The details on the 2024 NFBR calves have been released, and the three pens english-bred cattle will make their debut on Tuesday, Dec. 3 for Rounds 1–5 of the NFBR.
There are a handful of key differences in this years’ NFBR calves.
This year they’re being supplied by Californian John McGill. McGill supplied the calves for the NFBR in 2021 when it was held at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, but this is his first time supplying them at the South Point.
“This is the pinnacle of breakaway, so as a [stock contractor,] you want to be here,” McGill said.
The calves are also bigger than the NFBR calves were in 2023. McGill figures the 60 calves average 400 pounds each, with pens one and two a little lighter and the third pen a little heavier.
“They were tie-down calves in June when they were 4 months old, which makes them about 9 months old,” McGill said. “They went to Reno, St. Paul and Salinas as tie-down calves, and they’ve been hanging out since. We put two runs on them at Cal Poly a month ago at a practice. I didn’t want to jackpot ’em and have them roped a few feet out of the chute.”
2024 NFBR calf pen rotation
- Round 1: Pen 1
- Round 2: Pen 2
- Round 3: Pen 3
- Round 4: Pen 1
- Round 5: Pen 2
- Round 6: Pen 3
- Round 7: Pen 1
- Round 8: Pen 2
- Round 9: Pen 3
- Round 10: Pen 1
At the run-through Monday night, the calves were leaving strong and knew where the out gate was. Western Roping Director Lynn Smith was on hand to help evaluate McGill’s pre-sorted pens and help determine which calves out of each pen should become extras.
“I think they’ll be even sets within the pens,” Smith said. “The third pen were bigger and softer. They’ve probably been around the block a time or two more. In 2023, the calves changed as the rounds went on, and since these calves have more [rodeo runs], ‘They are what they are.'”
In the chute pushing the NFBR calves for the third year in a row, will be Desmond Johnson. Known as “Dez” in the industry, the man from Huntsville, Texas, has gained a reputation for his consistency and good attitude.
