An alleged cockfighting syndicate has been busted in Sydney's south-west, with the organised crime squad arresting 35 people and seizing dozens of birds.
A property at Camden Valley Way in Catherine Field was raided on Sunday, where officers found several large sheds that were being used to house 71 fighting cockerels.
Police also seized metal spikes, spurs and other cockfighting paraphernalia it will be alleged were attached to the birds before they were forced to fight.
Vision of the seized material shows various blades labelled with names that included "Mexican Slasher", "Socket Knife", "Half Bayonet", "Jagger" and "Flipping Fork Knife".
Several cockerels were taken into veterinary care with serious injuries.
The Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said the scale of organised animal cruelty had not been seen in two decades.
"By getting enjoyment out of livestock killing each other and making money out of it, it's quite disgraceful," he said.
"This type of abhorrent practice involves persons fixing sharpened spikes, spurs or small blades to the feet of two cockerels who will, in turn, fight until one of the cockerels is either dead, seriously injured or can no longer fight.
"Persons involved in these syndicates place bets on these fights."
He said it was expected all 35 men would face animal cruelty charges.
RSPCA NSW CEO, Steve Coleman, said one of the injured birds had to be euthanised and rehoming the other 70 cockerels would likely be difficult.
Mr Coleman said the birds had been deliberately bred for aggression.
"The unfortunate reality is that most of these birds are likely to be euthanised," he said.
Mr Coleman said alternative solutions would be explored with some of the birds which were less aggressive.
The raid, about 11:00am on Sunday, included dozens of officers, some heavily armed, along with the police dog unit and police helicopters.
