Millions of people go to vote on important issues—like cow and goat horns. Sunday’s referendum is part of a decade-long campaign by farmer Armin Capaul, 67, on whether to encourage farmers who leave their cows’ and goats’ horns grow naturally, said Kaspar Schuler, the campaign director.
Schuler says around 90% of Swiss cows, which are a national symbol, are dehorned or genetically hornless. Some support dehorning say it reduces injuries to animals, but the farmer wants to change that as he believes cows can communicate with each other with their horns, Schuler said. Capaul wants the government to pay farmers $191 annual for per every horned cow or goat. The government is against the plan, saying it would cost tens of millions to pay farmers.
Capaul’s journey began nine years ago when he gave control of his cow farm to his son in northwestern Switzerland and began suggesting horns on livestock. “We must respect cows as they are. Leave them their horns. When you look at them they always hold their head high and are proud. When you remove the horns, they are sad.”
When suggestion failed, Capaul managed to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to begin a national vote. Schuler said that no one expected him to collect that many signatures.
Some believe that the farmer’s campaign will be backed by animal welfare groups against dehorning—which sees a calf’s horn burned with a hot iron. But Capaul is not convinced the “yes” campaign has their vote: “Swiss animal protection organizations said they would think it again because they just wanted a ban on the ironing or cutting of horns.” Nonetheless, latest results numbers show Schuler is uncertain of a win.
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