People nowadays wear nose rings as an accessory. It is one of the trending topics in one thread on Quora. Others find it fashionable, while others think it makes no sense at all. In addition to seeing people with them, do you ever wonder why bulls have nose rings, too?
The History of Bulls Wearing Nose Rings
The use of nose rings for animal control extends back to the dawn of recorded human civilization. Utilized in ancient Sumer, as well as on the Standard of Ur. Both bovines and equines wear nose rings. According to some theory, the rod-and-ring sign represents a shepherd’s crook and a nose rope.
Early on, man discovered an important fact about animals: if you control the head, the body will follow. The ancient Egyptians efficiently implemented this technique by placing these devices on their muzzles. Their domestic animals learned that if it hurts, don’t do it. As depicted in a pub game played in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, an ancient tavern said to be the oldest in England, the practice of putting a ring through the nasal septum of a bull may have moved from the East to Europe and England.
Is it Cruel to Put Nose Rings on Bulls?
For those who have not used to nose rings worn by bulls, it may appear brutal. Piercing of ears in humans is no worse than this. Nose piercing in bulls in some circumstances may be the only way to keeping it alive. Adult bulls can weigh between 500 and 1,000 kg (1,100 and 2,200 lb). The majority of them are hostile and dangerous. Without the nose rings, some bulls would also not be safe to be around. This safety is not only applicable for people, but also for other animals.
Why Get Bulls to Wear Nose Rings?
Other bulls wear nose rings in order to make them simpler to manage. A full-grown bull may be an incredibly violent animal that poses a major threat to its handlers. Placing a ring in the nose increases control over the bull, making it safer to be around. Farmers even advertise that a youngster can safely lead a bull with a nose ring.
Types of Nose Rings Bulls Wear
While traditional nose rings are made of iron or brass, the modern rings are made of steel. Of course, you don’t want to go through this procedure twice, and neither does the bull. It is hinged in the center and usually has a sharp point on one of the open ends. Because of that, it can make its own hole in the septum. Once it is installed, it fits together with a smooth surface to provide a perfectly round connection.
Nose rings that are traditional are hinged. Hence, making it simple to open, insert, and lock. A veterinarian fitted a nose ring to the animal when it is roughly eight months old. Before punching a hole, the vet administers local anesthesia to the nose. And then threading the ring through, and snapping it shut. The tissue in the snout is extremely sensitive. A simple touch on the ring can be a potent cue to the bull that wears it.
Attached to the ring are leads. This offers two method of control. For added security, employment of two handlers is ideal. When a bull is led around by the nose, he normally follows and does not fight his handlers. The bull will receive a hash tug if it begins to misbehave. It teaches the bull who is in authority.
Does the bull nose ring remain in place indefinitely?
If the bull has grown out of it, then it can be removed. Otherwise, it will remain in the bull’s nose for the rest of its life.
Bull Nose Rings: Permanent vs. Temporary
Requirements to have bulls ringed is important policy in bull shows. Displayed in bull shows are bulls with attached nose leads to their nose rings. Bulls are frequently stopped and displayed in proximity to heifers and cows. If any of those heifers or cows are in heat, you might have one determined bull on your hands. Even if they are not necessary, a nose ring is always a smart idea on the show circuit.
The permanent ring is most picked over the temporary ring for a number of reasons. Of course, a temporary nose ring is uncomfortable for a bull. Making a bull uncomfortable might sometimes result in greater aggressive behavior. Bulls, after all, are intelligent. They’ll quickly figure out that if you’re trying to clip on a temporary bull ring.
A permanent nose ring, on the other hand, is designed for bulls that compete in bull displays, exhibitions, and races. The bulls at bull shows are more vicious than the bulls that entertain the cows on farms. Their keepers must keep them under constant control. Therefore, permanent nose rings are made exclusively for professional bulls.
Who Is Able to Install Bulls’ Nose Rings?
Even the most experienced cattleman should not attempt to place a nose ring without veterinary assistance. Before the ring is put, the animal should be tranquilized and restrained. This is both safety and humane reasons.
A veterinarian is usually the one who installs nose rings for the bull’s safety and health. The vet will apply local anesthesia to the septum before placing the ring. This is to prevent the animal from associating pain with human contact. This procedure necessitates the formation of a deep puncture wound in delicate tissue, and the ring placement must be precise. The anesthetic also makes the bull more comfortable.
The veterinarian may need to return to check the fit and, if required, replace the ring. Ring setup also requires multiple handlers, as well as very strong restraints to keep the animal in place. A bull staff is a 4-foot stick with a cautious cattleman on one end. A spring catch on the other that clamps on the bull’s nose ring. It’s a tool that gives the handler more leverage as well as a head start
Conclusion:
The usage of nose rings to control animals extends back to the beginning of recorded human civilization. Some bulls might be unsafe to be around without the nose rings. This is not only safe for people, but also for other animals.
Not even an experienced bull handler can put a nose ring, only a veterinarian should. The veterinarian administers a local anesthetic to the nose before punching a hole. The process starts with threading the ring through and snapping it shut. This is for the bull not to associate pain with human contact. Bulls at bull shows are more violent than cows on farms, so their keepers must constantly keep them under control. Even the most experienced cattleman should not attempt to put a nose ring without the aid of a veterinarian.
For humans, wearing earrings or nose rings may be a fashion statement, but for bulls, it is not the case. Nose rings are important for the safety of the animal, as well as for humans and other animals surrounding them.
