URUS Genetics, one of the world’s largest bovine genetics marketing companies, has taken a majority shareholding in Leachman Cattle of Colorado, one of the biggest seedstock producers in the United States.

The move aligns with a recent trend where genetics marketing providers have sought investments in large US beef seedstock producers.

Annually, Leachman markets more than 2000 bulls including Angus, Red Angus, Leachman Stabilizer Composites and Charolais. The company raises three lines of maternal cattle – Angus, Red Angus, and Stabilizer composites – and a Charolais terminal line.

“Leachman does not believe that one breed or one bull can provide all of the solutions,” the company’s website says.

“We know that many cows are getting too big and are eating too much. By moderating size and measuring feed intake, we can produce cows that eat less. Unfortunately, we also know that higher carcase weights lead to more feedlot profitability. This fundamental genetic antagonism between cow size and carcase weight led us to develop lines that are selected to specialise on either maternal traits or terminal traits.”

“Meanwhile, most seedstock producers are attempting to provide one bull that does it all. Their high growth, ‘super bulls’ produce daughters that are too big, eat too much, fail to breed back, and fall out of the herd too quickly,” the Leachman site says.

In response, Leachman calculates its $Ranch Index, which predicts maternal profitability and its $Profit idex, that predicts the profitability from birth to harvest.

“By using these indexes combined with disciplined selection and an industry-leading 1.2 million animal database – Leachman tries to thread the needle. Every bull that sells shows these two valuable indexes which allow customers to compare the maternal and overall strengths of every bull,” the company says.

Urus’s investment in Leachman became effective on 1 August.

A joint statement issued today said both organisations would bring together their extensive expertise, resources, and cutting-edge technologies to drive advancements in beef cattle genetics across the globe.

Leachman combines leading genetics and proprietary data with a unique business model that would elevate Urus in the North American and worldwide beef industries, the statement said.

Leachman genetics currently provided industry-leading value to expanding beef x dairy terminal cross programs and will benefit dairy producers, cattle feeders, consumers, and sustainability stakeholders.

Leachman has been developing its selection tools and genetic lines to improve cow efficiency, feeding performance, and supply chain value for the past 30 years.

With the largest private seedstock/commercial database in the US, the company provided the scale and ability to respond to performance and market signals with genetic improvement at an unprecedented scale and speed, the statement said.

Through its collaboration with Leachman, Urus would offer members and customers around the world an expanded and unmatched portfolio of genetic solutions.

Leachman would continue to offer semen, bulls, females, and data services to progressive beef operations in the US and internationally, the statement said.

“This acquisition will put Urus at the forefront of beef genetic solutions globally,” Urus chief executive Paul Hunt said.

“With Leachman as part of the family, Urus will empower additional sales strategies, expanded programs, and development of value chains for the beef and beef x dairy markets,” he said.

“The Leachman team shares our passion for genetic excellence, data-driven innovation and long-term partnerships, and the agreement will bring together our combined expertise and strengths in designing the future of profitable and sustainable beef production for our members and clients.”

Leachman Cattle chief executive Lee Leachman said the partnership would unlock significant opportunities, enabling the provision of cutting-edge genetics to a broader range of producers.

“We believe this collaboration will help accelerate genetic progress, produce the most sustainable beef possible and drive industry advancements,” he said.

About Urus

Urus was formed in 2018, merging a number of cooperatively and privately owned US and international AI and genetics companies working in both beef and dairy. It now operates in 17 countries, and claims to be the largest in the world in bovine AI sales and reproductive technology. The company last year had US$550 million in sales, with 30 million units of semen sold.

Some of the companies operating under the Urus banner have a presence in Australia. They include:

Peak, which produces the largest amount of cattle semen in the world, specialising in genetics, semen production, quality control, cattle management and research and development

Trans Ova Genetics provides reproductive technologies to breeders looking to advance and extend superior genetics, including embryo transfer, in vitro fertilisation, sexed semen, genetic preservation and cloning.

Alta Genetics’ provides genetic consulting, reproduction and herd management, to help customers achieve profitable success on their operations.

Genex is a global cooperative with 5500 members, marketing semen to 70 countries. The company provides innovative genetic and reproductive solutions to its progressive diary and beef members and customers.

AgSource provides laboratory analysis and innovative reporting solutions, with a laboratory network and field teams providing an expansive array of analyses and consulting services to help customers make data-driven management decisions.