Cattle show Urnäsch
In autumn, when the farmers return from the alp with their cows, the cattle shows take place in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. The most beautiful and best performing cows are awarded prizes.
Individual farmers drive to the delight of the numerous spectators standing along the roads, sennisch to the show, that is, with all the trimmings of an Alpfahrt. Others, however, drive their groomed and cleaned animals with less effort to the showground. There, everyone enters the area under a wooden triumphal arch decorated with fir branches, paper flowers and ribbons, with dairy crockery and quite often with a welcoming speech on a wreathed board. The cattle are tied to long slats according to predefined categories. The jury, consisting of experienced farmers, now begins its work. It judges the animals according to beauty and performance and places them in the correct ranking order. The positioning of the animals can take until the afternoon, because especially with the best breeding cows the differences are small, and the work of the judges is correspondingly difficult. The most beautiful animals receive a paper flower wreath tied around their horns. In the evening, after the animals are back home in the barn, the farmers meet with their relatives in the hall of an inn for the show criticism and the prize distribution. Afterwards, a down-to-earth feast develops with singing, fencing and dancing.
Thursday
02
October 2025
09:15
09:15
to Thursday,
02 October 2025
02 October 2025