Postage stamp, book, exhibition, fighting: the cows of Hrens are especially honored in Valais in this year of the 100th anniversary of the federation of breeding of the breed. However, the herd is eroding. The canton has set up a task force.
The cow plows the soil of its hoof, ready to fight against its adversary: the special postal stamp presented Thursday morning during a press conference organized at the domain of the Valais agricultural school Sion launches the festivities of the 100th anniversary of the Swiss Breeding Federation of the Race of Henry (FSEH).
The Breeding Federation of the breed of Henry launches its centennial anniversary in the shadow of the coronavirus https://t.co/y1RVkgDk9Ypic.twitter.com/Rm4lDSuDTt– The Nouvelliste (@lenouvelliste) March 5, 2020
The stamp was created by graphic designer Barbara Seiler de Vige. It will give more visibility to this mountain breed, rejoiced the president of the FSEH, Dominik Pfammatter.
A bilingual French / German work retracing the history of the FSEH and the breed will be varnished on May 1. The next day, a day dedicated to breeders will notably offer an exhibition on the evolution of the breed. As for the national final, it will take place on May 9 and 10, with in particular a competition and the final of the queen of queens.
About 10% decrease
Even if the Valais wrestler has benefited for years from an important showcase with the traditional national final of the fights of queens, her herd is eroding: in 2013, 6,707 cows and gnisses were registered in the genealogical register of cows against 6,078 in 2018, i.e. a decrease of around 10%.
The number of breeders is decreasing and the average age of owners of cows of the breed of Henry is increasing, said Christophe Darbellay. The state councilor in charge of training and the economy said that a task force had been set up last summer and that the first measures will be announced at a press conference scheduled for late March.
Uncertainty due to coronavirus
The coronavirus is also involved in the organization of the 100th anniversary of the FSEH. Uncertainty hangs over the first queen fight – a qualifier for the final on May 10 – which will take place in front of the public on March 22 in the arena of Pra Bardy Sion.
The FSEH committee will meet on Monday, study the various possible options and take decisions, said Dominik Pfammatter.
(nxp / ats)
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