It is always heartwarming to take a comfortable stroll across lush green fields and farms until you come across a big bull.A large, tough animal with an extremely strong body with a small ring attached to the nose of the bull. What is the theory related to the bull wearing the ring?Human beings have always been curious to discover new knowledge from every corner of the Earth. It has always been in the interest of mankind to have an upper hand on all animals, finding some means to keep control over them. The earliest attempt of domesticating plants and animals apparently began during the Mesolithic period. Beginning with plants, domestication later went on to include dogs, goats, and other cattle animals. Since all species cannot be handled in the same manner, different measures had to be taken for controlling the specimens.You might have come across large bulls having rings in their noses. This ring is pierced between the nostrils of the bull. But what exactly is the mystery behind this ring on the bull? How can a small ring have any impact on a large animal like a bull? This reason goes all the way back to the history of domestication. A large and dangerous animal like a bull needs to have some means to control aggressive behavior. Piercing rings on the bull’s nose have been one of the most sought out solutions used to control this animal. The tissues between the nostrils are highly sensitive, thus inflicting a sharp pain to the animal when tugged at.We are sure that you are excited to know more about bulls with nose rings! But hey, you can find the answers to other interesting questions about various animals too, such as why bulls hate red and why cows wear bells?Materials Of Nose RingsIt is quite often that you might notice a bull or a cow having a nose ring attached to their noses. Now, now, these are not really fashion accessories. Instead, they are installed as a means to control the aggressive cattle. However, it is not any nose ring that can be attached to the bull’s nose. There are particular specifications related to the nose ring to ensure the safety of the animal as well.Bull rings usually have a diameter of about 3-5 in (7.6-12.7 cm), depending on how big the bulls or cows are. These nose rings are quite often made with stainless steel, aluminium, or even copper. The nose ring is in the form of hinged semicircle pairs, which are held closed by using a brass bolt whose head is removed during the piercing. While it all might seem cruel to some, but it is not much different than humans getting their ears pierced.When do bulls get their nose rings on and off?It is not always that the cattle and dairy animals are pierced with nose rings. Calves of livestock are left out of the piercing procedure.To pierce a nose ring, the bull must be between 9-12 months of age. But not anyone can clip on the ring. It usually takes an experienced veterinarian to carry out the procedure. The vet would pierce the bull’s septum with the help of a scalpel or punch. Once pierced, the nose ring is attached to it. In recent times, self-piercing nose rings have also been made available. These rings have really sharp ends which are designed to be clipped through the septum of the bull. It is then pulled together with the help of a screw. Though the procedure related to this is much simpler, it is often recommended to have it done by a vet rather than the farmer himself.If a nose ring is to be taken off, it is either unscrewed or simply cut off. A possible reason to remove the nose ring is when a bull grows out of it and hence needs to be clipped off. Again, it is recommended to have a vet involved in removing the ring as it may cause a lot of pain to the livestock, and an experienced hand will definitely ensure the safety of the animal.Are bull nose rings cruel?One of the most difficult animals to be handled by farmers is the bulls. Now, bulls are not small-sized animals. They may get very irritable and aggressive and be quite a task to manage. Also, it is not only the adult bull that is uncontrollable. Even the young calves can be quite a handful. Apart from them, even cows and pigs have nose rings attached. As they help farmers in various ways, there is a lot of interaction involved between them at the farm. A bull, if not handled properly, may lead to injuring the human handler or even killing people. Hence, a permanent solution was required to control these specimens.To make the dangerous bulls easier to control, a ring is clipped to the nose of the bull. Just like in humans and other beings, a bull too has a soft piece of tissue called the septum which is present between the nostrils of the bull. This soft tissue is highly sensitive and might inflict pain at times. Thus, a nose ring is directly pierced through the septum. Hence, a bull becomes obedient and calm and can be easily handled, when a human grasps the ring directly. An alternate method is to put either a staff or a long piece of chain or rope through the hole of the ring. When tugged, the ring causes pain to the bull and can be easily handled. The same theory holds true for other specimens as well, such as cows and pigs.Are there other designs of rings used on animals?There are many other types of rings used on cattle. These rings serve different purposes on farm animals. Let us go through the different ring types.Calf-weaning nosebands or nose rings are an alternate temporary solution for separating young calves from their mothers during the period of weaning. These rings have tiny plastic spikes, which make the mothers quite uncomfortable. This causes her to reject her calf’s attempts at suckling. Such rings are not only for bulls and cows but also applied for goats and sheep. The plastic rings clip on the calf’s nose temporarily, and need not be pierced. It can be reused again.Spring-closing or self-locking show-lead nose rings are also known as nose grips or bulldogs. These are temporary rings that do not need any piercing. They are installed on cows and steers, along with a halter. They can be spotted at examination centres, or at agricultural shows. They usually stay shut until it is released. There is a loop present in the ring for attaching either a lead rope or a cord.Also referred to as bull holders, bull tongs are implemented for a temporary period on grown cattle. It is usually used when the cattle are either being drenched or mouthed. These tongs have a pliers action. Either a rope, chain or strap keeps the grips of tongs closed. It may be passed over a bar present at the front of a head bail. This is not a permanent option.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why bulls have nose rings then why not take a look at why cows moo or bull facts.
It is always heartwarming to take a comfortable stroll across lush green fields and farms until you come across a big bull.
