A board member with the Manitoba Team Penning Association is calling the death of a heifer during the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition in Morris, Man. over the weekend "a freak accident." 

Darcy Brown says the death happened during a cattle control competition, where a judge watches as someone on horse enters an area with 30 cows and tries to get one with a specific number to a designated location.

He says the heifer tried to jump onto a fence and because of the way it landed, it had to be euthanized.

Brown says he has not seen an animal die at the Stampede in over 10 years.

Animal rights protesters from the Manitoba Animal Save group says they want animal cruelty charges brought forth as a result.

Members from the group had gathered in front of the Stampede on Friday, July 19, to protest the event.

They said they received a lot of support from people passing by.

The group has also started a petition to have use of animals in rodeos banned in Manitoba.

Organizers of the Stampede say they take every precaution to protect the health of animals. That includes having a veterinarian check on animals before and after events.