Mnogi poznati bivši matadori tvrde da su bikovi tretirani umirujućim sredstvima i laksativima. Udaraju ih po bubrezima i stavljaju im težak teret oko vrata sedmicama prije borbe.
Many prominent former bullfighters report that bulls are intentionally debilitated with tranquilizers and laxatives, beatings to the kidneys, and heavy weights hung around their necks for weeks before a fight.