Studying the bull – the bucking variety!
CALGARY – Soaking up the rays or chilling in the shade?
A University of Calgary study is looking into whether bucking bulls, arguably the most ill-tempered of rodeo animals at the Calgary Stampede, would be happier and perform better if they had a shady place to rest before the show.
The bulls, weighing between 680 to 900 kilograms, are selected for their tendency to leap, plunge and spin when a rider is on its back. Around the middle of the 20th century, breeders began selecting bulls on the basis of their bad temperament.
“The question about the care of the animals — whether these animals need shade or water — it’s always a question that’s asked by the public … We decided to set up a little trial and start looking at this question,” said Ed Pajor, professor in animal behaviour and welfare in the faculty of veterinary medicine.