AnimalsIn Rodeo

THE FACTS CONCERNING

THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF

PROFESSIONAL RODEO LIVESTOCK

WHO TAKES CARE OF

RODEO ANIMALS?

The true experts on livestock care and management are those who do it

everyday. APRA rodeos are managed by people who are knowledgeable and well-educated about proper livestock handling and maintenance. And few are more attuned to the animals’ needs than professional stock contractors.

Stock Contractor Garry McPhee says “Today, rodeo is an investment. It’s most important to take care of these animals. In fact, we probably take better care of them than people not involved with rodeo.”

“The fi rst thing the stock contractor does (after a rodeo performance) is make sure those animals are fed and watered. He probably hasn’t eaten since 7 in the morning and he’s been out there working all day, he makes sure those animals are taken care of before he thinks of himself. To the stock contractor, those animals are like his family.”

HOW OFTEN ARE RODEO

ANIMALS HURT?

A survey conducted at APRA rodeos indicated that the injury rate for animals

was so low that it was statistically negligible.

A recent survey of the Association’s affi liated rodeos found an overall injury rate of just 0.072 percent or less than one injury for every 1405 times the animal is used in competition.

Based on severity of injury – that is where veterinary attention was needed – the injury frequency was 0.036 percent, or one injury in every 2810 times the animal is used, including transport, yarding and in competition.

Mistreatment of livestock, intentional or unintentional, is virtually unheard of at APRA rodeos.

Among the APRA rules that protect animals is one that authorizes the offi cials to disqualify a contestant and levy a fi ne on the spot for unnecessary roughness. The fi ne doubles with each offence.

“Most contestants don’t want to hurt the animals because that’s how they make their living.”

“But sometimes a person may hit an animal out of frustration. It’s embarrassing enough that the Board gives them a talking to or fi ne. When you can embarrass them in front of everyone, they don’t usually want to do that again.”

WHAT RULES PROTECT

THE LIVESTOCK AT

APRA RODEOS?

APRA established rules regarding the humane treatment of animals in 1951,

long before the animal-rights organisations had targeted rodeo. The rules have been continually updated, and new regulations have been added. Today APRA strictly enforces rules geared specifi cally toward the humane treatment of rodeo livestock, including one requiring horn wraps, such as those shown here, for team roping steers.

HOW DOES APRA

ENSURE THAT RODEO

ANIMALS ARE HEALTHY?

Animals used in professional rodeo competition are top athletes.

“Only when horses and bulls feel good will they buck good, and basically in timed events it’s the same way. The fastest time or best score requires the best stock.”

By inspecting every animal before it is selected for competition, APRA rules ensures that only healthy livestock are used. If an animal becomes sick or injured between the time it is drawn and the time it is scheduled for competition it will not be used.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO A

RODEO RECENTLY?

APRA recommends you attend a rodeo and look for yourself. Witness fi rst-hand the

healthy, well-cared-for livestock used at APRA rodeos by attending one of the approximately 100 APRA sanctioned events across Australia, including the capital cities. APRA also encourages anyone with questions to write or call headquarters staff, or visit our Web site:

AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONALRODEO ASSOCIATION

PO Box 264WARWICK QLD 4370

Ph: (07) 4661 8183Fax: (07) 4661 4990

www.prorodeo.asn.au

8 times bucking bull 8 times bucking bull of the year Chainsawof the year Chainsaw

Members of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) believe,

as do most people, that animals should be treated humanely. APRA staunchly protects its animals with rules introduced in 1951 and developed over the past 50 years to prevent cruelty or unintentional mistreatment.

APRA recommends that all rodeos adopt, implement and enforce rules to ensure humane treatment of rodeo livestock. These rules are underpinned by the Australian Standards for the Care and Treatment of Rodeo Livestock that are regularly reviewed by the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare (NCCAW). The most recent NCCAW review was conducted on 20 February 2008,

http://www.daffa.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/nccaw/guidelines/display/rodeo

Many people have questions regarding the treatment of animals in professional rodeo competitions. The following information provides brief answers to the questions asked most often. For more detailed information, please see our website http://www.prorodeo.asn.au/ or contact the Australian Professional Rodeo Association at the address listed on the back panel.

APRA ANIMAL WELFARE

GUIDELINES SET

STANDARDS FOR RODEO

DO RODEO COWBOYS USE

SPURS DURING ARENA

COMPETITIONS?

Dull spurs are used in professional rodeo’s three riding events, bareback riding,

saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Spurs that meet APRA guidelines have blunt rowels (the star-shaped wheels on the spurs) that are about 3 mm thick, so they can’t cut the hide of the animals . The rowels must be loose so they will roll over the horse’s hide. Bull riding spurs have dull, loosely locked rowels to provide more grip on the loose-hided animals.

Use of spurs that do not meet these guidelines results in disqualifi cation from competition. Disqualifi cation is the last thing any professional rodeo cowboy wants in the quest for prize money.

Research indicates that the hides of horses and bulls are much thicker than human skin. A person’s skin is 1 mm to 2 mm thick, while horse hide is about 5 mm thick, while bull hide is about 7 mm thick. The animals’ thick hides resist cutting or bruising and the spurs used at APRA rodeos usually only ruffl e the animal’s hair.

A fl ank strap is a sheepskin-covered strip of leather that is placed behind the

horse’s rib cage in the fl ank area. The fl ank strap enhances the bucking instincts of an animal but causes no pain. APRA rules strictly regulate the use of the fl ank strap, which must have a quick-release buckle. Sharp or cutting objects must never be placed between the strap and the animal.

So why do rodeo horses buck? Instinct. Bucking is often part of a horse’s nature, and a horse that is not inclined to buck cannot be forced to do so with the use of a fl ank strap.

“Rodeo animals are not forced to buck and perform out in the arena. They thoroughly enjoy what they are doing.”

WHAT IS A FLANK

STRAP?

The cattle prod was developed by the cattle industry as a means to move livestock in

confi ned spaces. Use of the cattle prod has become one of the most universally accepted and humane methods of moving animals on properties, in veterinary clinics, and, on occasion, at professional rodeos.

At APRA rodeos, the cattle prod is used to move livestock into pens and chutes and occasionally to move the animal into the arena when the chute gate is opened to prevent injury to the animal or the rider. APRA rules require that the prod be used as little as possible, and that the animals be touched with a prod only on the hip or shoulder area.

Powered solely by fl ashlight batteries, the prod produces 5,000 to 6,000 volts of electricity, but virtually no current or amperage. And because amperage, not voltage, causes burns, the cattle prod causes a mild shock, but no injury.

“There are two distinct types of cattle prods. The fi rst is basically a stick or pole-type device that is used to prompt movement by nudging animals with this device. This type of prod is not harmful to animals, as it is basically to get the animal’s attention in order to provoke movement.”

“The second type of prod is electric powered by fl ashlight batteries. An electric prod provides a low current shock to induce the movement of animals, as it provides a mild electrical shock that leaves no prolonged effects.”

WHAT IS A CATTLE

PROD?