Calves show fear and stress before calf-roping even starts, new study finds
Learn More “Welfare concerns begin while calves are still confined in the chute.” Calf-roping, also called tie-down roping, involves a young calf being released from a chute, chased by a rider on horseback, roped around the neck, stopped abruptly, forced to the ground, and tied by the legs. Animal welfare concerns have long focused on the risk of stress, pain, and injury during the event itself. This study shows that welfare concerns begin even earlier, while calves are still confined in the chute. Calf-roping event at The Calgary Stampede. Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media. Researchers reviewed clips of 31 calves. Some were held in the chute for shorter periods, 28 to 51 seconds, while others were held longer, 52 to 166 seconds. They recorded visible behaviours using an assessment tool known as an ethogram. “Red flag” behaviours included: The study found that calves held for longer periods showed more…
Animals aren’t actually having fun at rodeo – here’s how you can tell
Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Animals die in rodeo We know that animals used in rodeo events can suffer from acute and long-term injuries, which can result in the animals being euthanized. For example, at the 2024 Calgary Stampede, four animals were euthanized during the 10-day event, making it the deadliest Stampede since 2019 when six horses lost their lives during the chuckwagon racing event. Deaths are covered, but suffering is more widespread While fatal injuries at high profile rodeos like the Stampede are commonly reported on by the media, the stress, fear, pain, and discomfort experienced by animals in rodeo events is often overlooked. The fact that animals experience stress, fear, pain, and discomfort for the sake of human entertainment brings up ethical concerns about animal events at rodeos. For example, a study out of Australia found that calves experience stress during all stages of the roping event…