03/12/2026
You’ve probably heard the rule of thumb that says “A good bull is worth the value of five calves,” meaning a reasonable price to pay for a bull equates to the value of five calves.
And that’s still true, but there’s a little more to it than that.
In today’s market, that “five calves” figure pencils out to $12,000–$17,000, depending on when and how you market calves.
But: The longer you retain ownership, the more genetic value you capture.
That’s exactly why Leachman focuses on:
• Feed efficiency
• Fertility
• Marbling and yield
• Health traits like PAP
• Heterosis across the whole system
Indexes like $PROFIT® and $RANCH® exist for one reason:
to predict total economic return.
If a bull is influencing your operation for years, his value should be measured the same way.
