news / 27th January 2011

Cogent Breeding Limited announces key acquisitions to create a major new force in UK AI

Cogent Breeding Limited, the UK market leader in sexed semen technology and supply, has announced a groundbreaking, long-term agreement with U.S. counterpart World Wide Sires (WWS), the leading genetics marketing business jointly owned by Select Sires & Accelerated Genetics, two of the US’s biggest cattle breeding companies.

In a move which creates a major new player in the UK AI sector, it will also acquire the business and marketing rights of World Wide Sires UK, the highly-regarded cattle-breeding business, and Dairy Daughters, the UK’s first direct supplier of Holstein semen. Both these businesses are currently exclusive suppliers of WWS US products in the UK.

Commenting on the news, Mark Evington, Managing Director of Cogent Breeding Limited, said: “Cogent has already established a market-leading reputation for its very successful UK breeding programme and this move strengthens its position within the rapidly growing AI industry. It will see the enlarged company promote Cogent’s own high-quality, all-British bulls, as well as acting as the sole UK distributor for WWS US.

“This is great news for UK farming,” he added, “It stands to benefit from a wider range of proven, market-leading bulls, financial strength, enhanced service, delivery and our respected R&D. This move increases Cogent’s strength in depth and enables us to drive forward towards our goal to be the number one choice for UK dairy and beef farmers.”

John Schouten, the CEO of WWS US said: “The pedigree, service excellence and reputation for innovation of Cogent in the UK gives WWS a stronger route to market. Both our organisations have world-class reputations and have built up excellent customer relationships in the UK, in our case through WWS UK and Dairy Daughters. We are 100 per cent behind the Cogent Family of businesses and look forward to giving the UK farmer the best genetics in the world today.”

For World Wide Sires UK and Dairy Daughters the move represents a consolidation of their businesses behind the financial, operational and service strength of Cogent. Marion Challenor, Managing Director of WWS UK, said, “This is a very exciting time for us and is very good news for our customers. From their perspective, they can expect business as usual with all UK breeding advisers and the WMS team of evaluators remaining in place. Their individual focus will remain on supplying the highest standards of quality and service which customers have come to know and expect.”

Evans Drayton, Managing Director of Dairy Daughters added: “Customers will still benefit from the value for money and personal service that they are used to and, as the companies become more integrated, they will benefit from the prospect of a wider of range of exclusive, high-quality products, with the addition of elite bloodlines within each of the three companies.”

The agreements were signed and the acquisitions made on 26th January 2011.