Cowbells
Austrian judge ban cowbells for Alpine cattle herd after noise disturbs villagers
An Austrian court has banned the most traditional Alpine feature after Lederhosen and yodeling after neighbours complained that a cowherd's bells were so loud they couldn't sleep.
The judge ruled in favour of villagers in Stallhofen who said the traditional bells which hang around the animals' necks made such noise at night that it kept them awake.
The owner had previously refused to remove the bells from his cows saying it was a tradition for the animals to wear them and that the sound had a calming effect.
In order to get to the bottom of the problem judge Erich Kundegraber travelled to the little village on the foothills of the Alps, which has a population of 3,000, to see for himself.
'They were at the end of their tether,' he said, according to Austrian newspapers.
The court ruled that as the cattle was kept in a fenced field there was no need for the bells, which are normally used to trace animals who break off from the heard when they graze in open spaced mountain areas.
It confirmed a confirmed a May court decision which the farmer had appealed.
The ruling confirmed a May court decision which the farmer had appealed. The ruling stated: 'Cattle are kept in an unacceptably disturbing way if the animals wearing cowbells are held in a rural area with scattered residential buildings within a fenced meadow and the animals cause a loud noise at night through the clanging of bells that disturbs the nocturnal peace of neighbours.'
The farmer will face a fine if he doesn't comply with the ruling.
(Published by Daily Mail - July 22, 2012)