The Transylvania Butcher Wars competition, with 16 butchers from three continents, hosted for the first time by the USAMV Cluj-Napoca campus, on 20-21 September 2025

On 20-21 September 2025, our university will host an event organised for the first time in our country and dedicated to the art of butchery and quality products, part of the global Butcher Wars circuit: the Transylvania Butcher Wars international competition.

The first edition of the event will bring together 16 specialist butchers from seven countries on three continents: Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Romania and Spain. Five of the competitors are women, proving that the craft of butchery is a field of passion and skill, not stereotypes. Some of the Romanian butchers who will compete individually are members of the Elite Butchers team, which represented Romania for the first time at the World Butcher’s Challenge Paris 2025.

In addition to the main competition, the Transylvania Butcher Wars programme includes a series of related events, which also involve the participation of our university:

The conference “Challenges of Agribusiness in Romania”, organised in partnership with Romanian Business Leaders, USAMV Cluj-Napoca, the National Federation ProAgro and APAR – 20 September, 9.30am-3pm, at the Biodiversity Research Centre;

The “Sausage Wars” competition, in which five teams of amateurs will test their skills in preparing sausages according to traditional recipes – 20 September, 1:00-2:00 p.m., on the plateau in front of the “Mihai Șerban” Aula Magna; Award ceremony – 21 September, 3:00 p.m.;

Debate: “Beyond tastes. An incursion into the realm of myths about food from communism to the present day”, with the participation of Prof. Dr. Dan C. Vodnar (USAMV Cluj-Napoca) and Prof. Dr. Virgil Țârău (UBB) – 20 September, 6.30-7.30 p.m., at the Biodiversity Research Centre;

Workshops for children, demonstrations of how to use artisan knives, barbecue accessory exhibitions and presentations of local and international products – 20 September, 10:00-23:00.

Admission to the event is free, and the public will enjoy a festive atmosphere on our campus, with relaxation areas, street food, and stands offering drinks and desserts. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the aromatic wines from the Vinea Apoldia Maior Station of USAMV Cluj-Napoca.