Disturbing footage – recorded by campaign groups Animal Guardians and La Tortura No Es Cultura (Torture Is Not Culture) – shows the animals screaming in agony. 

The matadors stab the defenceless calves and cackle as they drag their carcasses away in Alalpardo, Madrid, Spain.

They were used because inexperienced matadors “don’t dare” square up to a fully grown adult bull. 

Marta Esteban, of Animal Guardians, said: “Calves are used by bullfighting students and aficionados – fans of bullfighting who want to give it a try, such as in this case.

“Since they don’t know how to bullfight ‘properly’ they put the instruments of torture in improper places.

“Often they extract them and nail them again and again after unsuccessful attempts, causing a torment without equal to these small animals.”

Jose Enrique Zaldívar, who leads a group of vets opposed to bullfighting, demanded that shows involving calves – known as becerradas – be banned.

“Due to their young age, the strength and ability of these calves to react is much lower, and their degree of stress and anguish is much more accentuated,” he said.

“Since they don’t know how to bullfight ‘properly’ they put the instruments of torture in improper places”

Marta Esteban, of Animal Guardians

“The becerradas, without a doubt, constitute one of the most terrible manifestations of animal abuse in our country, and should be outlawed as soon as possible.”

While the free show was largely snubbed by the public, campaigners claim that there were still children among the audience of roughly 100 people.

They argue that this contravenes the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which last year recommended that kids should not take part in the events as either bullfighters or spectators.

“We demand that the authorities take measures to prohibit the active or passive participation of children under 18 years of age in the becerradas,” said Marta.

Now the animal rights groups are launching an international petition to end the slaughter, which can be signed at Bastabecerradas.org/en.

“We can end these especially cruel shows, which many bullfighting fans do not even like,” said Carmen Ibarlucea, president of La Tortura No Es Cultura.

“We urge all those who reject these spectacles to help us finish them by entering the campaign page and participating in some of the ways we suggest.”

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