What CentralStar Cooperative does

CentralStar Cooperative, Inc. is a privately held agricultural cooperative, headquartered at 4200 Forest Rd. Bldg A, Lansing, Michigan, that delivers integrated herd management services to commercial dairy and beef producers across Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, with DHI territory extending into surrounding states. Founded in 2019 through the merger of predecessor cooperatives and now employing 251–500 people, CentralStar is owned by member-stockowners and governed by a board elected from those members.

The company's core offering bundles five interlocking service lines. Genetics and reproduction centers on Select Sires dairy, beef, and crossbred semen — including NxGEN, ProfitSOURCE, and HerdFlex embryos — sold directly within Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana and routed elsewhere via the Select Sires federation. DHI testing for cows and goats provides recurring milk production, component, and somatic cell data through laboratories in Grand Ledge, Michigan and Kauukauna, Wisconsin. Diagnostic laboratory services run usage-based testing for A1/A2, BLV, BVD, Johne's, Neospora, pregnancy, and mastitis PCR (the latter delivering results in two business days across 16 pathogens). CowManager smart-cow monitoring delivers real-time ear-temperature, activity, rumination, and fertility tracking, with a Milk Sensor product in development for 2026–2027 parlor-level mastitis detection. Herd health and A.I. training round out the catalog.

CentralStar monetizes through one-time product sales (semen, animal health products, calf care, teat dips priced from roughly $4.60 to $2,531.28 per unit), recurring DHI subscriptions, usage-based diagnostic fees, and professional A.I. training and technician services. Distribution combines a domestic field-representative motion with an e-commerce storefront, an in-house 800-number customer care line, on-site pickup at Lansing and Waupun, and partnerships with Select Sires, Zoetis (CLARIFIDE/CLARIFIDE Plus/Herdity), CowManager/Agis, Agrarian Solutions (BIOFRESH), and J.R. Simplot (SimVitro HerdFlex). Growth is being driven through a repeated merger cadence, most recently the February 2025 Heart of America DHIA combination, alongside the upcoming CowManager Milk Sensor launch and ongoing investment in internship and scholarship programs.

Name

CentralStar Cooperative

Legal name

CentralStar Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://mycentralstar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CentralStar Cooperative is a member-owned agricultural cooperative that provides dairy and beef producers in the upper Midwest with integrated herd management services spanning Select Sires genetics, CowManager monitoring, DHI milk testing, diagnostic laboratory testing, and animal health products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Herd Management Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Veterinary Services (54194), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dairy Herd Health & Reproduction Services (non-veterinary) (AFAEACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dairy Breeding & Genetics (AI, Embryo Transfer) (AFAEACAD), Cattle Health & Processing Services (Branding, Vaccination, Pregnancy Checking) (AFAEABAL), Food Animal & Herd Health Diagnostics (Surveillance, Production Medicine Lab Testing) (HLAMADAL), Vaccination, Parasite Control & Immunization Programs (AFACADAG), Commercial Beef Cattle Breeding (Crossbred) (AFAEABAE)

Keywords

• Dairy herd management
• Cattle genetics services
• Bovine diagnostic testing
• Dairy reproduction programs
• Animal health products

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Genetics and Semen Sales: Sale of bovine semen from dairy and beef sires through Select Sires cooperative network. Includes dairy sires, beef sires, crossbred sires, and specialized programs like NxGEN and ProfitSOURCE. Sales limited to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana for direct sales.
2. DHI Testing Services: Dairy Herd Improvement testing services for milk production monitoring, component analysis, and somatic cell count tracking. Includes testing for both cows and goats.
3. Diagnostic Laboratory Services: Comprehensive diagnostic testing including A1/A2, BLV, BVD, Johne's, mastitis PCR, Neospora, and pregnancy testing. Results delivered via web portal with guaranteed turnaround times.
4. Herd Management Products: Sale of animal health products including calf care, udder health, fly control, reproduction aids, and herd health solutions through e-commerce and representatives.
5. A.I. Training and Services: Artificial insemination training courses offered throughout the year and on-farm technician services for insemination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CentralStar Cooperative provides integrated herd management services and products for dairy and beef producers, combining cattle genetics and reproduction programs (Select Sires semen), DHI milk testing, laboratory diagnostic testing (A1/A2, BLV, BVD, Johne's, Mastitis PCR, Neospora, pregnancy), CowManager smart cow monitoring technology, and a catalog of animal health, calf care, and udder health products sold to commercial farms primarily in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.

Product overview

CentralStar Cooperative offers an integrated herd management portfolio combining genetics, reproduction services, DHI testing, diagnostic laboratory services, and health products for dairy and beef cattle producers. The core offering centers on Select Sires genetics (Beef Sires, Dairy Sires, Crossbred Sires, NxGEN, ProfitSOURCE, HerdFlex embryos) and CowManager smart cow monitoring technology for real-time health, fertility, and nutrition tracking. Supporting services include A1/A2, BLV, BVD, Johne's, Mastitis PCR, Neospora, and Pregnancy diagnostic testing; DHI testing for cows and goats; A.I. Training; and Genomic Testing Consulting. The product catalog includes animal health supplies (BIOFRESH Microbial Bolus, Prozap Insectrin), calf care products (Woolover Calf Coat, Accel RS, CONVERT Calving Season Bolus), udder health products (teat dips, sealants, BOVIKALC), and cattle stress management (FerAppease). The company also provides educational resources through newsletters (The POINT, Beef Tips), the Big Book annual publication, ReproStar Awards program, and internship/scholarship programs. Laboratories are located in Grand Ledge, Michigan and Kaukauna, Wisconsin, serving producers in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and surrounding states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Select Sires Genetics (Beef, Dairy, Crossbred Sires, NxGEN, ProfitSOURCE, HerdFlex) Full range of cattle genetics including Beef Sires, Dairy Sires, Crossbred Sires, NxGEN genomic testing program, ProfitSOURCE beef-on-dairy sires, and HerdFlex beef embryos from SimVitro for dairy and beef producers.
• DHI Testing Services Dairy Herd Improvement testing providing milk production data, component analysis (butterfat, protein), somatic cell count (SCC) monitoring, and herd performance reports for dairy and goat herds.
• Diagnostic Laboratory Testing Laboratory diagnostic testing services including A1/A2, BLV (Bovine Leukosis), BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea), Johne's Disease, Mastitis PCR, Neospora, and Pregnancy testing for dairy and beef cattle, with results delivered via web portal.
• CowManager Smart Cow Monitoring Smart cow monitoring platform providing real-time tracking of health, fertility, nutrition, transition, and youngstock using ear temperature monitoring, activity tracking, rumination patterns, and behavior monitoring for early health issue detection.
• A.I. Training Courses Artificial Insemination training courses offered multiple times throughout the year, providing certification for cattle breeding techniques and procedures.
• Genomic Testing Consulting Expert consultation services for genomic testing interpretation and integration of results into herd breeding programs, including CLARIFIDE and CLARIFIDE Plus from Zoetis.
• ProfitMAX Reproductive Program Reproductive and genetic optimization program from Select Sires designed to maximize herd profitability through strategic breeding decisions and genetic advancement.
• Select Mating Services Professional genetic consulting service that matches individual cows with optimal sires based on herd goals, genetic merit, and reproductive strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Herds with 12-month pregnancy rates of 36%+ achieve ReproStar Award recognition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Dairy Lab ServicesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2022Dairy Lab Services merged with CentralStar Cooperative in January 2022, expanding DHI and milk-analysis services as part of CentralStar's growth strategy.
• J.R. Simplot Company (SimVitro)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2020Select Sires and J.R. Simplot Company's Animal Sciences division partnered to bring SimVitro HerdFlex beef embryos to commercial dairy farms. CentralStar distributes these grade 1 high-quality beef embryos for beef-on-dairy programs, backed by Simplot's decades of research and integrated beef operations.
• Select Sires Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelect Sires is the primary genetic partner providing dairy and beef sire semen through CentralStar. CentralStar is part of the Select Sires cooperative federation, offering NxGEN, ProfitSOURCE, and other Select Sires genetic programs. Collaboration extends to CowManager monitoring, Zoetis genomic testing integration, and combined herd management solutions.
• ZoetiscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to provide genomic testing services including CLARIFIDE, CLARIFIDE Plus, and Herdity through CentralStar's cooperative network, bringing dairy producers more convenient access to genomic evaluation tools.
• CowManager (Agis Automatisering)coreTechnology or IntegrationCowManager is a technology leader in smart cow monitoring solutions. CentralStar provides CowManager ear temperature monitoring, activity tracking, and fertility monitoring services. The Milk Sensor innovation is being developed to strengthen the herd management platform with real-time mastitis detection.
• Iowa State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer-reviewed research conducted by Iowa State University validated CowManager ear temperature monitoring as an effective diagnostic tool for significant health events, providing scientific backing for the technology's efficacy.
• Heart of America DHIAstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart of America DHIA members approved a merger with CentralStar in February 2025, expanding CentralStar's DHI and milk-analysis services following a unanimous vote.
• Gallenberger Dairy Records (GDR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentralStar Cooperative and Gallenberger Dairy Records, an independent certified milk-testing association and lab in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, partnered to expand DHI and milk-analysis services.
• Agrarian SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgrarian Solutions manufactures BIOFRESH microbial bolus products distributed by CentralStar. BIOFRESH contains 9 billion CFU of beneficial bacteria and yeast per bolus for digestive and immune support in dairy cattle.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Select Sires Inc. Federation-level genetics cooperative that supplies CentralStar's dairy and beef sire lineup. Direct peer in AI genetics, reproductive services, and the cooperative distribution model, but operates at a national federation scale rather than a regional member cooperative.
• URUS Group / Genex Cooperative: Cooperative-affiliated AI and dairy genetics provider within the URUS Group alongside Alta Genetics and Jetstream Genetics. Direct peer offering competing dairy and beef genetics, reproductive services, and DHI-adjacent offerings to U.S. producers.
• ABS Global (Genus plc): Major global bovine genetics and AI services company, part of Genus plc. Direct peer in dairy/beef sire genetics, reproductive programs, and increasingly in sexed semen and genomic services that compete head-to-head with CentralStar's Select Sires-backed offering.
• Alta Genetics (URUS): Global dairy genetics provider under URUS, offering AI services, reproductive programs, and cow monitoring. Comparable to CentralStar on the genetics and reproductive-services side, with broader international reach.
• AgSource Cooperative Services: Cooperative providing DHI milk testing, diagnostics, and forage/lab analysis to Upper Midwest dairy producers. Closest direct peer to CentralStar's DHI and laboratory-services business lines, also structured as a farmer-owned cooperative.

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Largest global animal health company and CentralStar's partner for CLARIFIDE genomic testing. Overlaps in diagnostics, reproductive pharmaceuticals (e.g., CIDR), and genomic services, but at a much larger, diversified portfolio scale.
• IDEXX Laboratories: Global leader in veterinary diagnostics, including livestock and production-animal testing. Comparable in the lab diagnostic portion of CentralStar's business (BVD, BLV, Johne's, pregnancy), but operates at much greater scale across companion and production animals.
• Land O'Lakes, Inc. (Dairy / WinField): Large U.S. farmer-owned cooperative with a dairy foods business and an extensive animal nutrition / agronomy platform (WinField United). Comparable in cooperative structure, scale, and member-owned service orientation, though broader in scope.

Emerging players

• CowManager / Agis Automatisering: Smart cow monitoring technology provider whose ear sensor, fertility, and now Milk Sensor platforms are distributed and serviced by CentralStar. A peer/partner with overlapping technology capability and a direct commercial relationship.

Regional players

• Dairy Farmers of America (DFA): Largest U.S. dairy farmer-owned cooperative, focused on milk marketing and processing rather than herd services. Comparable in member-owned cooperative structure and U.S. dairy producer focus, but addresses an adjacent part of the value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC31KF0tKqLdD6rK8riB814Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralStarCooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centralstar-cooperative-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/centralstarcooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CentralStar Cooperative