While the predicament of dairy and beef cows has gained more traction in the U.S. in recent years, much less is known about the plight of bulls born into the intensively reared beef industry.
A rescue bull known as Batman has shed a little light on the issue in a video showing him experiencing freedom and feeling grass for the first time, after spending the first four years of his life in a stall, used for breeding.
In the video posted by the Reject Ranch with more than 1.1 million views on TikTok, Batman can be seen checking out his new enclosure, at first unsure, then after "slowly taking it all in," doing zoomies in the grass.
"It's moments like these that make all the hard work, time, and money so unbelievably worth it!" reads the caption.
Before being rescued, Batman lived as a stud, a term used for any animal that is kept alive for breeding, in this case to produce more animals for the meat and dairy industries.
"Batman was born on the property of a large breeder, who then sold him to another breeder, when he was only a few months of age," Kady Horn, 29, founder and chief executive officer of Reject Ranch, told Newsweek.
"He then remained with this breeder for 3.5 years, where he was used for breeding, and moved from pen to pen as needed," she added. "Batman has a form of dwarfism known as chondrodysplasia, which expresses with shortened limbs. This genetic deformity is highly sought after in the miniature cattle industry, as cattle with this condition produce smaller offspring, and the smaller the size the higher the price tag."
"The bull semen market is very lucrative," sustainable living brand LiveKindly said. "Animal agriculture forcefully breeds animals to have what it considers the best traits for food production."
The U.S. has been exporting bull semen since 1960, and currently exports more than 30 million units of frozen bovine semen to producers in 120 countries each year, according to USA Cattle Genetics, and the global bovine artificial insemination market was valued at $2.84 billion in 2022, according to Grand View Research.
"In the bull semen industry, collecting sperm from bulls involves invasive, stressful, and painful practices," said Horn. "The bulls are treated like semen machines, being abused and exploited time and time again for financial gain.
"At Reject Ranch, our mission is to rescue farm animals who are in desperate need and provide them a safe, loving home through sanctuary or adoption."
In 2011, the U.S. exported $124.7 million worth of bull semen, representing 32 percent of the global market. In February 2019, an Angus bull named SAV America 8018 sold for the record-breaking price of $1.5 million due to superior genetics, according to LiveKindly.
Bulls as young as 8 months old are used for breeding. They are kept in small stalls and various methods are used to extract semen. Artificial insemination from these bulls is the most popular way of breeding in the dairy industry. It's less common for beef cattle, "but it is popular for breeding desirable traits, particularly in purebred herds including Angus, Limousen, and Wagyu," LiveKindly says.
Other methods include putting the bulls in stall and breeding directly with cows, which is what was happening to Batman.
The industry uses the bull studs for an average of five years before they are eventually sold and slaughtered for meat.
"Batman is now thriving and living his best life!" said Horn, "He has a large field to run and forage in to his heart's desire, as well as a large barn stall. He has a companion, Penguin, who he adores and doesn't let out of his sight.
"He is the first one to greet me when I walk outside, and he steals the heart of anyone he meets. He's a total goober, and has become quite bougie in his time here! He demands all attention to be on him, and will push Penguin out of the way to get more pets."
Users in the comments loved Batman's story.
"Great story. I wish the world was a better place to live," said one user on TikTok.
"People always ask what you would do if you win the lottery. THIS. I want to buy THIS kind of joy. To help others LIVE," commented another.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Leonie Helm is a Newsweek Life Reporter and is based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on all things ... Read more
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