Skip to main content

Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

By briefly observing a celebration in which they are used bulls or heifers we can observe that the animal is not demonstrating its habitual behavior, it is altered, scared, whether or not it seeks an escape route, it is not calm.In its body a series of processes are being carried out that warn of a potential damage.

Any new situation, even if it is not dangerous, can cause stress to an animal that has never experienced that specific situation, so simply by riding a transport truck to a bull, either in the direction of the slaughterhouse, the square or the street, it provokes a response of stress and fear.Bulls suffer in confinements and not only because of the injuries they may suffer.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will analyze if the bulls feel pain and how they are able to bear it during the fight.

What is the pain?

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or that is described in terms of such damage."

The pain that animals experience is unique in each individual, that is, it is subjective and not only because we each have a different pain threshold, but because pain is not just a physical symptom, it can also be psychological and social, It can affect the natural behavior of animals.

The biological meaning of pain is the prevalence of the individual.The painful sensations activanareas of the brain that can result in attack, flight or avoidance of stimulation caused by the pain.

Non-human animals do not have verbal communication, therefore, diagnosing how much they are suffering can be complicated, but they have the same or very similar neuronal patterns that perceive pain, identifiable neurotransmitters os and receptors similar to that of the human species.

Types of pain

There are several ways to classify pain according to different scientists, but almost all agree on these types:

Acute pain and chronic pain: A pain is considered acute if it lasts less than six months and appears almost instantaneously after tissue damage.The nerve impulse travels to the central nervous system through high-speed neurons.It is an immediate response to the activation of the nociceptive system (system responsible for perceiving pain).Chronic pain lasts longer than six months, takes about a second to appear after tissue damage and increases slowly.It is usually related to chronic pathological processes.Rapid pain and slow pain: it depends on the fiber (type of neuron) that drives the painful impulse, there are fast and slow ways.The rapid pain is driven by the A fibers and would correspond to the rapid and sharp pain e to prick your finger with a needle.The slow pain travels through the C fibers, it is a more lasting pain and it takes longer to perceive it, for example a blow to the arm, we are sorry, but the deep pain appears seconds later , it is not as immediate as pricking.Somatic pain and visceral pain: the first is characterized by pain well located in the damaged area and is not usually accompanied by other reactions such as vomiting or nausea.This pain appears when the skin is damaged , muscles, joints, ligaments or bones.The second, visceral pain, appears when damage has occurred at the level of internal organs.It is not a pain so localized, but more diffuse, extending beyond the affected organ.Nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain: nociceptive pain is normal pain, which is caused by physiological damage, either somatic or visceral.This type of active pain to the nervous system, formed by peripheral nociceptor nerves, via cen Trains of painful sensation and cerebral cortex.On the other hand, neuropathic or abnormal pain, has the characteristic that it is not common and only appears in some individuals.This pain appears when something is not going well in the nervous system.An example of pain Neuropathic is the pain of the phantom limb, people who have lost a limb and feel pain in that part of their body that no longer exists.Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

Image: www.stopmaltratoanimal.com

Regulation of stress and pain in bull fighting

The bull used for the fight is a subspecies that has been selected for centuries to show bravery, aggressiveness and strength during bullfighting.That is why, in studies on the suffering of the bull, it is very Difficult to distinguish if the animal's behavior is due to pain or stress .

The conclusions that can be drawn from these studies are, first of all, that the pain suffered by the bull during the fight is a pain of somatic type, for the affected organs are the skin, muscles, joints, ligaments and bones.Also, it is an acute type pain, because it starts the nociceptive nervous system.

In studies on stress, measures of different hormones, such as cortisol, were taken to analyze how much stress you suffer during the fight.It was observed that as soon as you left the arena, the concentrations of these hormones were very high, but that decreased, until you reach the rapier, when you are stuck a.

This demonstrates two things: that the bull goes out to the arena with very high stress levels but is capable of developing a quick response to adapt.

The bull fighting and adaptation to pain

So why do they say bulls don't feel pain? As we said, the bull has been selected by the human being for centuries, "forgiving" life only to those who presented greater bravery or combativeness.Those animals that, despite the wounds, continue fighting, have a greater adaptation to pain.

This does not mean that bulls do not suffer or do not feel pain, only that they are more adapted to withstand suffering.All the ways responsible for perceiving pain are activated, hormonal levels rise before the stress is that the bull, due to its anthropic selection, has developed a strong adaptation.In addition, large concentrations of opiates have been detected in the blood, which demonstrates a strong analgesic process.

Death has not It is usually a pleasant process, most animals will die suffering , since they do not have the medical advances that we have a part of the human species.The progressive disconnection of the organs results in a slow pain and deep , so that, as a bull dies in the square, it is also not pleasant, much less if it dies due to the multitude of the infringed wounds.

Maybe you are interested in reading the arguments against the bullfighting.

Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

Image: http://ama-plasencia.blogspot.com/

If you want to read more articles similar to Do bulls feel pain? , we recommend that you enter our section of Curiosities of the animal world.

Bibliography

  • Illera, JC, Gil, F.,&Silvan, G.2007.Neuroendocrine regulation of stress and pain in the bull of lidia ( Bos taurus L ): preliminary study/stress and pain neuroendocrine regulation in bullfighting ( Bos taurus L .) : preliminary study.Complutense Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 1 (2), 1.
  • Mason, P.(1999).Central mechanisms of pain modulation.Current opinion in neurobiology, 9 (4), 436-441.
  • Rainville, P.(2002).Brain mechanisms of pain affect and pain modulation.Current opinion in neurobiology, 12 (2), 195-204.
  • Rozas, LAC 2014.Opioid hormone concentrations and their relationship with the response to pain in the bull fighting (Doctoral dissertation, Complute University nse from Madrid).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Types of monkeys and their names

Monkeys are primates classified according to scientific jargon in the Platirrinos or monkeys of the new world and the Cercopitecoideos or monkeys of the old world.The hominoids, which would be primates that have no tail, where man enters. Animals such as orangutan, chimpance, gorilla or gibbons also do not enter the scientific classification of monkeys, since the latter, in addition to having a tail, have a more primitive skeleton and are small animals. Then you can see the scientific classification of monkeys in more detail, where you can distinguish two different parvordenes and a total of six families of monkeys, all this in this article of Animals and Pets Online.The different types of monkeys and their names you can see them below: Classification of the Simiiform infraorder To correctly understand everything about the types of monkeys we must detail that there are a total of 6 families of monkeys grouped in 2 different parvordenes. Parvorden Platyrrhini: This in...

Persian cat hair care

The Persian cat is characterized by its long and dense fur, regardless of its face Of such characteristic features in this luxurious feline breed.Obviously this type of mantle requires meticulous care that other cat breeds do not need. In Animals and Pets Online we will provide you with the guidelines so that your Persian cat always looks good groomed and beautiful in this article on the Persian cat hair care . Discover what ideas we propose, read on: Daily care All Persian cats need daily care on our part.It is our obligation to provide them with food and water every day, while keeping their sand clean.Although we do not create the benefits of healthy and healthy feeding.quality will directly affect the animal's mantle. In the case of the Persian cat there is a daily obligation added: comb it . Naturally, we must do it with carino and with the appropriate material for this, keep reading to discover the indications recommended by Animals and Pets Online. Material f...

EVERYTHING about PETERBALD CAT

Peterbald cats are part of the so-called hairless cats , because they do not have fur, unlike most feline breeds.Specifically it is an "oriental version" of the famous sphynx cats, obtained from crossing with other feline breeds.In addition to their appearance, these cats stand out for their affectionate and affectionate character, so if you are a person with enough time, peterbald can be your best companion. Do you want to know everything about peterbald cats and their recent origin? From ExpertAnimal we will tell you all about these curious felines without hair, we will talk about the characteristics of peterbal, care and much more. Origin of the peterbald cat Peterbald cats are originating in Russia , where in the 90s eastern shorthair cats with Siamese cats and a certain variety of sphynx cats were crossed, as the intentions of the breeder who made these crosses was to obtain a cat like the sphynx but in an oriental style. It was not long until in 1994 the cr...

How does the change of address affect dogs?

Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, They are usually very sensitive to the changes that occur in their environment, stressing and even getting sick from things like the arrival of a baby or another pet or a move. It is because What we want to talk to you about How does the change of address affect dogs? , so you can have the necessary tools to help your dog overcome this change and that the process is not traumatic for him. Similarly, from Animal Expert we urge you to not abandon your pet before a change of address, however far away it may be: always you can get a place that is suitable for both of you, and the adaptation will be easier for both of you if you go through it together, with the love you have always had. Why does a move affect dogs? Dogs are not only animals of customs , but also are territorial , so a house change It implies for them to abandon what they have already marked as their territory, to enter a completely new one. It is perfectly norma...

Tips for the hygienic education of the puppy

For canine cage training, you have to limit the use of the cage to travel to the minimum possible.Remember that the travel cage should not be used to lock your dog for a long time.When you have to leave your dog alone for extended periods, use a puppy-proof room. Although the puppy-proof room is useful for long confinements, you just have to do use it when you can't supervise your dog.Try to spend as much time as possible with your dog so he doesn't feel abandoned.And he also spends some time with him in his room.Keep in mind that your dog is not going to get dirty near his dog.A bed, a plate of food or a bowl of water.So don't expect the place where you need to be close to those items. Your dog is more likely to need to go to the bathroom.When you wake up, after eating, after playing and after drinking water, make sure you take it to one of the s "permitted areas" (the puppy room, the garden, the park, etc.) after he performs any of these activities. ...

My dog ​​drags the anus on the floor

​​ Sure, more than once, you've seen your dog on the street ua other pets crawl, with their backs, across the floor in a somewhat strange position.You should know that your dog is not dragging the anus on the ground, your dog is dragging its anal glands or try get rid of some discomfort, and for him, it is a rather uncomfortable and unpleasant exercise that is given for a very particular reason: it itches. The real question is why do they itch? Dogs may have itching in the anus for several reasons, and having no hands to quench the sensation, the best solution they have found is to drag it on the ground.Dogs' anal sacs can sometimes be blocked, abscessed or inflamed, which will cause itching. If your dog drags the anus on the ground, it is important to know which is the true root of the problem and how to solve it.Continue reading this new article of Animal Expert where we will address the causes and give you some solutions to prevent your dog from continuing to pose ...

15 pollinating animals - Characteristics and examples

What is pollination? Reproduction of most plant species occurs sexually, that is, it requires the union of female and male cells for fertilization .Cells are found in pollen (male), so it needs to be transferred to the flower pistil (female), where fertilization occurs and, after this process, the flower becomes a fruit with seeds. So, when we talk about the reproduction of plants, the intervention of a third party is often required, which is known as " pollinator " to do it possible. These pollinating agents can be insects, other animals and even natural elements such as water and wind.In the case of animal species, they have found a balance with the flora and evolved together, so that plants have been able to produce flowers of different aromas, shapes and colors in order to attract pollinating agents to feed on the nectar. When animals feed on the nectar, transport pollen involuntarily on their legs, wings or another part of the body.When covered with polle...

How to massage a cat?

Although cats have the undeserved reputation of being little affectionate animals, the truth is that the vast majority of our feline companions will enjoy, enormously, the massages that we can dedicate to them.Especially if we want to improve our bond with him, the practice of massages is especially recommended. In this article from ExpertAnimal, to get the best results, we will explain how to give a cat a massage so that it relaxes in a complete step by step.We will see the benefits that this practice can bring us, as well as the precautions we have to take and some additional information about cat massage. Do cats like caresses? Before explaining how to give a cat a relaxing massage correctly, we must be clear that the vast majority of cats like and enjoy the caresses that we provide humans.Cats are animals that we have tamed and this has allowed them, even as adults, to maintain childish characteristics.For them their human caretakers are like their mothers and that is why...

Addison's disease in dogs

Addison's disease, technically called hypoadrenocorticism , is a type of rare ailment suffered by young and middle-aged dogs.It is not well known and even some veterinarians have trouble recognizing the symptoms.It is due to the inability of the animal's body to produce certain hormones.Although it is difficult to To diagnose, dogs that receive the correct treatment can lead a normal and healthy life. If your dog is constantly ill and none of the medications work, maybe you are interested in reading this Expert Expert article on the Adisson disease in dogs, causes symptoms and treatment. Canine Addison-Causes of Addison's disease in dogs As we have said, this disease is caused by the inability of the dog's brain to release certain hormones, called adrenocorticotropic (ACTH).These are responsible for maintaining the correct sugar levels, controlling the balance between the sodium and body potassium, to support cardiac function or to control the immune system, am...

My papillero parakeet doesn't want to eat

There are many and very diverse birds that are currently used as companion animals , but without a doubt, one of the most endearing is the Australian parrot or parrot, since it is a pet with which we can establish a strong bond. Sometimes we decide to welcome in our home to a papillero parakeet, that is, a hand-reared parakeet with papilla , and we must be aware that this act implies a great responsibility, since feeding a parakeet in these circumstances can be complex, but since then it is absolutely necessary. In this Animals and Pets Online article we show you several tips if a papillero parakeet does not want to eat . Image of pets.iorigen.com Papillero parakeet feeding Sometimes we do not have enough information to know clearly how to feed a papillero parakeet and if your pet refuses to eat it is important to make sure that the food you provide and the way in which that you do it is the right one. To feed it, you need to buy a specific porridge for pistachios , it ...