WANTED: BULLS of any Age or Pedigree

By Leigh Ann Schroder
Posted Monday, April 20, 2009

Partial Reprint from Chronicle of the Bull Magazine Written by Leigh Ann Schroder

A bull’s earning potential changes when he reaches 5 years of age. “The Professional Bucking Bull Association was formed in 2006 and was designed to increase the competition bull’s earning potential thus adding years to their career and that means additional paychecks available for their owners,” said Mike Porter from the Professional Bucking Bull Association (PBBA).

With the numbers steadily rising in the bucking bull industry a record number of bulls are entering futurities and the three and four year classic events; what we can now call “the system”. Whether he is bred and groomed for greatness or plucked from the feed lot as a “hot calf” today’s bucking bull has an earning potential in bucking bull competitions from the time he turns 2 years old until he reaches the end of his four year old year. At that point he enters the “pool” of bulls available for rent, lease, or sale to contractors who supply stock to a variety of professional and amateur associations nationwide. .

The American Bucking Bull Incorporated (ABBI) the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and the National Bucking Bull Association (NBBA) have done wonders for the bull industry, says Mike Porter, President of the Professional Bucking Bull Association. “As a breeder I’ve been involved with the ABBI since it was the Rodeo Stock Registry and I am amazed at the progress it has made in so few years.” The PBBA will only compliment the current futurity and classic system. Mike Porter envisions breeders competing with their bulls in ABBI and NBBA futurities and classics as two, three and four year olds. Then as five year olds they can continue to compete with their bulls in PBBA events. The PBBA has increased the competition bull’s earning potential thus adding years to his career.

So how did all this start? Early in 2006, Mike Porter began taking a look at the boom in the competitive bucking bull business as he had bulls competing in the ABBI system. Each year the numbers of bulls entering the futurity and classic systems exceeds expectations. He and his traveling partners, Ernie Treadway & Danny Scroggins, then realized that there are hundreds of bulls that once they turn five their career as a competition bull is over, the next step was years on a contractor’s trailer or breeding. They agreed that there was a need for another level of competition. Consequently the PBBA was formed. But first and foremost Porter adds, “I am a Bucking bull breeder”, which puts me in the same situation as a lot of other breeders. What to do with our bulls after their eligibility is up in the current ABBI or NBBA series? Some bulls go directly to the PBR and rodeo circuits, but not all owners have access to those events or want to see their bulls on a trailer weekend after weekend for at the most, a $400 out check.”

The message is simple. LISTEN UP GUYS…OPPORTUNITIES ARE SELDOM LABELED.

The PBBA has three primary objectives:

1. To provide a means for bucking bull breeders and owners to continue competing with their bulls regardless of their age and breeding.

2. While the bull owners are competing and winning money they are also promoting their bulls and consequently adding value. A PBBA event champion should very well become more valuable to the owners and possibility even more valuable as a breeding bull, particularity if they are consistent winners.

3. The third objective gives non—registered bulls an opportunity to compete. If a non-registered bull proves himself at PBBA events; the owner may consider registering his bull, his parents and offspring.

“In 10 years I would like for the PBBA to become the standard, in that most sanctioned bull riding events are also PBBA bull competitions. There are tens of thousands of bull ridings at all different levels for the bull riders to prove themselves and work their way up through the ranks. The bulls also need a similar venue to prove themselves. I would also like to see the PBBA secure enough sponsorships so that our annual finals is comparable to the purse the ABBI finals is paying,” said Porter when asked of the associations long term goals.

For more information contact the PBBA website, www.pbbanow.com. Or call Mike Porter at 864-313-9024, or email him at mike@PBBAnow.com.