Soaring demand for UK bovine semen, inspired by a growing interest in UK genetics, has contributed to international success for Cogent, the company behind the country's largest cattle breeding programme. It should also translate into improved results for UK producers.
The degree of success was evident at last week's Royal Show, when Cogent welcomed more than 100 visitors from at least 26 countries. Wes Bluhm, head of international business for Cogent, says it's a vindication of the approach taken by Cogent since the company's launch nine years ago.
"As a young company, one of our biggest advantages has been the complete absence of any organisational or institutional barriers," he says. "In going into new countries, we've been able to be as flexible as we need in our approach to markets.
"Then there's the simple fact that we have top-ranking bulls like Lucente and Courier, plus the sheer appeal of technological developments like sexed semen," Mr Bluhm explains.
"These factors have made Cogent a very exciting prospect overseas. Sexed semen, for example, is of great interest to countries with a small national dairy herd, as it
allows an accelerated expansion underpinned by top-class genetics.
"Cogent has always sought good type combined with good production for its breeding policy," Mr Bluhm says. "Other countries, especially within the EU, adopted a policy focused on production. Now they're looking to the UK, and Cogent's bulls in particular, to re-introduce an element of strong, functional type.
"The other significant aspect is that increased international sales benefit UK producers, because export sales allow greater cash investment in the domestic breeding programme," he adds.
Cogent's clear international lead will also see it representing the UK bovine genetics industry in a seminar being hosted on Monday July 5 by the International Agriculture and Technology Centre, entitled 'Aspects of Agro-Food Technology'.
