The Queen

Yesterday we ambled along the Bovine route - but the cattle we saw were all in the distance. Today we got a much closer encounter and I was able to take this picture of the local 'Queen'.  The local Herens cattle have a unique tradition that they fight (some of the others were still showing the scars to prove it) to select a leader for the herd - the unique part of this is it's the cows that fight. released from their cowsheds after the long winter the cows jostle & charge each other - and these are seriously big animals.  Apparently not all of the cows will be interested - but before they're taken to the high pastures the herd needs to sort this out - this is now a big local tradition and festivals are held each year - the Queen when she's finally won is decorated with a garland of flowers and then leads the herd up to the Alpage where she gets to boss everyone around for the summer.