In search of the quarrelsome queens

In August 2025, all cow fighting competitions in Valais were cancelled indefinitely. Due to a highly contagious livestock disease, holding festivals with numerous animals from across the entire canton was deemed too risky. The tradition, which sees Hérens cows fight for the title of Queen of Queens, has been practised since the beginning of the 20th century.

Monarchy as a form of government is not terribly popular in Switzerland. Nevertheless, every three years, a wrestling king is crowned, and in the canton of Valais, a cow fighting competition is held every spring for the title “Queen of Queens”. The robust Hérens breed used in the competitions has a natural inclination to fight: herd members go head-to-head on summer alpine pastures to determine who will be the top cow.

This instinctive behaviour gave rise to cow fighting competitions, which have been held in Valais since the early 20th century. Since 2018, these cow fights have featured on the List of Living Traditions in Switzerland under the title “Animal husbandry and cow fighting”.

In this close-up shot, two horned Hérens cows face each other with lowered heads. They have wide open eyes and stand forehead to forehead, putting their endurance to the test. They wear cowbells on thick leather straps around their necks. — Cow fight in Veysonnaz, 27 June 2020 (Photo: Hadi, Wikimedia CC) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Combat_des_reines_-_Veysonnaz_10.jpg?uselang=de

Quarrelsome but gentle

One of Europe’s oldest cattle breeds, Hérens cows take their name from the Val d'Hérens, a southern side valley in the Rhône region of Valais. The cows are only mid-sized but cut an imposing figure due to their stocky, muscular physique. Hérens cows are visually striking: They boast thick, curved horns and usually have solid-coloured coats, ranging from black to reddish-brown.

Despite their quarrelsome character, these cows are quite docile in their interactions with humans.

The breed is well suited to the climate and difficult terrain of the Alps. Compared to high-yield breeds, their milk and meat output is modest. However, the products are of high quality. Nowadays the breed is mostly kept and bred by Hérens enthusiasts.

Wide-format advertising poster featuring a black paper-cut silhouette on a light orange background. In the upper half, the text advertises the event, and in the lower section there is a depiction of a cow fight: two Hérens cows are going head-to-head. They are flanked by two men with hats and staffs, observing the scene. — Poster advertising a cow fight on 27 April 1924 in Sion (Médiathèque Valais) https://permalink.snl.ch/bib/chccsa000060829

The annual festival cycle

The season for cow fighting competitions kicks off in September and culminates in a two-day finale during one weekend in May. Ten competitions take place at alternating venues, with different local Hérens breeder cooperatives taking turns to organise the events.

The 2025 finale, which took place in Sion on 10 and 11 May, produced an unexpected champion: against all expectations, Nubie, a cow from the Eyer family of Ried-Brig, claimed the top title. In light of the longstanding rivalry between francophone Lower Valais and German-speaking Upper Valais, it should come as no surprise that Nubie’s victory was seen as a collective blow in Lower Valais.

Cows in the media spotlight

The cow fight finale is broadcast live on national television, for example by RTS. The fights also receive detailed coverage from digital and print media outlets. In his documentary film “Battle of the Queens”, Nicolas Steiner pays tribute to these pugnacious cows and the people who care for them.

The tradition of cow fighting is popular among the public. Enthusiasm for the event also brings together the two language regions of Valais, creating unity otherwise seen only during FC Sion matches.

The summer shock of 2025

This photograph shows an arena with spectators in the stands as well as trees and mountains in the background. On the sandy floor of the arena, two fighting cows face each other, while five animals and their handlers as well as the drivers (“rabatteurs”) are waiting in the ring for their turn. — Cantonal cow fight finals in Pra Bardi, Sion, 2011 (Photo: Matt Perich, flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mperich/5876543294/)

This made the disappointment all the greater when the Swiss Hérens Cattle Breeding Association was forced to cancel all cow fighting competitions and the bull market in August. This drastic but unavoidable measure was taken due to the thread of lumpy skin disease (LSD). The outbreak of this highly contagious disease in France had already led to the culling of all livestock on afflicted farms.

The Hérens breed herd book contains entries for 12,000 to 13,000 animals, with around 6,000 calves born annually. For such a small population, a disease like LSD could wipe out the entire breed. The disease has not yet reached Switzerland but had come close to the French-Swiss border.

The risk of contagion was simply too high to hold events with numerous animals from all over the canton. Several thousand cows have now been vaccinated against the disease, which is nourishing hopes that the National Finale of the Queens, planned for 9 and 10 May 2026 in Pra Bardy, Sion, can go ahead as scheduled.

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