Should we organize cow fights in France?
The controversy rages in Isère, where an association tried to cancel an event this weekend.
Report from TF1 news in Sept-Laux, a mecca for this Swiss tradition.
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Halfway between the bulls of bullfights and the cows of Intervilles, there is a lesser known tradition, which comes to us from Switzerland: the fights of Hérens cows, one of the oldest known breeds, whose bones are the most The oldest ones date back to 3,000 BC. These clashes at an altitude of 1,500 meters, in an arena dedicated to Sept-Laux (Isère), in the Belledonne massif, usually little publicized beyond the Savoyard borders, created controversy this weekend: a defense association of animals seeks to have them banned at the national level.
“Everything is done to push them to fightexplains to TF1, in the JT report to be seen at the top of this article, Pauline Di Nicolantino, the president of AJAS (Savoie Animal Justice Association), whose online petition, launched on May 27, collected nearly 26,000 signatures, including 20,000 in the first 24 hours. The cows are taken to a place they do not know, in a cattle truck, which is particularly stressful, in the middle of a noisy crowd. Today we accept that, and what will it be tomorrow? Dog fights because your dog is considered dominant?
Breeders of this breed, known for its black coat and fiery character, retort that these cows naturally fight each other: the one that stands up when the others give up takes command of the mountain pasture. “They will fight either way, whether they are in a field or we bring them into an arena.”says one of them.
Jane Dompnier, breeder of Hérens cows in Maurienne, puts forward another argument: “I compete with my horses and it’s exactly the same principle. We go with them, there’s noise, music, but there’s not so much controversy because it’s an Olympic sport.” In addition, organizers claim that a tout interrupts the fights “as soon as there is the slightest risk”while a veterinarian is always ready if needed. “We are just there for the health side, but we absolutely do not intervene, there is no danger for the animals”assures the doctor.
In recent years, only a few superficial injuries have been recorded during these events, caused by horn blows, or horns stuck in a bell that twists. “But in general, when there is one who sees that she does not have the upper hand, she simply stops fighting”, adds the veterinarian. However, no doctor was present when, at the end of September 2022, breeder Nando Zenhäusern found himself thrown by his cow, as shown in the impressive images above. This was, fortunately, not necessary.
