Animal rights group SAFE and the Animal Justice League have protested at the Rodeo National Finals in North Canterbury today, saying another season of animal cruelty and deaths nears its end.

The protest, which was supported by World Animal Protection, HUHA, and Farmwatch, took place outside the events at the Mandeville Sports Grounds this morning.

The groups say they are highlighting the continued abuse of animals across the country every summer, and this season three animals were killed at the hands of rodeo cowboys.

SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe says animals are being killed, abused and bullied, and rodeo cruelty needs to be urgently banned.