Authority, legal basis, and regulatory references
- BAI Administrative Order No. 06, s. 2013 is issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 8485.
- The provisions on animal confinement facilities that require registration reference DA-AO No. 8 series of 1999 and DILG Memorandum Circular 2005-01.
- The order also references Republic Act No. 9482 in relation to euthanasia being conducted in registered facilities.
- The order directs that severely injured livestock euthanasia must follow Administrative Order No. 13 series of 2010 and Administrative Order No. 9 series of 2011.
- The order implements operational standards for rodeos, including roles of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the BAI-Animal Welfare Division (BAI-AWD), and relevant LGUs.
Policy, objectives, and humane welfare standards
- Responsible persons for the rodeo event—including participants and animals used in rodeo training—must ensure humane treatment and appropriate animal welfare.
- Rodeo animals must be appropriate for the event and must receive husbandry, care, and handling/transport consistent with recommended practices.
- Rodeo event personnel must undergo training with accredited partner institutions of the BAI-Animal Welfare Division.
- Animal physical health and welfare needs must be met; injured or sick animals must receive treatment to alleviate pain or distress.
- Severely ill animals must be killed humanely.
- Animal transport and slaughter must conform to the existing code.
- Surgical procedures must be performed by a duly licensed veterinarian.
Core definitions and covered rodeo scope
- “Animal” refers to cattle and horses.
- “Animal Welfare Marshalls” are duly licensed veterinarians, preferably with experience in rodeo events, appointed by rodeo organizers and deputized as Animal Welfare Officers to be responsible for animal welfare.
- “Rodeo” covers exhibitions, competitions, spectacles, or displays (for gain or not) involving cattle or horses only, including:
- saddle bronc riding,
- bareback bronc riding,
- bull riding,
- steer riding or wrestling,
- roping and tying of cattle,
- team roping of cattle,
- similar activities involving unbroken horses.
- “Rodeo association” refers to a body established to coordinate and assist in running rodeos and/or govern the sport, which must be registered by BAI and issued a permit for the activity.
- “Competitor” refers to a person or team who participates in a rodeo event.
- “Rodeo organizer” refers to a person or nominated representative who instigates and promotes the rodeo.
- “Rodeo Stockman” provides animals for rodeo events.
- “Rodeo Veterinarian” refers to a duly licensed veterinarian accredited by the BAI-Animal Welfare Division.
Permits, venue requirements, and required equipment
- Rodeo associations or entities organizing rodeo events must secure a Certificate of registration from BAI-AWD, renewable annually.
- Rodeo organizers or entities organizing rodeo events must secure animal show permits from BAI-AWD and other LGU-related permits.
- The arena must be examined by rodeo organizers and the RA WO to ensure it is free of holes, rocks, obstacles, and other sharp or hazardous objects that may injure competitors and animals.
- The arena must be spacious enough to avoid potential danger to animals, competitors, and spectators; it must have appropriate soil-based surface, rotary-hoed and softened to a depth of 8 to 10 cm, and other surfaces must be well-drained for secure footing.
- Arena fencing must discourage stock from pushing through or must have no protrusions on fences, gateways, or chutes that might cause injury to stock.
- Euthanasia and well-maintained destruction equipment—such as captive bolt and licensed firearms of not less than .22 calibers—must be present in the venue/site during any rodeo event.
- Chutes and holding yards must be available to keep rodeo animals.
- Conveyance must be available to remove an injured animal for transfer to a suitable place for further examination and treatment.
- Organizers must provide an adequately equipped area for emergency treatment for both competitors and animals.
Officers, inspections, reporting, and accountability
- Each rodeo event must have at least two (2) Animal Welfare Marshalls appointed and present.
- Animal Welfare Marshalls must ensure that all animals used are apparently healthy and must disqualify animals not fit for the rodeo event.
- Animal Welfare Marshalls must ensure competitors in different events are not under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
- Animal Welfare Marshalls must ensure animal transport and handling, including provision of appropriate food, water, and shelter.
- Any rodeo event must have two Animal Welfare Accredited Rodeo Veterinarians.
- Veterinarians must inspect all animals used before the start of the rodeo (and again between multiple events) and at the end of each relevant period to determine whether animals remain fit to compete.
- The veterinarian is the final arbiter on whether an animal is fit for competition.
- Veterinarians must maintain a complete record of injuries and other defects, which must be part of the report before and after the event.
- Injured animals must be treated appropriately and isolated when necessary.
- Only duly licensed veterinarians may perform surgical procedures.
- Rodeo associations must provide a report to the BAI-AWD within 30 calendar days after the event, and the report must include:
- names, addresses, and contact details of rodeo organizers, judges, and attending rodeo veterinarian,
- the number and type of events and animals used,
- the number, types, and severity of any animal injuries,
- breaches of standards and corrective actions taken,
- actions taken against personnel who failed to comply with standards/rodeo rules (including “Permit or AWD Form”).
- Judges must have thorough knowledge of the IRR and must ensure that any competitor breaching enforceable provisions is reported.
- Rodeo associations must provide a judges’ report to BAI-AWD within 15 calendar days after the event, including:
- date and location of the rodeo,
- names, addresses, and contact details of rodeo organizers, judges, and attending rodeo veterinarian,
- number and type of events and animals used,
- number, types, and severity of any animal injuries,
- breaches of standards and corrective actions taken,
- actions taken against personnel who failed to comply with standards/rodeo rules.
- Competitors are responsible for animals they use and must:
- not treat animals in a way that causes injury or harm,
- only use equipment complying with the standards,
- obtain prompt and proper treatment for any injury to animals they use (other than animals supplied by a contractor),
- comply with all relevant sections of the standards.
- The livestock supervisor must:
- provide expert advice on animal health, injury or disease status, and suitability for competition,
- inspect all animals before and after the event,
- be available at all times to deal with animal emergencies,
- contribute to the event report.
Animal health, handling rules, and strict prohibitions
- Animals used in rodeos must be treated humanely and must be in good health.
- No stimulants, hypnotic, or other substances may be used on any animal except as prescribed by a veterinary practitioner for legitimate treatment of injury or illness.
- Cattle and horses must be penned separately in the yards and during transport.
- Animals with young at foot must not be yarded or used in connection with a rodeo.
- Animals deemed unsuitable by the livestock supervisor must be withdrawn immediately.
- Livestock must be removed promptly from the arena after completing an entry.
- Any animal demonstrating symptoms of extreme stress must be immediately turned out of the chute.
- No small animal or pet may be allowed in the arena or within the line of sight of livestock.
- Livestock must not be directly exposed to fireworks likely to cause fear or distress.
- No sore, lame, sick, injured, or sight-impaired animal may be used in rodeos.
- If an animal becomes sick or injured between being drawn and being scheduled for use, it must be withdrawn from the event.
- If an animal becomes lame, sick, injured, or has defective eyesight during the competition, it must be removed from competition.
- A conveyance must be available to remove a seriously injured animal for further examination and treatment.
- Sick or injured animals must be isolated from others and given appropriate treatment.
- The livestock supervisor’s decision on suitability for competition is final.
- Severely injured livestock must be promptly and humanely euthanized following Administrative Order No. 13 series of 2010 and Administrative Order No. 9 series of 2011.
- Chutes, yards, lanes, and races must be designed, constructed, and maintained to minimize injury risk to handlers or animals and assist quiet, efficient handling.
- If an animal repeatedly gets down in the chute, tries to jump out, or becomes excessively excited, it must be released and examined by the livestock supervisor; if found unfit, it must be withdrawn from participation for that day or session.
- Trained people must be available to humanely assist animals if caught in chutes, yards, or races.
- Aggressive animals must be isolated from others.
Handling, housing, and event equipment standards
- Handling equipment must not be used cruelly or excessively; all livestock handling must ensure humane treatment.
- Livestock-handling equipment must be of a type and specification generally used to transport and handle horses and cattle and must comply with Republic Act No. 8485.
- Electric pods may be used only to protect the safety of humans and animals and must be:
- low amperage,
- only low powered by dry cell batteries,
- commercially available and not modified,
- generally used for handling, yarding, and transport of livestock,
- used with restraint limited to the minimum necessary,
- applied only to hindquarters and shoulder of the animal.
- An electric pod must not be used:
- in the arena under any circumstances,
- on horses except to get a horse that has stalled in the chute to exit,
- in time ev