Alpine Walks in Valais

[Ragged Robin]

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[Ragged Robin]

It seems that nothing is wasted here in the mountains by man nor beast.  Late ripening fruit hangs on by its stalk: pears heavy on the tree, the last apple waiting to drop, grapes on the vine bursting with juice, all will be harvested in these Autumn days or stored away against the winter chill.

[Ragged Robin]

The woodshed is full of neatly stacked logs, an artwork in itself…. Everything is tidy and put away in anticipation of snow, the last remaining flowers bid goodbye and, in a sheltered spot, cherry tomatoes are taking the final opportunity to be a tasty bite.

[Ragged Robin]

....

[Ragged Robin]

The Heren cow knows it, autumn is the end of life outdoors for mountain grazing and the cow barn beckons it in to the warm indoors.

[ranunculus]

Beautiful images, Robin ... the cows look like they are practising for a noble bout of 'cow fighting'?

[Paddy Tobin]

Lovely walk with you as usual, Robin. The countryside is looking beautiful with the muted colours of autumn.


I've forgotten the number of the photograph but I particularly like the shot of the beech leaves.

Are "Heren" cows a breed of cows in Switzerland?

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

Ha, Ha, Cliff, glad you like the photos - the Heren cows are quite spectacular with their horns and much prized here for their Spring fighting skills with events in Martigny by the amphitheatre.  One guy in the village who is a ski instructor in the winter has 50 of the beasts.  Personally I prefer to see them in the mountain pastures 'donging' their huge bells  

[Ragged Robin]

Paddy, your Autumn colours are hard to match but as you say 'muted' in the mountains.  The cows are so shiny in the sunlight and it's a joy to see them relaxing before the winter in the lower pastures.  For you interest these cows are special to this region:

Valais is proud to possess a bovine breed that is unique in the world: the Héréns breed. This robust cow has the particularity of being a natural fighter in order to establish the hierarchy within the herd. These combats take place without any provocation. In springtime when the animals are released from their winter barns and during the journey up to the alpine pastures, they challenge each other to see who will be their leader.

[Paddy Tobin]

So, are these bulls or cows? Fighting is very uncommon among cows.

Paddy

P.S. Found this site:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-05/10/content_7761087.htm

Apparently, it is known as "The Battle of the Queens" - a case of handbag bashing, I suppose (Don't jump on me, I'm only joking)

It's a wonder they don't dehorn the cows to prevent injury.

[ian mcenery]

Robin it is so nice to have you correspondents living in the alps.  Lovely shots and I suppose it will soon be a winter wonderland 

[Ragged Robin]

Yes they are females, Paddy, it's a sorting of the top cow in the herd that brings on this behavior on in the Spring.  We used to have sheep and the ewes did the same thing butting head to head (severe headache I should think!) The Heren cows lock horns but don't hurt each other just push like mad.  They are not supposed to be aggressive to people but I wouldn't like to be in the way as the horns are very pointed  

[ranunculus]

We couldn't believe our eyes when we first encountered posters advertising 'cow fighting' in the Alps ... the betting was significant, the backdrop was magnificent, unfortunately the spectacle was not!  

[Ragged Robin]

Paddy, these cows are bred for the fighting aspect - big money - big attraction - think horse racing - each one worth hundreds of pounds/even more Euros!  

[Ragged Robin]

We couldn't believe our eyes when we first encountered posters advertising 'cow fighting' in the Alps ... the betting was significant, the backdrop was magnificent, unfortunately the spectacle was not!  

Must have been exhausted Cliff     Watching them here in the meadows in the Spring is much more my scene and a great local spectacle with the farmers/owners cheering them on and all age groups in the gathering