Behind the scenes, MFA investigators caught on film animals being violently beaten with metal rods. At one rodeo a number of “cowboys” stood on the holding gates and viciously beat bulls on the head, face, and back. The merciless beatings continued for several minutes and, given that the bulls had no place to move, appeared to provoke the animals before they entered the arena. According to an MFA investigator, “The men beating the animals seemed callous to their suffering. They would take the iron bar and hit the animals with all their might, as if they were taking out built up anger and frustration. The bulls had no way of escaping the violent hitting. The sound of the bar hitting the animals flesh over and over again was truly disturbing. These beatings took place out of sight from the audience.”

This abuse is not an isolated case. Investigators documented animals being hit with whips, rods, or sticks at nearly every rodeo visited. In addition to beatings, animals were seen being viciously kicked in the head and other areas of the body - many with spurred boots.

“The video also documented cattle being flogged with what appeared to be rebar. The material used to beat the cattle did not bend and did not appear to be a standard whip. The cattle were repeatedly beaten. The beatings continued for minutes. The cattle were hit all over their bodies, including the face.”
-Dr. Peggy Larson, DVM and former rodeo competitor

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