Semen Cardona
Semen Cardona is a Spanish, family-owned B2B producer and distributor of high-performance porcine semen doses for artificial insemination, operating 18 AI centers across Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and the Philippines and exporting to 25 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersCardona, Spain
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Semen Cardona does
Semen Cardona, S.L. is a privately held, family-owned Spanish company headquartered in Cardona, Barcelona, founded in 1984 by Mª Àngels Rial and formally constituted in 1996. The company specializes in the production and distribution of high-performance porcine semen doses for artificial insemination, serving commercial swine producers across 25 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Its portfolio includes fresh semen doses in tube, blister, bag, and Gedis formats, the proprietary BactiBag antibacterial packaging, and 0.5ml frozen straws, with genetic material sourced from more than 20 international suppliers including Choice Genetics, Danish Genetics, AXIOM, DanBred, DNA Genetics, GeneSus, Hypor, Nucleus, PIC, Batallé, and Bavarian Pietrain.
The technical platform rests on 18 artificial insemination centers (CIAs) globally, with proprietary biosecurity protocols including PCR-based PRRS monitoring on every ejaculate, advanced air filtration, and ongoing development of antibiotic-free diluents using natural peptides in partnership with IMB. The company claims zero disease incidents throughout its history. Distribution is supported by an owned, GPS-equipped, temperature-controlled logistics fleet in Mexico and a proprietary customer ordering app (launched 2019 in Spain, 2021 in Mexico), complemented by international logistics partners and a network of authorized sales points. The company maintains ISO 9001 certification and engages in R&D with the University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, and University of Girona.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of semen doses to enterprise and mid-market pig farms, supplemented by genetic development consulting, strategic alliance services, and project development for third parties. The company has expanded internationally through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Mexico (2015), the Philippines (2018), and Colombia (2022), and most recently opened Ghana as a new export market in 2025. Leadership includes founder-president Mª Àngels Rial, CEO Jordi Coletas, and functional directors spanning technical production, finance, international development, HR, and IT/digitalization. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors or parent entity.
Semen Cardona firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Semen Cardona
- Legal name
- SEMEN CARDONA, S. L.
- Website
- https://semencardona.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Semen Cardona is a Spanish, family-owned B2B producer and distributor of high-performance porcine semen doses for artificial insemination, operating 18 AI centers across Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and the Philippines and exporting to 25 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Semen Cardona industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Swine Artificial Insemination
- akta.pro primary industry
- Artificial Insemination (AI) & Semen Collection/Distribution Services (AFAEAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Boar Studs & Semen Production (AFAEAEAF)
Keywords
Where Semen Cardona is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cardona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Semen Cardona business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Semen Dose Sales: Production and distribution of fresh and frozen porcine semen doses from world-leading genetics. Main revenue stream from selling doses to pig farms and producers across 25 countries. Product offered in various formats including tubes/blisters, bags, Gedis, and BactiBag antibacterial packaging, as well as 0.5ml frozen straws.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Semen Cardona product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Semen Cardona elaborates and distributes high-performance porcine semen doses for artificial insemination, sourced from world-leading genetics (Choice Genetics, Danish Genetics, AXIOM, DanBred, DNA Genetics, GeneSus, Hypor, Nucleus, PIC, Batallé, Bavarian Pietrain). Products are offered in fresh formats (tubes/blisters, bags, Gedis, BactiBag antibacterial packaging) and frozen 0.5ml straws, all PCR-verified PRRS-negative. The company also provides genetic development collaboration, strategic alliances, technical consulting, and project development services to swine producers worldwide.
Product overview
Semen Cardona is a B2B company specializing in the elaboration and distribution of high-performance swine semen doses for artificial insemination. The core product portfolio consists of fresh semen doses (in tube, blister, or bag formats including Gedis and BactiBag antibacterial variants) and frozen semen doses in 0.5ml straws. The company distributes genetic material from over 20 international genetic suppliers including Choice Genetics, Danish Genetics, AXIOM, DanBred, DNA Genetics, GeneSus, Hypor, Nucleus, PIC, Batallé, and Bavarian Pietrain. Genetic lines are organized into maternal lines (Large White and Landrace varieties for prolificacy and maternal traits) and terminal lines (Pietrain, Duroc, and crossbred finishers for meat quality). Additional services include genetic development collaboration, consulting, strategic alliances, and project development. The company also offers a customer ordering app and logistics services with 24-hour national and 2-3 day international delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fresh Semen Doses (Tube/Blister/Bag) Fresh porcine semen doses delivered in tube, blister, or bag formats for artificial insemination, with guaranteed quality, prolificacy, and biosecurity. Targeted at commercial pig farms and pork producers globally.
- Gedis Semen Doses Specialized fresh semen doses with Gedis packaging system for enhanced preservation and delivery, targeted at swine producers seeking extended shelf life.
- BactiBag Antibacterial Semen Doses Innovative antibiotic-free semen doses in BactiBag antibacterial packaging, designed to eliminate bacterial contamination while maintaining sperm quality. Targeted at producers seeking reduced antibiotic use in livestock.
- Frozen Semen Doses (0.5ml straws) Frozen swine semen doses in 0.5ml straws with high sperm concentration for long-term storage and international distribution. Targeted at export markets and long-term genetic program planning.
- Post-Cervical Semen Doses Post-cervical artificial insemination doses representing a major technical revolution in the sector, enabling improved conception rates and dose efficiency for swine producers.
- Genetic Development Service Collaborative genetic development services with European and American genetic partners to improve breeding programs for swine producers.
- Strategic Alliance Services Strategic alliance formation with customers and suppliers for joint competition and growth in the swine industry.
- Consulting Services Advisory services for customers wanting to improve meat quality or introduce new genetics, including personalized technical consulting and genetic advisory.
- Project Development Services Custom project development for third parties or collaboratively with clients, suppliers, and collaborators in the swine industry.
- Semen Cardona Customer App Mobile application for customers to place semen dose orders quickly and easily. Targeted at commercial swine producers in Spain and Mexico for streamlined recurring procurement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Farms can achieve 36+ piglets per sow per year, up from average of 20
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Semen Cardona
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Semen Cardona technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Semen Cardona partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- e-ZootechcoreContact in Ghana representing Axiom Genetics. Key partner enabling first export of fresh porcine semen to Ghana and formalization of sanitary treaty between Spain and Ghana.
- Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (MAPA)coreSpanish Ministry that supported formalization of sanitary treaty between Spain and Ghana, enabling new export market.
- Axiom GeneticscoreInternational genetics company whose products are distributed by Semen Cardona through e-Zootech in Ghana.
- Asociación Nacional de Porcicultura Científica (ANPS)coreKey collaborator in Ghana shipment with Dori Llorente's involvement. Also organized biosecurity technical sessions that Semen Cardona participates in.
- University of Barcelona (UB)coreCollaborated on SafeSemen 2000 EU Eureka research project for developing isolated boar modules with optimized environmental conditions.
- Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) - Department of ReproductioncoreResearch partner collaborating on R&D+I projects from macro to micro scale for genetic improvement and reproduction technologies.
- University of Girona (UDG) - Swine Reproduction Biotechnology GroupcoreResearch partner in R&D+I projects for biotechnology of swine reproduction, contributing to genetic improvement initiatives.
- IMBstrategicDevelopment partner for antibiotic-free semen dose container system expected to launch within two years.
- IRTA (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries)coreOrganizes Porc d'Or awards with BDporc database. Semen Cardona is Premium sponsor. IRTA provides epidemiological research on PRRS virus.
- Choice GeneticscoreProvides Large White M3 and Landrace M6 maternal lines, plus Pietrain P81 and Finalizador Maximus terminal lines.
- Danish GeneticscoreProvides Danish Landrace, Danish Yorkshire, and Danish Duroc genetic lines for distribution.
- German PietraincoreGerman Pietrain genetics provider for terminal line semen doses.
- PICcoreProvides PIC 410 terminal line genetics known for excellent balance in growth and weight gain with high conformation.
- AXIOMcoreProvides Large White Axiom and Landrace Axiom maternal genetics selected for prolificacy and production criteria.
- DanBredcoreProvides DanBred Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc genetics recognized for high fertility and meat quality.
- DNA GeneticsstrategicProvides DNA Genetics Line 200 Yorkshire and Line 400 Landrace maternal lines, plus Line 600 Duroc.
- GeneSusstrategicProvides Landrace and Large White genetics for maternal line production.
- HyporstrategicProvides Hypor Landrace and Large White lines focused on productivity, weaning capacity, and lean percentage.
- NucleusstrategicProvides Large White and Landrace genetics with emphasis on balance, resistance, and conformation.
- BatalléstrategicProvides Batallé Pietrain terminal genetics for maximum fattening efficiency and carcass quality.
- Bavarian PietrainstrategicTerminal genetics provider for lean meat production.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Semen Cardona competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PIC (Pig Improvement Company): PIC is the world's largest swine genetics company and a direct supplier to Semen Cardona. Both serve commercial pork producers with high-performance genetic lines; PIC operates its own global AI center network and nucleus herds, competing with Semen Cardona at the boar stud and dose distribution layer in markets like Mexico and Spain.
- Topigs Norsvin: Topigs Norsvin is one of the largest swine genetics companies globally, operating AI centers and distributing semen doses in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. It competes directly with Semen Cardona for both maternal and terminal line distribution in overlapping markets including Spain and Latin America.
- Hypor (Hendrix Genetics): Hypor is Hendrix Genetics' swine division, providing Landrace and Large White lines that Semen Cardona also distributes. Hypor operates a global network of AI centers and nucleus herds, competing with Semen Cardona across multiple geographies for premium pork producer accounts.
Direct peers
- Danbred: Danbred is a Danish swine genetics company providing Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc lines, also distributed by Semen Cardona. Danbred operates its own AI center network and competes with Semen Cardona for Iberian and Latin American pork producers seeking high-fertility Danish genetics.
- Choice Genetics (Groupe Grimaud): Choice Genetics is part of Groupe Grimaud and provides Large White, Landrace, Pietrain, and Duroc lines distributed by Semen Cardona. Choice operates its own global AI center network and nucleus farms, competing head-to-head with Semen Cardona in Spain, France, and Latin America.
- AXIOM (Groupe Grimaud): AXIOM is a Groupe Grimaud company providing Large White, Landrace, and Pietrain lines also distributed by Semen Cardona. AXIOM operates AI centers in France and competes with Semen Cardona for European and export accounts seeking high-prolificacy maternal genetics.
- DNA Genetics: DNA Genetics is a North American swine genetics company providing Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc lines that Semen Cardona distributes. DNA operates its own AI centers in the US and competes with Semen Cardona for North American and Latin American pork producers.
- Magapor: Magapor is a Spanish company specializing in swine reproduction technology, semen extenders, and AI dose production, with close geographic overlap to Semen Cardona in Spain and Portugal. Both participate in the ITM Magapor technical conference and serve similar Iberian pork producers.
- GeneSus: GeneSus is a Canadian swine genetics company providing Landrace and Large White maternal lines distributed by Semen Cardona. GeneSus operates nucleus farms and AI centers in North America and competes for global export accounts.
Others
- Minitüb: Minitüb is a German-based global supplier of animal reproduction technology, including semen processing equipment, extenders, and packaging used by AI centers like Semen Cardona. While not a direct dose competitor, Minitüb enables and supplies the operational backbone of the swine AI industry.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Semen Cardona social profiles
Digital presenceSemen Cardona compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Semen Cardona financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Semen Cardona leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Semen Cardona subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Semen Cardona funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Semen Cardona M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Semen Cardona
What does Semen Cardona do?
Semen Cardona elaborates and distributes high-performance porcine semen doses for artificial insemination, sourced from world-leading genetics (Choice Genetics, Danish Genetics, AXIOM, DanBred, DNA Genetics, GeneSus, Hypor, Nucleus, PIC, Batallé, Bavarian Pietrain). Products are offered in fresh formats (tubes/blisters, bags, Gedis, BactiBag antibacterial packaging) and frozen 0.5ml straws, all PCR-verified PRRS-negative. The company also provides genetic development collaboration, strategic alliances, technical consulting, and project development services to swine producers worldwide.
Is Semen Cardona a public or private company?
Semen Cardona is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Semen Cardona founded?
Semen Cardona was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Semen Cardona based?
Semen Cardona is headquartered in Cardona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Semen Cardona make money?
One revenue line is on record: semen Dose Sales.
Who are Semen Cardona's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PIC (Pig Improvement Company), Topigs Norsvin and Hypor (Hendrix Genetics). Direct peers are Danbred, Choice Genetics (Groupe Grimaud), AXIOM (Groupe Grimaud), DNA Genetics, Magapor and GeneSus. Minitüb is listed as an others.
Does Semen Cardona have an API?
No public API is recorded for Semen Cardona.
What industry is Semen Cardona in?
Semen Cardona's product category is Swine Artificial Insemination. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAJAA, Artificial Insemination (AI) & Semen Collection/Distribution Services, with a secondary code of AFAEAEAF, Boar Studs & Semen Production.