LIVESTOCK WELFARE RULES
Rodeo bulls, more precisely Bull Riding bulls are Sport Cattle. We do not have
the habit in France of rubbing shoulders with athletic cattle. We have integrated it very well for horses
and even in different disciplines (races, CSO, dressage, driving, ...), we just have to integrate
now that there are other cattle than dairy cattle and meat cattle.
Kicking is genetic, not all cattle are made for this sport. It is therefore very important
to select a good bull but also a good cow who have this ability to kick in order to
to optimize the chances of having a good calf.
From a very young age, the youngster will learn to follow his mother in the corridors, learn to find the
doors, to move as calmly as possible. We are not looking for wild bulls.
It was only at the age of 3 that this young athlete began bull riding competitions.
For him to have the necessary maturity, the muscles and bones are complete. Before his 3 years the young
live in the meadow by group of affinities or in individual park. From the age of 1 year young people can
be tried using a dummy (surcingle with a box that is placed on the back of the cow and that is
can unhook remotely using a mechanism that remotely opens the surcingle strap). There
dummy is installed on the back of the young bovine: when the chute door opens, we see what
does this young man. If he throws his hindquarters hard or if he turns on himself then we will get the dummy
to create positive reinforcement on the kick. On the other hand, if the young bovine does not have this gesture: it
is just not suitable for our sport. If the youngster has potential then he will be trained with the
dummy approximately every 3 months until he is 3 years old to optimize his kicking gesture.
Bull Riding bulls are athletes and like any athlete they have a more
rich in protein during competition periods than during the winter. They have vitamins and
minerals in the diet and are monitored by nutritionists.
They have a pre-competition warm-up and muscle preparation program to
they are in good physical condition.
The stock contractors (Holders of Bull Riding bulls) are very attentive to the needs of their
animals and take the greatest care of them. It is for this reason that the Stocks Contractors have
all signed the CSNBR Welfare Charter ensuring the best for our bovine athletes.