Cow fighting

Cow fights are as its name says, fought between cows or heifers and end as opposed to the bullfights usually without injury. Goal of fighting is to determine the rank order and matriarch of a herd.

In Switzerland, the cows from the combative Eringer and Evolène race are used. From 1076 registered breeders, there were in 2001, 7411 registered cows, this gives an average of 6.8 animals per owner. In merging the individual livestock farmers to herd, which is driven to the alpine pasture for summer grazing, the cow fights are a natural behavior of the animals.

In the preliminary rounds, the cows are categorized and performed in groups of 12 to 20 pieces in the arena. Driver ( discount Eure) ensure that it take only two cows against each other. A jury evaluates the duels. A cow has lost when it is receding or pushed away before the other cow.

The strongest cow is named for Queen and may lead the procession up. During the summer the cows determine among themselves the matriarch, the Alpkönigin, which leads the flock. More fights take place after the Désalpe in the fall. Cow fights ( Combats de Reines ) exist in the Valais, Vaud, Haute -Savoie and the Aosta valley.