To Buck or Not to Buck

Jayme Morrison

To Buck or Not to Buck

Raising bucking bulls is an upcoming trend in the rodeo world. Bucking bulls can be used at a variety of events, including rodeos, bull rides, or as registered bucking stock futurities. Despite the future lives of these bulls, the most important question to consider for various animal welfare groups is this: As they are raised, are these animals being treated in a humane way?

Today, caring for these animals is top priority in most rodeo associations, including the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). An example of this can be found in a committee of the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days, which is one of the largest PRCA-sanctioned events in the country. The committee states, “We care about all of our athletes, the two legged ones, the four legged ones, and anyone who claims other wise just doesn’t know us.” (cfdrodeo.com/animal-care)

Popular guidelines used in most rodeos, including the Cheyenne Frontier Days, provide for the welfare of the animal. Examples include using dull rowel spurs, which assures that the portion of the spur that comes in contact with the animal is dull. If contestants fail to use dull rowels they can be fined or disqualified. Another common rodeo guideline is having a stretcher present at all rodeos, which provides the ability to humanely transport any injured animal if needed. (cfdrodeo.com/animal-care)

Another concern, especially with bucking bulls, is the use of “hot shots,” which are

electric prods that many stock contractors and ranchers use while working with the animals every day. There are PRCA guidelines on the use of these prods that state the animal can only be touched in either the shoulder or on the hip and that the prod shall not exceed the length of 12 inches.(palmspringswest.com/prca)

All PRCA-sanctioned events must follow the rules governing animal welfare, and failure to do so will result in fines up to $500 per animal for a period of 48 hours following the first performance for each animal. (palmspringswest.com/prca)

The 2004 animal welfare code also states that the veterinarian, animal

welfare officer and rodeo organizer will be the three persons in charge of the welfare of all animals competing in the rodeo. And along with being in charge, the veterinarians must be in attendance throughout the rodeo. Veterinarians must exam all animals prior to the start of the rodeo and at the end of each day that the rodeo is going on.

But despite these attempts at humane treatment, there are still many negative feelings about the rodeo world, and for good reason. The 2001 PRCA injury survey from bornfreeusa.com claims there were 25 animal injuries requiring veterinarian care out of 67 monitored rodeos out of a total of about 700 PRCA rodeos. The website also states that in 2000, there were 38 injuries that were reported out of the 57 monitored rodeos.

Finally, some animal welfare groups, such as the Vancouver Humane Society, oppose

rodeo events because of the belief that they use fear, stress and/or pain to make these rodeo animals perform. They also explain that the only reason that a bull will run out of a chute into an arena full of people is because they have either been kicked, shocked with electric prods or have even had their tails twisted. The Vancouver Humane Society also explains that a flank strap is used on bulls during a rodeo to make the bull buck, and until the flank strap is released, the bull will buck.

In conclusion, there are many positive as well as negative attitudes about the welfare of these animals that participate in these various rodeo events. I believe that if all animals are being treated in a humane way, the general public needs to let the tradition of rodeo continue for centuries to come.

Works Cited

www.cfdrodeo.com/animal-care.aspx

www.palmspringswest.com/PRCA

www.Vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/rodeo

Animal Welfare Code of Welfare, 2004