5/16/2003: Battle of the Queens

Undertoad · 05-16-2003, 12:04 PM

Not bull fighting. COW fighting.

You're looking at the "Battle of the Queens", or "Combats de Reines" as they'd say. In the Aosta Valley in Switzerland, this is an annual tradition.

It turns out that every herd of cows has a "queen" cow that the rest of the herd will respect. They don't elect this "queen" -- they just lock horns and fight it out, and top cow gets the rights to the best grazing land. And it turns out that this little battle happens every year when the good grazing land becomes available.

The Swiss cow-herds took this to the next level when they started having arranged battles between the top queens of different herds. The cows took to it naturally because two queen cows, both wanting to lead the whole crew, are naturally oriented to do battle. (We see the same thing in humans.) And now it's a big event every Spring, with judging and categories and refereeing and such. Here's a shot from further out to show the scale of it.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-16-2003, 03:10 PM

looks like those bells would prevent them from lowering their heads enough to really use their horns. But hey, It's a cat fight.

arz · 05-16-2003, 03:23 PM

Credit Suisse sponsors EVERYTHING!

Dagney · 05-16-2003, 03:41 PM

Such a MOOOOOOving image for a Firday!

Dagney

elSicomoro · 05-16-2003, 06:31 PM

I was expecting two drag queens to duke it out, so this was a pleasant surprise.

richlevy · 05-17-2003, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undertoad

It turns out that every herd of cows has a "queen" cow that the rest of the herd will respect. They don't elect this "queen" -- they just lock horns and fight it out

You mean like a Hadassah meeting.

chrisinhouston · 05-17-2003, 03:00 PM

Does anyone else notice the similarity between the large leather colars and the trophy belts that WWF wrestlers wear?

xoxoxoBruce · 05-19-2003, 03:26 PM

The belts are the same but the WWF wrestlers have smaller ding dongs.

warch · 05-19-2003, 04:10 PM

And, just out of the frame, there must be two small side galleries of undercows from each rival herd, identically coiffed, full of attitude, glaring, whispering, and spreading vicious lies!

05-16-2003, 12:04 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	5/16/2003: Battle of the Queens Not bull fighting. COW fighting. You're looking at the "Battle of the Queens", or "Combats de Reines" as they'd say. In the Aosta Valley in Switzerland, this is an annual tradition. It turns out that every herd of cows has a "queen" cow that the rest of the herd will respect. They don't elect this "queen" -- they just lock horns and fight it out, and top cow gets the rights to the best grazing land. And it turns out that this little battle happens every year when the good grazing land becomes available. The Swiss cow-herds took this to the next level when they started having arranged battles between the top queens of different herds. The cows took to it naturally because two queen cows, both wanting to lead the whole crew, are naturally oriented to do battle. (We see the same thing in humans.) And now it's a big event every Spring, with judging and categories and refereeing and such. Here's a shot from further out to show the scale of it.

05-16-2003, 03:10 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	looks like those bells would prevent them from lowering their heads enough to really use their horns. But hey, It's a cat fight. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-16-2003, 03:41 PM	#4
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	Such a MOOOOOOving image for a Firday! Dagney __________________ The Constitution gives every American the right to make a total fool out of himself. But that doesn't mean you need to.

05-19-2003, 03:26 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The belts are the same but the WWF wrestlers have smaller ding dongs. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-16-2003, 03:23 PM	#3
arz Hand-of-Kindness Extender Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 137	Credit Suisse sponsors EVERYTHING!

05-16-2003, 06:31 PM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I was expecting two drag queens to duke it out, so this was a pleasant surprise.

05-17-2003, 03:00 PM	#7
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Does anyone else notice the similarity between the large leather colars and the trophy belts that WWF wrestlers wear?

05-19-2003, 04:10 PM	#9
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	And, just out of the frame, there must be two small side galleries of undercows from each rival herd, identically coiffed, full of attitude, glaring, whispering, and spreading vicious lies!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)