The evolution of the Spanish bullfighting livestock industry: a case study from the livestock family business of the Fuentes (1798-1852)

The livestock industry, specifically the one dedicated to bullfighting cattle, began to emerge by the end of the 18th century. After that, it appeared a whole market related to the bullfighting spectacle, including locations, protagonists, ranchers and agents. However, along with this search for economic profit, another type of interests appeared that were very different from the material ones, such as social recognition, fame and promotion within the statu quo. One of these cases was that of Julián de Fuentes, a merchant from La Rioja settled in Moralzarzal, where he built a large cattle ranch which became very popular during the first half of the nineteenth century.