could contribute to higher feed costs and environmental pollution.

Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of phosphorus levels in the diet without altering calcium levels on the performance of breeding pigeons and the bone characteristics of youngsters from 7 to 21 days, to know the phosphorus requirements.

We’re starting to turn on the engines …! There are two months left!

In Romania, the first official races will start on May 1. In other European countries at about the same time, other countries already have races. For those who have already started, we can only recommend a flight schedule from those found on our website.

For those who are waiting for the season, We would have some useful tips:
1. Make sure your loft is dry, airy, and bright. It is perhaps the most important factor for success.
2. Check the pigeons if they are healthy by testing them at a veterinarian in order to enter the season ready.
3. Fitness is essential. Many pigeons are lost at the beginning of the race because after the release they take the wrong way and have no resources to return home again. The muscles are not prepared for extra effort. Train progressively, pay attention to the weather and watch the physical condition of pigeons increase. It should be visible !!!
Do not send pigeons to races unless they are trained. The season is long and the rush may ruin your results.
4. Supplements are essential during the pre-competition preparation period.
The muscles, unaccustomed to the effort over the winter, need to get in shape. The preparation should be made gradually, muscle fever occurs and muscle damage may occur. Electrolit and Protein Plus from Cest Pharma are two indispensable products in this period for fitness.
Amino Forte in Drinking Water and Healthy Oil on grains are two other very helpful products.
5. Stress !!! Remember that pigeon training, widowhood, transportation with the car, represents stress factors and stress lowers immunity. The effects of stress can be seen when you put the pigeons in the basket for the first time: liquid manure (diarrhea)! So the first signs of stress are intestinal, which is why
the administration of probiotics and prebiotics is necessary. Biotics contains two types of probiotics: Bacillus Subtillis and Enterococcus Faecium but also prebiotics which are food for probiotics.
Only properly prepared will we be able to enjoy the long summer full of competitions!

In recent years, numerous scientific studies have been carried out and it has been discovered that certain plant extracts and essential oils have a great influence on immunity. For example, antibody-antigen binding and excretion have been shown to be much higher in poultry treated with plant extracts. Cytokine production is also higher in these treated animals compared to others in the group. However, there are hundreds of scientific articles that show that plant extracts and essential oils have a positive effect on the immune system. Phytogenic medicine is a rapidly growing branch of science, which already for many people offers an answer to the limitations mentioned above (the development of resistant bacteria) of classical chemical medicine and is a particularly good complement to it.

How do we apply these findings to pigeons?

There are 3 ways we can use plants in pigeon sport. First of all, there are pure plants or herbs that are usually dried and ground, can be used in teas or administered with food and we also have the forms of plant extracts and essential oils. The last two are of particular importance to our pigeons, because the concentration of active molecules in plants and oils is often higher than what we can recover from dry plant material.

The difference between “extracts” and “essential oils” is given by the extraction technique. The oils are extracted by steam distillation and the plant extracts are obtained by boiling, soaking or filtration. However, from certain plants we can only obtain extracts!

To better understand the concentration of ingredients of an essential oil, you should know that it takes 100 – 200 kg of dried plants to extract 1 to 2 kg of essential oil, so it is much better to use essential oils or extracts instead of dried plants.

Essential oils and plant extracts contain hundreds to thousands of organic components, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, lactones, flavonoids, coumarins, ethers, oxides, etc …

We, at Cest Pharma, have chosen to use essential oils in the composition of our products, in optimal doses for pigeons and with easily visible results. Healthy Oil, for example, is a mixture of 9 essential oils with direct and combined action on the respiratory system, the intestinal tract and with benefits on the immune system. This product combines no less than 9 oils, which potentiate each other’s effects thus making Healthy Oil a reliable ally for maintaining the health and shape of pigeons.

Tricogo, is a mixture of plant extracts with the role of immuno-stimulator, which increases appetite and at the same time cleanses the throat area from build up mucus. An exceptional product for pigeons when we want to keep the birds as close to nature as possible and at the same time is a very useful adjuvant in the fight against trichomoniasis. Garlic Oil and Oregano Oil, essential oils extracted from garlic and oregano plants are two other products that bring the benefits of nature in our loft. Natural health, strong immunity, and the creation of strong and healthy specimens must be the primary care of any pigeon fancier!

Slowly, slowly, the days go by quietly and the winter nights will become shorter and shorter, giving way to the long and soon warm days.
Nature will come to its senses and spring with its colors and sounds will take over the universe around us.
Our pigeons will also know that the moment of the competitions is approaching and, as if driven by an invisible hand, they will start preparing: they are looking to mate, they are much more active and the noise in the loft is increasing day by day.
Pigeon lovers, who over the long winter dreamt at the much desired trophies, will soon have the opportunity to move from dream to reality and to measure their strength (pigeons) with their colleagues.
Well, to be prepared for battle, you need some pre-fight preparation, and for that we can give you some useful tips:

• Do a series of tests on the pigeons to make sure they are healthy and give medication only if necessary!
• Do not use many supplements and even fewer medications. Nothing in excess is healthy!
• Make race approaching strategy according to what you want to achieve. If you are competing at random hoping to “catch something”, you know that this strategy does not work!
• Pay attention to training at the beginning of the season, when the weather is still cold, with big temperature differences between day and night. Pigeons should be trained gradually, without excess. The muscle tear during this time can be seen later, when it is… too late!
• A good recovery after the competition is the source of winning the next race! In try in vain to prepare the pigeons for next race if not properly recovered. You will waste time and money unnecessarily.
• Listen to your pigeons!! They will tell you exactly what they want from you in order to feel good in the loft and to be happy to return there!

You can already see the sunrise from the first race! Your pigeons will be in the transport vehicle ready to take off. Their success now depends on you! Will you be ready?

We often see how the chicks are fed the leftovers from the flyers or a cheaper mixture, just because they have not yet reached the age of flight. It’s deeply wrong.

Chicks should be pampered so that they do not miss anything and do not have crooked chest problems and other conditions. It is not suitable to give the leftovers, which other pigeons leave, as food for chickens. More protein supplements like Protein Plus, vitamins like Vit Amino, probiotics like Biotics, natural oils contained by Healthy Oil are especially useful for a harmonious development. Sanocest, added in the drinking water for the destruction of bacteria and viruses, minimizes the pressure of infections.

I noticed something else. After the completion of the flights, most fanciers take refuge in cheap food and forget about their pigeons.

These fanciers forget that, during the moulting period, the foundations of next year’s winnings are laid. An excellent plumage will show its merit during the flights. A plumage that is not optimal will inhibit the pigeons in their suppleness. Now that pigeon sport has become a top sport, the smallest things can make a big difference.

There are many roads leading to Rome when it comes to caring for pigeons during moulting. The starting points should be the supply of amino acids with sufficient sulfur content. But not only that.

The liver works at extremes during moulting. A lot of building material has to be produced for the new feathers to be optimal and a lot of waste is also produced. Therefore, this waste must be removed from the liver and kidneys. Thus, optimizing these organs for moulting is not an unnecessary luxury.

Any disease that occurs during moulting will create major problems in the moulting process and feather formation. Due to weight loss during moulting caused by the effort that the body has to make, sometimes an outbreak of latent paratyphoid is hidden in the loft. Autumn is the time of year when we see the most cases of paratyphosis. This is due to the moulting period, but also because the inhibitory effect of the various disinfectants that are administered during the racing season disappears.

In my own loft, pigeons receive supplements rich in proteins and amino acids, such as Protein Plus and Amino Forte, Sedo Plus for the liver, vitamins and very good food.

Probiotics are not missing from the weekly diet because I have noticed how important intestinal health is and I regularly use Detox Plus with Moor Active for detoxification. Now is the time when pigeons need the most resources and the most attention from us. If we miss this period we will have to wait one year until the next one co mes J.

Success and wisdom! Races are first won with the mind!

Marius Tunduc

1.TRICOMONIASIS (CANKER)

It is a serious disease that produces a cheesy, yellow substance, generally observed in the beak. However, only 10% of trichomoniasis is external, the remaining 90% being internal. It occurs at any age, both in adults and in chicks still in the nest. It is caused by a flagellate (a single-celled organism) that lives on the mucous membranes of the neck and crop.

Symptoms of trichomoniasis:

Loss of appetite
Digestive problems
“Yellow stuff” in the throat and beak
Apathy

Treatment:

Ronidazol 10%
Tricoplus
Carnix Tab
Ambronil

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

2. PARATYPHOSIS (Salmonella)

Paratyphosis can be caused by unsanitary conditions and contamination of feed by rodents. It can also occur when new pigeons are introduced into the farm, without first checking to see if they are healthy. Before bringing new pigeons to the farm, isolate them and observe them for 5 days and give them a preventive medicine.

Simptoms of paratyphoid:

Loss of form and weight
Green excrement
Swelling of the joints of the leg and wing hobble
Infertile eggs
Twisted neck (rare)
One-eyed blindness (rare)

Tratment:

Cestamicin Plus

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

3. PARAMYXOVIRUS (PMV)

To prevent Paramyxovirus in your loft, it is recommended that all birds be vaccinated at least once a year. Young birds should be vaccinated at 4 to 8 weeks of age, but no later than 4 weeks before the young bird racing season. Vaccinate all birds again 4 weeks before the breeding season. Once a pigeon has Paramixovirus, you can do very little for him; vaccination at this time will not help. We recommend that those pigeons that have the disease be treated with La-Sota, which has proven successful in this regard. This can be done individually by putting a drop in each eye for three consecutive days or adding it in drinking water for the treatment of the whole lot.

Symptoms of paramixovirous:

Weight loss
Green and watery droppings
Twisting the neck and head

Vaccines:

PMV1 Vaccin
La Sota
PHA

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

* NOTE: If a visible paramixovirus problem occurs, you can try the following remedy (this has been recommended by some of the leading veterinarians in the Netherlands and Belgium): vaccinate the affected pigeon 3 times a week with the PMV-1 dead virus vaccine, 0.5 cm3 in the throat, on Sunday, Wednesday and Sunday. After treatment, keep the pigeon isolated for another week to make sure all the symptoms are gone. Remember that the bird will always remain a carrier.

4. COCCIDIOSIS

This problem can be caused by unsanitary conditions in the loft and the pigeons allowed to nibbling on the ground. Coccidiosis is highly infectious and quite a common illness that infects the intestines of birds.

Symptoms of coccidiosis:

Weight loss
Dark green droppings
Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Thirst

Treatment:

Tricoplus
Ambronil
Cestamicin Plus

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

5. ADENO-COLI SYNDROME (young bird disease)

In the last decade, this has been the biggest problem in young birds aged 6-9 months. Up to 70% can be infected and have symptoms. The disease is a combination of an Adeno virus, which paves the way for the suddenly aggressive E-Coli bacterium, often involving a Circovirus. The same symptoms can be seen with Paramyxovirus, however, in this case, the pigeons drink more and may have a central nervous problem, such as twisting the head. Although there is no known cure for Adeno and Circo virus, several of the products listed below have been shown to be effective.

Symptoms of  Adeno-Coli syndrome:

Decreased appetite
Clear aqueous excrement with traces of fecal matter
Vomiting
Rapid weight loss
Death in a few days

Although the problems listed are not common, they can occur under certain conditions and should not be overlooked.

Products for prevention or cure:

Cestamicin Plus

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

6. WORMS (hair worms, round worms și tape worms)

The cause is generally unhealthy hygiene conditions or letting the pigeons nibble from the ground. The appetite will be high, because the worms consume almost all the nutrition in the pigeons’ body.

Symptoms of worm infestation:

Loss of general condition
Weight loss
Unhealthy excrements

Treatment:

Worm Tabs

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

7. ORNITHOSIS COMPLEX

Over 50% of young birds have problems with the ornithosis complex. Loss of  any desire to fly, loss of pigeons and poor results, both in old and young birds.

Symptoms of ornithosis complex:

Lack of condition
Runny nose
Decreased desire to fly
Scratching the head and beak
Swollen eyelids and wet eyes
Sneezing, rumbling and coughing
Mucus in the throat

Tratament:

Respiratory Plus
Ambronil

Stimulating immunity with: Healthy Oil, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Biotics, BDC, Fly Power, Garlic Oil, Oregano Oil

Chris Gibbson is one of the champions from the UK that used our products and secured some top results this year. In this article, he talks about some of the products he was pleased with and helped him prepare his pigeons better.

PROTEIN PLUS

“I use this product all year round with excellent results. During moulting and breeding, it assists greatly with the growth of new feathers and importantly creates strong quills important for the tail festers and feathers on the wing. I have found that CEST Protein Plus is the best protein product for the growth of the youngsters – 3 times a week over smaller grains which are easily digestible for both the young and their parents whilst still receiving all the protein needed. I also give Protein Plus on the evening of the race to aid the repair, rebuild, and recovery stages following the race. If the race has been extra tough then it may be given for two days. After this, the birds are ready for the training. A great product that I wouldn’t be without…”

SEDO PLUS

“This is another product I hugely recommend during the moulting period. Sedo I am an exceptional product for the metabolism and function of the liver. Again I use this product all year round but more so during moulting and breeding. After young bird racing is finished when darkening and lights have been employed I give Sedo Plus every day for a full 2 weeks to kickstart the youngsters moult and then 2/3 times a week till the moult is finished. The moult is then excellent due to the perfect liver function evening able to utilise all the goodness from the feed and supplements you give.”

“The condition of your pigeons is important all year round, not just when racing, and with CEST Pharma this will be achieved!”

BIOTICS

“One product I have only just started using 1 day a week during moulting is BIOTICS a perfect blend of both (live) pre and probiotics bacteria keeping on top of the good bacteria and preventing any bad from multiplying and allowing illness. I will be using BIOTICS all year around 1/2 days a week as I have already noticed my pigeons are looking very good on this product.”

Some of Chris’ recent results:

5 x 1st Federation:
Including:

1,2,3,4,5,6 – out of 1.536 pigeons
1,2,3 – out of 1.486 pigeons
1,4,5 – out of 1.659 pigeons
1st – out of 3.898 pigeons
1st – out of 1.234 pigeons
2,3,4,5,6,7 – out of 968 pigeons

Also
5th Combine – out of 4.465 pigeons
1st Nat Sec
31st Nat – out of 4.059 pigeons
1st Nat Sec – out of 1.009 pigeons
108th Nat – out of 9.960 pigeons

– by Dr. Sara Dias from Elite Pigeon Center Portugal

WHY IS MOULTING SO IMPORTANT

Moulting season is the time when the pigeons completely change their feathers, or it should be, because we happen to encounter problems that prevent moulting, which is not normal. Now is the time to change the future of a pigeon that didn’t perform well due to incomplete moulting. There is a great connection between a good moult and racing performance in the season. We can start again with a good moult even if we had a bad season with that pigeon.

If we don’t have a good moult, we can’t expect good performance in the future. That’s for sure! Even if the pigeon is a good pigeon, he can be even better if the moulting is perfect, if the feathers are shiny, good-looking and healthy. Without these few aspects, the pigeon cannot perform in competitions.

During this time many breeders are on vacation and sometimes forget about pigeons but this period is very important for the next season. If breeders knew this, they would pay more attention in the future. The racing season is the mirror of last year’s moult. When I look at some pigeons in the season and open their wings, I can see that moulting was not successful and this leads to bad results.

MOULTING AND TREATMENTS

Ideally, before moulting we should do some tests or treatments to make sure the pigeons enter into the great moult in perfect shape. If the pigeons are sick during this period, the moulting will not be complete or the feathers will not be shiny and the racing season will not be a good one. Any disease can compromise the absorption of nutrients in both the crop and intestines.

The moulting program, like the other programs of the year, is divided into two stages. The first stage is the preparation for moulting in which we make sure that the pigeons do not have intestinal worms, coccidiosis or trichomoniasis.

If we have the opportunity to test the crop and feces, then we can treat according to the result. If we cannot examine, then we should make a treatment for coccidiosis, intestinal worms and triomoniasis with Ambronil but, be very careful, use Ambronil 5g in 4 liters of water, in order not to affect the feathers as in the case of the normal dose. With this dilution (5g/4l) there is no risk. 2-3 days before moulting, and if a trichomoniasis treatment is needed even during moulting, use the same dosage.

Of course we must avoid the administration of drugs, if there is less than 5% of the flock sick, we can treat them individually. If they do not react to treatment in 4-5 days, they must be eliminated. If more than 5% are sick, we must treat them carefully, to not compromise the feathers.

Enrofloxacin, sulfamides, dimitridazole should always be avoided, not to develop problematic feathers. Of course, if we have a problem a veterinarian should be consulted.

We can use Tricoplus and Ambronil (5g/4l). Ronidazole is a safe substance that can be used once a month. Then, we can maintain the health of pigeons with Tricogo and Sanocest. These products help fight bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Another important aspect, after performing the treatments before or during moulting, we must disinfect the loft because worm eggs and coccidia may still be present. To stop reinfection we must always disinfect.

MOULTING AND REPRODUCTION

If we want to reproduce then the moulting will be delayed. But, if we talk about breeders there is no problem because we can extend the moulting period as much as we want but we must be careful because both reproduction and moulting consume a lot of energy, minerals, vitamins and amino acids, and so we must increase the dose of supplements to avoid any problems.

If we are talking about reproducing the racing pigeons, in Portugal, for example the season starts in February, the preparations start in December, the moulting must be completed at the end of November for the beginning of the trainings. If the moulting is not completed and we start training, we can compromise the feathers. So, with flyers, is not a good idea to prolong the moult.

FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS

This period consumes a lot of energy, there are important needs that we must ensure, the pigeons must receive minerals, vitamins, amino acids and good balanced food. Minerals, vitamins and amino acids are vital for the development of feathers. If the body does not have these elements, it cannot produce good, strong and shiny feathers. The pigeons fly with their feathers. If they don’t have good feathers, they can’t fly well.

The most important amino acid during this period is methionine, which we find in Vit Amino, Amino Forte and Sedo Plus. These 3 products are very important and, from my point of view, the most important. They have an essential composition and together with quality food thus ensure good health and moult.

I mentioned Sedo Plus, Vit Amino, Amino Forte, which are very important, Healthy Oil is also very important for energy intake. Regarding food, there are many good brands on the market, we just have to choose one that contains good seeds, because the composition may be good but if the seeds are not of quality it is not ok.

Most brands have special blends. Normally we need food with high energy, many calories and fats, but it all depends on the pigeons. If we are talking about adults, we must use the mixtures designed for moulting. But if we are talking about youngsters, we should use mixtures designed for reproduction because they need more protein than adults. If they no longer receive protein, we can compromise their development. For a good moult we must have a daily plan, a good preparation, good food and a good loft. In Portugal the weather is different, in the south the weather is very beautiful, dry and there is no need to close the loft. In the north, where we live, the night is very cold; we have to be careful because it rains more. This summer was not too hot; we had autumn or spring like temperatures. Every year we have to pay attention to the weather and the loft, and try to do what is best for the pigeons.

In conclusion, for a good moulting we should pay attention to first stage, which means making sure the pigeons enter the great moulting in perfect health if not, treat possible diseases before they start moulting. In the second stage, the actual moulting, we supply with necessary products which contain methionine, vitamins and minerals. Together with the supplements we must procure good moulting food with quality grains. By doing all this we increase our chances for the next racing season.

Hello, please tell us a few words about yourself

Hello, my name is Dobre Cosmin, I live in Prahova County, I am 32 years old and I have been raising pigeons since childhood. 6 years ago I made the decision to compete pigeons professionally, and currently I compete in UCPR in tandem with my friend Spiridon Costin under the name of DOBRE C. & SPIRIDON C.

Give us some details about the champion pigeon (pedigree)

The 2-year-old pigeon competed as a yearling in the middle-distance races and one long distance. This year he competed in all the long distance and marathon races, achieving satisfactory rankings for his level of experience. The pigeon is bred in my tandem loft and competed in my personal loft. It is reproduced from very long distance pigeons, 50% from a female from Stoica Marius, 50% from a pigeon of Austrian origin! (does not have a pedigree)

At what distance did he fly against how many pigeons participated?

The pigeon was sent at the derby race of the UCPR Prahova area, DONETSK, with a distance of 941 km, winning 1st place against 2000 pigeons.

Which flight method do you prefer? Natural or widowhood?

The method of flight I practice is widowhood.

What kind of motivation did you use with this pigeon and how did you prepare him?

The preparation I did with this pigeon is a classic one, namely: trainings around the loft and individual trainings from distances of maximum 70 km both in the morning and in the evening. The motivation was simple, 2 days before basketing we opened the cock boxes and turned the nests face up, we proceeded to open the boxes because during the break between competitions our males had the nest boxes closed, finding them open only when they returned from individual trainings.

What are your favorite Cest Pharma products and how do you use them?

The products we used this year from Cest Pharma are: Detox Plus, Biotics, Energy, Electrolit and Ronidazole 10%. I use Biotics 3 days after the competition, sometimes over the food or in the drinking water. I use Detox Plus on days 4, 5 and 6 after the competition, sometimes in combination with Biotics. I use Energy + Electrolit 2 days before basketing and 2 days after the arrival from competitions. Ronidazole 10% I use against trichomoniasis after competition, only when appropriate. In the past I have used other products such as Sedo Plus, Fly Power, Amino Forte, Protein Plus, Respiratory Plus and Top Form. In conclusion, I would like to tell you that I have been and still am very satisfied with these products, they are of very good quality and I recommend all breeders to use them.

Respectfully, DOBRE C. & SPIRIDON C.

We wish you good luck in all your future races!