Ok, I will try to help some, but I can promise someone will be along shortly to contradict me, it's just the nature of these type birds. LOL..
Compared to a Shamo MOST Thai TYPICALLY are smaller, lighter, faster, and more agile. Not quite as extreme upright, and much longer, fuller tails. Otherwise they are fairly similar. I've found them to be better layers, better mothers, and more active, less prone to leg issues, than Shamo. All these difference can be subtle or non existent depending on the strain. Also more likely to be "performers" than Shamo as they are not showbirds at all.
The Ga Noi are so variable I hesitate to even describe them. Most seem to be heavier built/muscled than Shamo , with bigger, heavier shanks, and heads, and rough scales on the shanks, tend to have shorter tails, and often more upright tails, although I have seen some small lean Ga noi, and huge monsters as well. Hennies and cushion combs seem fairly common also. Not as extreme upright as Shamo, and have good reputations for "performance", more than Shamo anyhow.
The big Asil strains are more muscular than the Shamo, with thicker shanks, larger heads and powerful beaks. Not as extreme upright, and good record for "performance".
Keep in mind that the Asian Americans breeding these birds here often cross strains/breeds, as they are usually after performance first, purity second. You might buy a bird sold as a thai that is 1/4 ga noi, or vice versa. Also keep in mind that some families just keep these around for meat and don't care if they are "performers", and good luck as a beginner getting the real deal without very good connections.
Also, only the Shamo has a set standard in the USA, the rest don't.
GR, were you thinking i might chime in....lol
Actually, I agree with most of what GR posted and to the best of my knowledge with four breeds mention was a good starting point for reference! I would like to add, that it reads as though GR is speaking about these breeds
as they are generally known or found in the states!!
I added that last statement for a couple reasons. One, because he was pretty spot on with his basic discriptions/characteristics of the breeds as found in the US. Second, from conversations with persons naturally more familiar with the breeds whether through travels, research or it being their homeland; most countries of the breeds origin definately have "standards". They may not be written down standards, as the poultry world we know does, but their birds are held to measurable and expected standards. Standards have been passed down through "hands on" experience from generation to generation and some have been written down. But like every country, and this explains some of the variation, breeds vary in quality from Excellent to Very Poor.
Written standards can be found in Thailand and Japan for their National Gamefowl. Thailand, like Japan, UK, USA, Argentina, Peru, etc have "feather type poultry shows" where the birds main objective is not fighting. This seems to be taking off in Thailand, along with Dog shows. Anyway, in each of these countries there are still breeders who breed the fowl very true to function and form.
I could not agree with you more that most Shamo in the US, are less true to function and form than Shamo raise in Japan. So your points of comparison to the Shamo are probably true if you are speaking about the common Shamo found in the States. Remember, there are folks out there with very good Japanese O Shamo and Chu Shamo lines, as discussed in previous conversation that are very different in many aspects to the old shamo lines found in the US. Thus, if speaking to true Chu or O Shamo many of your points of comparison, regarding strength, size, and performance do not apply.
In recent communication I have had with Mr Coppens, and Mrs. Keeling I learned that the Chu and O Shamo all have their unique style based, not on size, but set bloodline. Many towns are specifically know for their Shamo's style. Some lines are much more offensive styled and other lines are bred to be more defensive minded. Most, here, have never seen high level Chu Shamo or O Shamo in their full glory, one might mistaken the movement of a Chu for that of a larger and taller PHD but with Ga Noi Don type power.
But come to think of it, I dont believe I have seen a high level straight bred LHK or PHD Thai perform but I have seen their mestizo cousins move around.
