Learn more about American Bucking Bull, Inc., at the heart of the bull business, from its president Jay Daughtery.
By Marcus Neumayer
The sport of bull riding involves two athletes – cowboy and bull. The bovine part of the equation has as many fans as the bull rider side. Fans are known to cheer as loudly for athletes named SweetPro’s Bruiser, Smooth Wreck, and Big Black as they do for those named J.B. Mauney, Chase Outlaw and Jose Vitor Leme.
At the heart of the booming bull business is a very important organization known as ABBI (American Bucking Bull, Inc.), which runs the world’s largest bucking cattle DNA registry, documenting the bloodlines of these four-legged stars. ABBI also pays out over $2.5 million each year at competitive events that it produces and sanctions for DNA-registered bucking bulls. A sister organization to PBR, ABBI serves to develop the talent of animal athletes and increase their value.
We had the chance to ask Jay Daugherty, President of ABBI, a few questions about an organization all fans should be familiar with. Daugherty is a veteran of the bucking bull business with a deep understanding and appreciation of both sides of the bull rope, having served as PBR’s SVP of Competition from 2000-2015.
PBR.com: What is ABBI and how was it formed?
Jay Daugherty: ABBI started in 2004, and then began a rapid expansion of its business beginning in 2008 through the registration, verification and maintenance of pedigrees for the American Bucking Bull breed; the organization, management and promotion of world class programs and events benefiting stock owners; and providing incentives, benefits and opportunities for ABBI’s owners and members which enhance the value and integrity of the American Bucking Bull Breed. The ABBI affords bucking bull breeders the opportunity to bring their animal athletes to PBR-sanctioned events to compete against one another for a world championship held at the end of the season.
PBR.com: What makes an ABBI bucking bull buck?
JD: Genetics are the most prevalent factor in determining a bull’s desire and ability to buck. It is no stretch to say that bucking is natural and bred into the American Bucking Bull. A bull cannot be “made” to buck, it is something they have been bred to naturally love doing.
PBR.com: How are ABBI bulls registered?
JD: Members can register their cattle at any time, but it is recommended to do so in the first year of each calf’s life. All bucking cattle are registered through tail-hair or blood card submission. Once sent in, ABBI is able to register each animal while also providing documented genetics, linking their lineage as far back as it will allow.
ABBI currently has 250,000 animals registered in its DNA database. Breeders are from across the United States and Canada, and ABBI has now expanded into Australia. ABBI will continue to develop and operate a comprehensive pedigree registration and record information retention program focused exclusively on the world’s finest American Bucking Bull stock.
PBR.com: How do the bulls work their way through the system?
JD: When a bull calf is born, breeders and owners plan for the first step on the competition ladder – the ABBI Yearling, Futurity and Derby events. All ABBI Yearling, Futurity and Derby bucking bulls that compete are age-verified by ABBI certified veterinarians and given an EID (Electronic Identification) ear tag, which they wear their entire ABBI career. Once they are cleared for Yearling, Futurity or Derby competition at the age of 1, 2 or 3, respectively, their career as a bucking bull begins. During a bull’s 1-year-old Yearling, 2-year-old Futurity and 3-year-old Derby seasons, he can compete at a multitude of ABBI-sanctioned events held across the U.S.
PBR.com: Are there age requirements and restrictions for bulls in ABBI?
JD: To be eligible to compete in any ABBI produced or sanctioned Classic event, bulls must be at least 3 years of age but no older than 4 years of age. Only 3-year-old bulls are eligible to compete in any ABBI produced or sanctioned Derby event.
PBR.com: Are there special ABBI events? Where can fans see them?
JD: Yes, we have events specific to our ABBI bulls, including Yearling, Futurity, Derby, Classic and Maturity competitions. ABBI events are held throughout the year all over the United States, predominantly held in Oklahoma and Texas, but also anywhere from North Carolina to California including ABBI- sanctioned events that local organizations will put on.
The ABBI is determined to provide an ample amount of opportunities to cultivate the best bred bucking bulls in the world and help them maximize their potential, on their way to competing at the PBR’s elite level. Through a variety of aged events, ABBI is able to showcase and highlight these four-legged athletes while also supporting stock contractors.
PBR.com: How often do ABBI bulls compete at PBR’s elite level?
JD: ABBI bucks our Classic bulls at the Unleash The Beast level at five regular-season events and two rounds at the PBR World Finals at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
PBR.com: Is there an ABBI World Championship? How does that work?
JD: There is an ABBI World Champion in each event – Yearling through Classic events – that is crowned at the culmination of the season while in Las Vegas. The bull with the most points accumulated in their respective competition ultimately becomes the World Champion in their event.
For example, at the end of the regular Classic season, the Top 40 bulls (based on points) qualify for the ABBI Classic World Finals in Las Vegas. Those Top 40 bulls will compete in two rounds of competition under the Top 40 PBR riders in the world for a chance to win the ABBI Classic Champion title and $100,000. This bull will be decided from his Top 6 scores headed into the finals, in addition to his two performances at the PBR World Finals. The ABBI World Finals Classic Event Champion will earn the title and $100,000 from his two performances at the PBR World Finals.
PBR.com: How is the scoring for ABBI different than PBR?
JD: When it comes to judging, during a competition, ABBI uses a five-judge system that focuses solely on the bull. While PBR judges score both the ability of the bull and rider, ABBI judges only score the bull. Each judge marks the animal from 1-25 points based on elements of buck, kick, spin, intensity and degree of difficulty. The five judges’ scores are totaled with a perfect marking of 100 points – this has not happened to date at either ABBI or PBR competition.
PBR.com: What makes or qualifies a bull as an ABBI classic bull?
JD: To be eligible to compete in any ABBI produced or sanctioned Classic event, bulls must be at least 3 years of age but no older than 4 years of age. Three-year-old bulls are the only ones eligible to compete in ABBI produced or sanctioned Derby event. Classic and Derby competitions are where 3- and 4-year-old bulls begin the process of learning to buck with a rider. The transition can be tough considering bulls are often compared to gangly teenagers at this stage of their development. These competitions are put in place to assist in building a bull’s confidence while they learn the ropes of bucking under a rider.
PBR.com: If a classic bull does not get an out at an event – due to a re-ride in the chute – and the bull requires a score, how is that circumstance handled?
JD: If a rider is offered a re-ride due to a bull acting up and having the inability to leave the chute, the bull is then disqualified from the Classic competition. But, if a rider is disqualified before leaving the chute, a bull rider provided by the ABBI will then get on the Classic bull to ensure he is able to compete and receive a score.
