Agricultural exhibition: the cow Ovali, the “pride of breeding”, arrives in Paris

A beautiful mahogany coat, long curly hair, lyre-shaped horns… The cow Ovali, the muse of the French Agricultural and Livestock Exhibition, drove into her aviary at the gates of Versailles early on Friday morning, on the eve of the opening to visitors.

Leaving the Puy-de-Dome at night, this rustic five-year-old cow exited a cattle car around 7 a.m. under the watchful eye of cameras, accompanied by her two weeks old calves, Utopia and Utopia. With the ringing of bells, the muse of the show from the Salers race, “accustomed to traveling” to competitions, calmly crossed the huge hall 1 Porte de Versailles, still deserted, along her red carpet.

“patient and charming” cow

As soon as she arrived in her box overflowing with straw, the cow settled quietly, accompanied by two small binoculars glued to her sides. The “stress of transportation, arrival” disappeared when Ovalie breeders saw a star with a wide forehead and symbolic horns on posters in Paris. “This is a matter of great pride,” said Michel Van Simmertier, wishing to welcome visitors and introduce them to the quality of French breeding.

“It’s touching for a breeder to see his cow like this,” added Marin Van Simmertier, who describes Ovali as a “patient and charming” cow and says she looks forward to introducing her to the general public. “We will let her rest, they will go to bed for a few hours, then we will need to wash, take a shower, to be in good shape” and in beauty before the arrival of visitors and the opening of the salon by President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday. The show will run until March 5th.