document.domain = "guardian.co.uk"; Turn autoplay off Turn autoplay on Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off Jump to site navigation [0] Jump to search [4] Terms and conditions [8] ... Register Text larger smaller About us Contact us Press office Guardian Print Centre ... Subscribe Today's paper Zeitgeist guardian.co.uk World news Web Sport Comment Culture ... World news BSE rules threaten bullfight fiestas Special report: the BSE crisis Emma Daly in Madrid The Observer Sunday 11 February 2001 02.36 GMT The famous Iberian fighting bull is threatened by mad cow disease, although no case has ever been found among these privileged animals, which spend their first four years running wild and feeding on grass, hay and vegetable proteins. EU regulations to control the disease require the testing of all cattle aged above 30 months before their meat can be sold. Breeders say that because the compensation scheme is too slow and cumbersome, carcasses of bulls which perish in the 'moment of truth' will have to be destroyed. It is feared 80 per cent of Spain's bull-fighting fairs, which take place in small towns and villages in places such as Ajalvir, a village north-east of Madrid, could disappear this year. | |
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