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Swiss voters have rejected a move to subsidise farmers who let their cows and goats keep their horns, Sky News reports.

Around 54% voted against the proposal in a referendum, while 46% were in favour of it.

Supporters of the measure believe animals should be left the way nature intended - for their wellbeing and happiness.

Opponents, like a key federation of cattle raisers, said the measure would cost too much and drain funds from other activities.

Three-quarters of cows raised in Switzerland actually don't have horns - and many are born naturally without them.

The vote was one of three referendums on Sunday as part of Switzerland's form of direct democracy.

Referendums follow petition drives mustering at least 100,000 signatures to bring issues up for a vote and ultimately change the constitution.

Voting over various issues takes place approximately four times a year in Switzerland and the system is unique among other modern democratic nations.

The second proposal saw voters clearly reject a proposal to give the neutral country's laws priority over international law.

Critics have claimed such a move would deeply damage Switzerland's global standing and hurt its economy.

Some 63% of voters voted against the measure, dubbed "Swiss law, not foreign judges".

The measure was backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and called for a provision to be added to the national constitution in order to give it explicit precedence over international agreements.

Backers have argued that the country's historic autonomy was being watered down by its participation in international agreements covering areas like the environmental protection, police cooperation, air transport and trade.

The SVP claimed its proposals would empower citizens and free them from interference from international bodies like the EU.

But they were opposed by the Swiss government, business groups and most other parties, who said the proposal would force Switzerland to cancel existing treaties, weaken human rights protection and hurt its economy.

It said a "yes" vote would mean Switzerland would have to renegotiate thousands of treaties it has signed, undermining an open economy which is highly dependent on global trade.

Voters did, however, approve a measure that gives insurance companies the ability to spy on suspected welfare cheats - with 67% supporting the revised law.