Well the fact that there is already plenty of animal cruelty does not seem like a good argument to further encourage more animal cruelty in my humble view. Traditions are often cruel, but, you see, the uses of humanity change with time: witches were burnt, people crucified and newborns given to the wolves, not to mention the Aztecs killing humans for the gods. There is no need to continue things that one thinks wrong.
Animal cruelty has been the reason why many governments places a ban on some animal games mostly those games that involve animals getting into physical combat that could result in an injury or possible death to the animals.
Departing from all forms of cruelty is what has made civilization a special movement and with it, a lot has changed in the phenomenal trends that used to be before now, I still can remember when some parts of the east in my country consumed human meats due to war deprivation and starvations, but as time goes on things have changed and all that is becoming past incident right now.