Bull Welfare

Whenever we cover a PBR or other animal related event, the number one question we get from the fans is “how are the animals treated?”

My typical answer is “The bulls are taken care of better than most two legged athletes are!”

In the PBR, the Bull has the same respect, care and consideration as his two legged counterpart. They are athletes just the same and are very well cared for at all times. Before, during and after the event.  They are watched over by their very own staff of veterinarians and technicians.

Nothing is left to chance when it comes to the care and Safety of these valuable animal athletes.
This is one of the things that has impressed us most about this event. The way the animals are treated. They are regarded as an equal in athletics as their two legged counterparts are.   We have seen it first hand, how the health and welfare of the Bull is watched over at all times and taken into consideration before it enters the chutes. If, at any time time, they feel the Bull is in danger of injury for whatever reason, like his rider, can and will be scratched for that event.

Mark Anthony
TheVegasTourist.com

.

.

The Following is from The PBR website.

CARE OF THE ANIMAL ATHLETES

• Bulls receive 25-30 lbs of a special blend of mixed grain per day. Blend varies depending on the bull’s needs and the stock contractor.

• Bulls receive 20 lbs of Alfalfa or Alfalfa-grass blend per day.

• Bulls receive a B-12 complex vitamin shot every two weeks.

• Bulls receive a health inspection any time they have to cross state lines.

• Bulls are only allowed to travel a maximum of 8 hours per day. After 10 hours, the bulls are rested for 12-14 hours.

• Bulls are standing in 6-10 inches of sawdust shavings during transport.

• Each stock contractor has a local veterinarian on call for their bulls.

PBR has proactively, and of our own accord, initiated and implemented a number of projects designed to foster and support the welfare of our animal athletes.

• PBR initiated a redesign of the traditional rodeo bucking chute aimed at improving rider and bull safety. The design has eliminated (from the time it was implemented through today) leg injuries suffered by bulls in the bucking chutes, which is one of the most common career-ending and life-threatening injuries sustained by bulls.

• PBR initiated a redesign of the traditional rodeo lead up alleys and holding areas to further mitigate the risk of injuries to the bulls.

• PBR worked with stock contractors to establish guidelines for the transportation of bulls to and from events. Some of those guidelines include: Bulls ride in trailers with air ride suspensions to reduce the risk of injury during transportation.

• Bulls are hauled for no more than eight hours at a time and given an equal amount of time to rest before resuming travel.

• Bulls are housed at local ranch facilities with proper pen size and space per bull in each local market in which an event is conducted.

• Bulls are trucked to and from the local facility to the event venue each day.

• PBR is working with leading veterinarians and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (a part of the American Veterinary Medicine Association) to review and document PBR’s animal welfare policy and practices. PBR intends to secure a written and published approval of PBR’s guidelines by the AABP and AVMA.

• The welfare of PBR’s animal athletes is a higher priority than any other consideration when making decisions with respect to animal welfare, including the financial impact of the decisions. One of the best examples of PBR’s commitment to animal welfare ahead of profit was the Hawaii All-Star event held in November 2006. PBR had an option to ship bulls to Hawaii via boat which would have take seven days but at considerably less cost than other alternatives. PBR determined that the welfare of the animals would be compromised if shipped by sea and made the decision to invest nearly $350,000 in bull- related expenses (versus less than$100,000 if shipped by sea) to fly all the necessary bulls in specialized containers for the event.

• The value of the bulls themselves, both to the contractors who own and breed them, and to the Professional Bull Riders organization as well, would ensure that every effort and safeguard is in place to protect the bulls from any treatment or situation that would adversely affect their ability to continue performing or their future as a breeding bull. Many of the bulls currently performing on the PBR tour are valued in the six-figure