(Bloomberg) -- The Swiss decided against granting state subsidies to farmers who don't de-horn their livestock.
The “Horned Cow” initiative was rejected by 54.7 percent of voters on Sunday, according to official statistics. A poll for national broadcaster SRG published earlier this month had shown supporters with a small lead.
The popular initiative was proposed by Armin Capaul, an anti-establishment protester-turned farmer, who opposes the practice of de-horning, saying its painful for cows and goats. Opponents, including the government, argued horned animals are a health and safety risk.
Read More: Cow-Horn Vote Parades Switzerland's Populist Safety Valve
The majority of cows in Switzerland have had their horns removed.
To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Bosley in Zurich at cbosley1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Fergal O'Brien at fobrien@bloomberg.net, Jan Dahinten
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