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October 11, 2008 1:05:29 AM CDT

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Swiss Cow Fights Are No Bull

Posted Jun 7, 08 7:11 AM CDT in Sports,  World 

(Newser) – In Spain, the bulls do the fighting, but the boot is on the other hoof in the Swiss Alps, Der Spiegel reports. The tough local breed of alpine cows naturally battle among themselves to become queen of the herd, and for centuries, farmers have organized cow fight tournaments. Nowadays, the "Battle of the Queens" grand finale draws 50,000 spectators annually.

The fights involve plenty of angry mooing and locking horns, but there is little harm to the cows, and animal rights groups do not object to the contests. The bovines often refuse to fight at all. There can be huge profits for the owner of a winning cow, while the queen herself gets to lead her herd in the victory parade, wearing a new bell and a flowery headdress.

Source Der Spiegel

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Two cows fight during the traditional annual "Combats des Reines," a cow fight in the western Alpine canton of Valais, in Aproz, Switzerland, Sunday, May 11, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Two cows fight during the traditional annual "Combats des Reines" ("Battle of the Queens"), a cow fight in the western Alpine canton of Valais, in Aproz, Switzerland, Sunday, May 11, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Two cows fight under the rain during the traditional annual 'Battle of the Queens', a cow fight in the western Alpine canton of Valais, in Aproz, Switzerland, Thursday, May 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)
Two cows fight under the rain during the traditional annual 'Battle of the Queens', a cow fight in the western Alpine canton of Valais, in Aproz, Switzerland, Thursday, May 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)
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Two Swiss cows battle it out.   (motardbear15)

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animal  • Switzerland  • cows  • festival  • Alps


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