A young animal with DNA-verfied parentage can be worth as much as $100,000 if he has superstar bloodlines. A proven bucking bull can be worth as much as $500,000. You can get started in the industry by buying a quality DNA-verified cow and bull for several thousand apiece.
Just like great racehorses are more likely to produce winning offspring, so are bucking bulls. Tracking the genetics that are successful allows us to know what matings result in athletically gifted animals. DNA also allows owners to prove their animal's genetics- making them more valuable.
No, it is an inherent behavior. The American Bucking Bull is recognized as a distinct breed based on it's behavior (bucking). Animals can be trained, but you can't make an animal a successful athlete if he has no desire to buck.
The Classic champion earns $200,000 in Las Vegas each fall. In 2015, ABBI paid out $2.4 million in event prize money. Black Pearl, a former Champion, won nearly $500,000 just in his three years competing in the ABBI.
Futurities are for bulls age 2. Classics are for 3 and 4-year-olds, whereas a Derby is strictly for 3-year-olds. A Maturity is for any animal 5 and older. Events with bulls age 3 and up are typically held in conjunction with a PBR event. A Yearling Futurity is for animals approaching two years of age. All Futurity bulls buck with a dummy (box) on their back that is released via remote control at 4 seconds. The older bulls face off against cowboys, who try to make it to 8 seconds atop them.
One of the most common misconceptions about bull riding is that the flank strap is tied to the animal’s testicles; this is far from the truth. The flank strap is a soft rope that is loosely tied around the bull’s midsection in the flank area and slipped onto the bull when it enters the alley to the chute. The slack is taken out of it before the ride, but not tied too tight, and the strap is removed immediately after the ride.
ABBI has strict rules and guidelines and bans members who do not follow these rules. A vet is also on-site at bigger events, and on-call at smaller venues. These animals are treated like athletes and often considered to be part of the family they belong to. They receive top-notch care which can even include acupuncture, chiropractic and specialized diets.
PBR owns half of ABBI. Classic bulls are used at many Built Ford Tough Series events and on the BlueDEF Velocity Tour. Just as PBR is dedicated to making the sport more lucrative for bull riders, ABBI is dedicated to growing the sport and prize money for the bull owners.
