Hooked On Bucking Bulls

Breeding bucking bulls must be planned. Simply breeding cows and bulls at random will not produce the benefits that a well-organized, thoughtful breeding system can provide. Although this is not scientifically proven, here are some thoughts that I have on breeding bucking bulls.

Uniformity of the cow herd is often an unappreciated trait. If a cow herd varies greatly in size and conformation, so will your calves. Likewise, the nutritional needs of many cows will not be met. Before designing a breeding system, the conformation and the production records must be described in some form. Things to consider are genetics, conformation, athletic ability, and past production.

How did the cow’s last calves buck? What was their temperament? What was their conformation? Examples: Does the cow have too much leather? Do her calves carry a lot (dewlap/sheath area)? What kind of temperament does she have? Is she too quiet? Do the calves spin flat? Do they get in the air with a lot of kick but no spin? What are the inherent traits that the bull seems to pass on? Some bulls produce a lot of spin. For example, the Plummers have always been known to pass on spin, but not necessarily a lot of kick.

The Mudslingers seem to produce a lot of kick, and also get in the air. This could be an example of a good cross, but not necessarily so at 100%. Remember, each animal is an individual and should be looked at in that way when we are breeding them. There are many successful breeders with many different thoughts on how it should be done. I am sure that if you visit with some of them, the successful ones will tell you that they have some kind of a plan as they breed their bulls to a particular cow.