How are the cattle fiestas linked to bullfighting?
The major link is that all the cows, bulls and calves sold to the villages are bred by the breeders of the fighting bulls. The fiestas provide a very lucrative outlet for the ‘wastage’ of bullfighting stock, indeed it makes the whole business financially viable. The bullfighting law also protects the encierros, suelta vaquillas, becerrados, and all the other activities in fiestas using cattle. The most recent in this series of regulations was passed in 1992. In addition to the obvious immediate financial return, there is another almost equally important advantage in pursuing these tactics for the breeder of fighting cattle and the bullfighting industry. Through the network of bullfighting Penas clubs in the villages, the general ‘aficion’ is initiated, nurtured, sustained and in some instances subtly enforced. Thus providing the continuance of the Corrida at it’s most grass roots level. In the long term this brings far greater remuneration into the industry than the yearly cash income
