So you want to get into the Bucking Bull Business?
By Justin McKee

FIRST you have to decide what area of the business you would like to be involved. There are various segments and levels in the process of raising bucking bulls. If you know your goals, we have an idea where to get you started.

SEGMENT 1 Cow/Calf Operation

This can certainly be the most hands on and involved part of the business that may require the most resources. Most of our customers that buy heifers or cows to raise buckers are already in the business of raising beef animals.

For those of you who are already in the cattle business and are interested in “buckers,” there is no reason why you shouldn’t jump in and get started. Even though most bucking cows have a little attitude, they handle great in the pasture with beef cattle.

There are basically two directions you can take your bucking cow/calf operation. The first option is what we do here at the McKee Ranch. We raise and sell most of our calf crop each year before the calves are a year old. We sell our “bucking” heifers to other producers that will grow them into cows and most of our young bulls are sold as young yearling prospects that will compete in the 2 year old futurities. Some of our young bulls will go to programs to be used as breeding bulls.

The second direction you could take in a cow/calf operation is to produce your own females and keep your bull calves for competitions.

All of our animals are registered with the American Bucking Bull Incorporation (ABBI) and have pedigrees on their registration papers. For more information on the ABBI go to www.americanbuckingbull.com

SEGMENT 2 2-year-old Futurity Bulls

This is the first year of competition for young bulls. During this year there will be no rider on their back but instead a “dummy” will be used to simulate the rider. The dummy is light weight (around 30 lbs) and will stay on for 6 seconds before being unbuckled by a hand held remote control. That way all bulls will be judged bucking for the same 6 seconds length of time. This is an advantage since some bulls in the older classes will sometimes buck off their human rider under 3 seconds and the judges don’t get to see much of the bull bucking.

Something that is pretty uncommon about our program is that we don’t buck any of our young bulls, we sell them All unbucked! One of our goals from the beginning was to build a reputation where customers could buy young bulls with the confidence of knowing that our bulls are all TRULY UNBUCKED. Beware of some breeders who buck their young bulls and save back the best for themselves then offer their culls for sale. You don’t have to worry about getting leftovers here.

Our 6-12 month old bull calves range in price from $1000-$5000 per head, depending on appearance and breeding. We can provide caretakers and trainers for your futurity prospects for around $2 per day per bull. If you can’t be there in person, the trainers we send our customers to, will send you video of your bull bucking during both practice and competition. Entry fees cost from$400 and $1000 per bull per contest.

The money you can win is very impressive. First place at the smaller events will pay from $2000-$10,000. Last year, a bull we raised called Deja Blue (owned by Tom Teague and Tommy Lasorda) won $67,000 during the regular season and $100,000 for winning the ABBI Word Futurity Finals in Las Vegas.

SEGMENT 3 3-4 Year old bulls

These are the “derby” aged bulls that will compete with riders for even more impressive payouts. The ABBI calls this age division “Classic” bulls. Last year Julio Moreno’s bull, Troubadour, won an impressive $375,000. Since we sell all of our bulls as calves, we don’t market any 3-4 year old bulls. However, we sometimes “broker” deals for folks who are serious about finding top derby bulls. These bulls will cost from $10,000 and up.

SEGMENT 4 Built Ford Tough Series BULL TEAMS

Bull teams became a reality in the PBR in 2008 and have added yet another way bulls can compete for big money. Entry fee for a bull team is $50,000 and your team can compete at five Built Ford Tough Events. Five Bulls compete for each bull team on a given weekend with the top team winning $20,000. The top team at the PBR World Finals will win $250,000. These bulls have considerable experience in the arena and most are older than 4.

Contact us if you are interested in buying a bull team or part of a team.