Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Russ Princ, Sales Manager for Leachman Cattle. In this episode, Russ and Gale will focus on Leachman’s stabilizer program, international and domestic sales growth, the broader outlook for the beef industry heading into 2026, and a detailed rundown of upcoming Leachman sales.
Russ Princ leads the sales operations across the U.S., Canada, and international markets. He directs sales of live animals, semen, embryos, and data services while driving the adoption of genomic tools, such as Inherit and $Profit. Russ is also active in the growing beef-on-dairy sector, helping dairies capture more value with Leachman Beef Genetics.
Russ explains that international business has expanded significantly since Leachman became part of the Urus family, which increased global exposure for their stabilizer and composite bulls.
The stabilizer is described less as a fixed four-breed composite and more as a breeding philosophy focused on profitability, hybrid vigor, and consistency. While typically around half British and half Continental genetics, the real emphasis is on solid-colored cattle, red or black, that deliver red meat yield, marbling, and especially fertility, keeping cows productive in the herd longer. Stabilizers have proven adaptable across a wide range of environments, from the Midwest and West to regions with Bos indicus influence.
Russ reports that Leachman is now roughly the third-largest seedstock provider in the United States, marketing about 1,750 bulls and 1,300 females in 2025, with both volume and average prices rising. He stresses that long-term industry sustainability depends on profitability and making more efficient, high-quality beef with fewer cows and less land. Genomic tools such as Inherit and Leachman’s across-breed dollar profit index help commercial producers identify and keep more profitable females while culling lower-merit cows.
The conversation also covers the importance of consumer education and producers telling their own story, often through social media, to highlight animal care and real ranch conditions. Russ describes major feedlot developments that aim to feature Leachman genetics, along with several spring sales and educational events centered at the new Wyoming “mothership” facility and regional locations, all designed to connect buyers with profitable, data-driven beef genetics.
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