Hybrid vigor is the mating of sires of one breed, or breed-combination, to dams of another breed, or breed-combination, in order to produce offspring that out-perform their parents.

BODACIOUS: Remarkable, brazen, noteworthy, appealing, shameless, absolute; a blend of bold and audacious.

I know what you’re thinking. There isn’t anything I could write about “The Yellow Whale” that is not already well-known. It’s true when it comes to the most notorious of all bucking bovines, J31A Bodacious, much has been said, much has been printed and much has been documented about his life and career.

Still, there are a few things about him that have not been given much reference that can be looked at, specifically when it comes to being a “Daddy.”

Let’s do a quick rundown, followed by what I’d like to think is a fresh perspective on Bo. By the time the last line lands, his “Daddy” status will parallel his historical status.

Besides the obvious, that he came from Phil Sumner, was hauled by Sammy Andrews, was crowned World Champ in ‘94 and ‘95 by the PBR, PRCA and the BRO, and outlawed for his danger factor, he was also the first registered bucking bovine. That’s right: Bodacious, registry No. 10000708 and ABBI American Breeders Trust Lifetime Sire is ground zero when it comes to our registry and where it all started. Recognizing this alone is remarkable, considering where we have been and where we are going as an industry. Remarkable indeed.
It is also common knowledge that Bodacious was a Charbray—the result of a Charlois and Brahman cross. The Charlois, a large, French breed known for fast growth and heavy muscling, is on the Bos taurus side of the bovine chain. The Brahman, developed from imported cattle from India and Brazil, is a hardy, survival oriented breed on the Bos indicus side of the bovine chain. So, let’s see. There’s big, strong, and muscular crowned with a strong survival instinct. Yeah, that pretty much describes Bo all right—One large and in charge, brazen-bucker.

Now, regarding this Bos taurus and Bos indicus stuff, stay with it cause the concept is pretty noteworthy when it comes to Bo. Most breeders of cattle understand hybrid vigor or heterosis, which is defined as the increase in performance of hybrids over that of purebreds, most noticeably in traits like fertility and survivability. There’s that survival concept again. Hybrid vigor, of course, is achieved from cross-breeding. The technical description of cross-breeding is the mating of sires of one breed or breed combination to dams of another breed or breed combination in order to produce offspring that out-perform their parents. So, a Charlois and Brahman mated would result in the offspring out-performing its parents in characteristics like size, muscle, strength and the desire to survive. When it comes to Bo’s strong points, identifying that he is a result of hybrid vigor is noteworthy. Additionally, his living example of what can be achieved through out-crossing is quite appealing when it comes to techniques that breeders use in order to increase their successful percentages.

Of course most in the industry have heard the shameless justification of his “Daddy” success, or at least reminded someone else that Bo was crossed with everything that had four legs and a pulse, indicating that with many matings there is bound to be some type of success, regardless. However, “Who’s Your Daddy” power can’t be fairly judged on this type of vagueness. Especially when you consider the concept of hybrid vigor. It is pretty absolute that Bodacious is a bucking bull study of hybrid vigor or heterosis not only because of his accomplishments, but also in regard to what he has passed on genetically to his offspring and what they in turn have passed on to theirs.

Though bold and audacious saying that the majority of success in the bucking bull industry has been achieved with this hybrid vigor or heterosis idea does stand to reason. The theory is considered factual in other areas of bovine performance, so why not when it comes to the performance trait of bucking as well. It is well-noted that Plummer genetics cross great on Oscar lines. This combination again is a cross of Bos taurus and Bos indicus, resulting in hybrid vigor.

It is true that the more times a sire has the opportunity to be a “Daddy”, the higher the likelihood that some of those offspring will in turn be successful. However, at what point should a bull become worthy of receiving credit for his “Daddy” contribution? Is it when a certain amount of his prodigy have been proven? It’s one thing to produce several relatively good bulls, and another to produce multiple PBR Finals and NFR caliber bulls, and also sons and daughters that produce PBR and NFR-quality buckers. So, does Bo meet the criteria to be hailed a producer of successful buckers yet?

Setting the mark rather high, let’s look at a slice of Bo sons that are 25-point bulls, have been voted to go to the NFR and/or selected for the PBR Finals. Immediately, it becomes apparent that Bo’s sons do perform. Why not start with C17 Who’s Your Daddy? He not only represents the concept of this column, but fills the requirement of this category. Then there’s -3 Bo’s Excuse un-ridden in 73 outs—and also a three time NFR and PBR Finals bull. Not to be overlooked, 73 Bo Time has 69 outs and has landed on the PBR Finals roster four times. 731 Bo Dippin’ has been ridden 11 times in 37 outs, eight of those for 90-plus points, and been to both the NFR and PBR Finals. 02 Whop-Bo-La, definitely a 90-point-club bull, has been to the NFR twice and even took Bryan Richardson for a 95-point ride in Dallas in 2003. Another two time PBR Finals Bo son is 807 Bo Howdy. Additionally, 101 Snuff King is short round and 90-point-ride material and C31 Bluesman is still another bull sired by Bo that went to the PBR Finals twice, proving he had 90-point-ride capability. NFR bull C11 Dido hauled by Honeycutt as Saratoga is another jewel in Bo’s production crown.

Let’s not overlook ABBI performance. 023 Bo Talkin’ was a Derby Champ and -02 Bo Jammin’ is a current big dog on the PBR tour. One more for good measure, C12 Boomer, a solid bucker, went on to sire two more buckers, 06 French Fry and 03 Tater Tot. We could go on, but it is pretty clear Bo has and does produce sons that buck. Would mention of C12 Boomer’s two sons Tator Tot and French Fry be a good place to continue with other Bo sons that produce?

Who could forget that Mack Altizer’s T64 Walk This Way is sired by 410 Ready Bo, also a Bodacious son, or that Sammy Andrews’ -27 Fender Bender is sired by -6, also a Bodacious son. At this rate there may not be enough paper to cover his “Daddy” factor. We can’t stop until we work Bodacious on the maternal side of the production equation, however.
Are Bodacious daughters and grand-daughters producing big-timers? You bet your boots. The list of bulls that are Bo grandsons and great grandsons via their mommas and granddams is long and accomplished. Grabbing only a handful, there’s 362 Kamo Kat, a 90-point bull; 319 Bo Kat; 360 Avalanche—only ridden twice in 69 outs and three PBR Finals trips; 370 Big Jake, 348 Niagra; current sensations 77 Hustler, aka Super Duty; and two bulls who recently during the Albuquerque event were phenomenal. Alvin Jones’ 661 Apollo and Jim Anderson and D&H’s 009 Showtime have Bo females to thank on their maternal side. They not only seem to have recaptured Bo’s intensity and ability, but also the hybrid vigor concept.

When watching Apollo at Albuquerque, there was a moment that Apollo flew his maternal great-grandsire’s flag in a ghostly fashion. It was a Bo flashback for me and I am sure many others. There was a moment immediately following the buckoff where Apollo gave one more big blow with major air going vertical then he kicked the lights out all in midair and before returning to the ground. If that didn’t remind the diehard fans of Bo, nothing will. I guess that’s why they named him Apollo. If he doesn’t have hybrid vigor going on, then somebody needs to check Alvin’s feed sacks, because he must feed that bucker rocket fuel.

Then there was Showtime’s Albuquerque out. He may be one of the most impressive bulls that I have ever seen. He, too, demonstrates the hybrid vigor theory in his body composition and athleticism which also parallel Bo without question. He may be a darker shade of yellow, but when he got it on, there was no mistaking who his maternal grandsire was for this bull enthusiast. His raw power and Bo-like strength almost made you miss his impeccable body awareness and catty athleticism. Just like Bo, this bull can get that mass of muscle moving in a hurry, and do it pretty handily.

When looking at these two super-star bucker’s pedigrees, it is immediately obvious how hybrid vigor was recreated in subsequent generations of Bo progeny. While Showtime is out of a Bo daughter who’s mother is Coffey breeding, just as tell-tale is his Kish-bred sire, Wolf Dancer. Wolf Dancer is by Beasty Boy, a 629 Wolfman son who calls Oscar’s Velvet his “Daddy.” There’s our Bos taurus and Bos indicus cross on both the top and bottom of Showtime’s pedigree, and then doubled when his parents were mated, thus producing him.
Apollo’s pedigree also reveals the beauty of cross-breeding for hybrid vigor. His mother is a 57 Red Wasp daughter out of a Bo cow and wouldn’t you know it. On his top side, our friend Bos indicus is present via his sire 240 Sky King, another son of 629 Wolfman, an Oscar’s Velvet son. His pedigree surely demonstrates the power of the out-cross and how hybrid vigor can continue throughout a pedigree.

While we have only magnified the pedigrees of two current superstar athletes that carry Bo genetics in some fashion, it is apparent that Bo is a super-sire anywhere the concept of cross-breeding has been applied.

The list of bucking sons that go on to produce more bucking sons, and the daughters that go on to produce bucking sons and producing daughters that trace back to Bodacious is remarkable, noteworthy, appealing and absolute.

The list is brazen, and a blend of bold and audacious proofs.

As a matter of fact the proof in the list is downright BODACIOUS.