Most industry insiders understand why having some "Heat in that Meat" is important. When it comes to breeding and raising superstar buckers, let’s face it, duds and hand-lickers don’t generally go on to be electric and rank. Sure, there are exceptions like Red Rock and Little Yellow Jacket who were gentle later in their lives, but for the most part, big-leaguers don’t start out that way.

It’s not by accident that the west coast-bred 635 Mr. Juicey may be one of the biggest genetic gold mines to shine on the production scene in quite some time. The current narrative of this black, brockle face bovine includes a coast-to-coast transfer, and a steady stream of his genetics into most avenues of the bucking industry. Still, nothing might prepare the big-time producer’s current owner Gary Blythe for what may be about to take place.

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.

Anyone that has participated in or followed the bucking bull industry knows one thing — there sure is a lot of black & white out there.

It’s out there in our pastures, out there in the arena, filling our registry and definitely in the winner’s circle. Although some of us know the immediate origin of these white hides highlighted by black noses, eye-rims, hooves and horn tips, few know the ancient history behind the distinctive color pattern. Sure, the majority of our buckers with these features have Tom Harlan and Charlie Plummer to thank immediately, but believe it or not, their story goes back into antiquity nearly 2,000 years.