| One of the USTRC's most critical business points is providing quality cattle for our team roping
events. USTRC event producers select the very best cattle available
and provide excellent care for these fine animals. USTRC members
have come to expect nothing less than the highest level of excellence set
by our team roping producers and stock contractors in delivering truly
top-drawer livestock to the team roping industry. |
| There is a definite fiscal incentive to promote excellent animal care. Regular purchase
prices for roping cattle average $500-600 per head, and many of our
producers and stock contractors have herds valuing tens or hundreds of
thousands of dollars. In the team roping industry, an injury to a
single animal can cost hundreds of dollars in either husbandry efforts,
veterinary costs, or direct losses at the sale yard. Our team roping
producers and stock contractors view their cattle as their most valuable
asset and do not tolerate abuse of their stock in any form. |
| In addition, all USTRC events require contestants to catch their end of the steer prior to
wrapping ('dallying') the remaining loose rope around their saddle-horn;
this style of roping contest (Dally Team Roping) proves very humane as
slippage and give at the saddle-horn prevent the animals (both horses and
cattle) from taking a solid jerk as the slack ropes come tight (this is
also the reason that so many ropers sever fingers in this sport).
Team Ropers also avoid jerking the steer during competition, as doing so
actually worsens their competitive time drastically. |
| The USTRC does make one exception to the dally rule:
ladies, and ropers fifty-five and over have the option of tying their ropes to the
saddle-horn prior to making their runs (the USTRC feels that these
competitors generally do not have the dexterity or hand speed to prevent
injuring themselves). However, even within these distinct groups,
headers are never permitted to tie on to avert the chance that a hard jerk
would pull an animal down. |
In addition to the obvious financial and competitve reasons, the USTRC clearly spells out and
enforces a strict guidline of rules directly promoting the humane
treatment of livestock, both inside and outside of competition. The
USTRC takes these issues very seriously and will continue to do everything
in its power to promote safety for animals, contestants, and spectators of
the sport of team roping.
Sincerely,
Kirk Bray
President,
The United States Team Roping
Championships.
|
| MORE ON USTRC'S DEVOTION TO ANIMAL WELFARE |
USTRC Rulebook Section 11: Treatment of Livestock
USTRC Competition Guidlines Protecting Livestock |
