Montbéliarde Association

What Montbéliarde Association does

Montbéliarde Association is the official French breed selection organism (Organisme de Sélection) for the Montbéliarde dairy cattle breed, headquartered in Roulans, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Founded in 1889 upon the breed's official recognition at the Universal Exposition in Paris, the association operates as a loi 1901 breeders' association and manages the official herd book (livre généalogique), the racial database (fichier racial), and genetic index services that underpin pedigree tracking, breed certification, and selection guidance for member dairy farmers across France. It is also the parliamentary body for breeders, organizing national and regional competitions (SPACE, Sommet de l'Élevage, Salon International de l'Agriculture), training judges and accredited technicians, and maintaining a reference farm network of 15 farms segmented across bio, intermediate, and intensive production systems. The association publishes Planet' Montbéliarde magazine, Filière Montbéliarde, Montbéliarde Online, and technical data sheets, and supports international export activities through sister breed associations in 14+ countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.

The underlying technology is domain-specialized rather than software-defined: statistical genetic evaluation and indexation, animal pointage (conformation scoring) workflows, herd book registry management, and a comprehensive phenotypic and genealogical database built up over more than a century. Partnerships with Institut de l'élevage (Idele), INRA, France Génétique Élevage, Races de France, and Umotest-Coopex provide the scientific and bull-evaluation infrastructure underpinning the selection program, while OKTEO supplies software/IT support for data systems.

Commercially, the association operates a hybrid non-profit model. It collects recurring membership fees from member breeders (Éleveurs Adhérents), generates one-time revenue from publication sales and technical documentation, and runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce boutique (boutique.montbeliarde.org) selling branded merchandise at unit prices ranging from €10.83 (bonnet) to €59 (combinaison). Customer segments span member breeders (primary), international exporters, agricultural technicians, and association administrators. With only 9 employees and no disclosed financials or external funding, the association is a small, member-governed body whose revenue base is structurally diversified across thousands of individual dairy farmer members.

Name

Montbéliarde Association

Legal name

Montbéliarde Association

Website

https://montbeliarde.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Montbéliarde Association is the official French breed selection organism for the Montbéliarde dairy cattle breed, managing the herd book, genetic indexes, publications, competitions, and a reference farm network for member breeders across France and 14+ international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Breed Association Services

NAICS

Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Selective Breeding Program Design & Consulting (AFAEAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genomic Testing & Genetic Evaluation Services (AFAEAJAC), Nucleus Herd/Flock Breeding & Multiplier Stock Supply (AFAEAJAF), Dairy Breeding & Genetics (AI, Embryo Transfer) (AFAEACAD)

Keywords

• Cattle breed selection
• Dairy cattle genetics
• Herd book management
• Breed association services
• Livestock genetic improvement

Headquarters

HQ city

Roulans

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from member breeders who participate in breed improvement programs.
2. Publication Sales: Sale of publications including Planet' Montbéliarde magazine, Filière Montbéliarde, Montbéliarde Online, and technical documentation.
3. Merchandise E-commerce: Online boutique selling branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, and farming equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montbéliarde Association serves as the official French breed selection organism (Organisme de Sélection) for the Montbéliarde dairy cattle breed, managing the official herd book (livre généalogique) and providing genetic indexation services to member breeders since 1889. The organization offers genetic evaluation services, breed registry management, technical publications, training for judges and technicians, and operates a reference farm network, while also running an online boutique for branded merchandise.

Product overview

Montbéliarde Association is a breed association (Organisme de Sélection) representing the Montbéliarde cattle breed. The organization offers a portfolio of publications including Planet' Montbéliarde magazine, Filière Montbéliarde industry publications, and Montbéliarde Online digital content, along with technical data sheets. Core services include genetic index services for breed improvement, herd book and registry management, and a reference farm network (Réseau de Fermes Références) with 15 farms across farming system categories. The association also operates an e-commerce boutique selling branded merchandise. The organization focuses on selection, promotion, and development of the Montbéliarde breed across France and internationally through breeder networks and competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planet' Montbéliarde Magazine Official magazine publication providing news, technical information, and updates about the Montbéliarde breed and the association's activities for breeders and supporters.
• Filière Montbéliarde
• Montbéliarde Online
• Technical Data Sheets
• Genetic Index Services
• Réseau de Fermes Références
• Montbéliarde Association Online Boutique
• Bull Identification Services (Fiches Taureaux)
• Herd Book and Registry Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 2nd largest dairy breed in France with strong presence in AOP cheese production
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Institut de l'élevage (Idele)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch and development institute providing technical support and scientific expertise for livestock breeding programs.
• INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agricultural research institute contributing to genetic research and breed improvement science.
• France Génétique ÉlevagecoreTechnology or IntegrationNational organization coordinating genetic evaluation and breeding programs for French livestock breeds.
• France Conseil ElevagecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnical support and consulting services for dairy farm management and herd improvement.
• Races de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation representing French cattle breeds and coordinating breed promotion.
• Umotest-CoopexmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBull breeding and semen production cooperative, key partner in genetic improvement and bull testing.
• Jura BétailminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional livestock cooperative involved in cattle breeding and trade in the Jura region.
• CoopexmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative involved in genetic improvement and bull selection programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• European Association for Animal Production (EAAP): European federation of animal-science organizations and breed associations. Comparable as the broader umbrella body in which the Montbéliarde Association participates for international scientific coordination.
• Institut de l'Élevage (Idele): French livestock R&D and technical institute that provides scientific and technical support to breed associations including Montbéliarde. Comparable as a peer ecosystem player providing the underlying genetic-research capability.

Direct peers

• Umotest-Coopex: Semen and bull-breeding cooperative that is a major partner for AI in Montbéliarde genetics. Closely comparable as a Montbéliarde value-chain participant running bull testing, semen production, and AI services.
• Jersey France: French association representing the Jersey dairy breed. Comparable as a French dairy breed association running selection, herd-book, and promotion activities for a niche dairy breed competing with Montbéliarde.
• Brune Génétique Services: French breed association and AI cooperative for the Brown Swiss (Brune) dairy breed. Directly comparable as a smaller French dairy breed association providing similar selection, herd-book, and AI services.
• Normande Cattle Association (OS Normande): French breed selection organism for the Normande dairy breed, also based on the same national genetic-evaluation infrastructure. Same organizational structure, same member-driven governance model, and same core services (herd book, indexation, competitions, publications).
• Prim'Holstein Association: The official French breed association for Holstein cattle — the #1 dairy breed in France and Montbéliarde's primary competitor. Directly comparable as a French Organisme de Sélection running genetic evaluation, herd book management, publications, and breeder services for a dairy breed.

Broad incumbents

• Charolais France: Official French breed association for Charolais cattle (beef). Comparable as another major French OS running herd book management, genetic selection, competitions, and breeder network services — but for the beef segment.
• France Génétique Élevage: National coordinating body for genetic evaluation of French livestock breeds, of which Montbéliarde Association is a member. Comparable as the umbrella organization that defines the genetic-evaluation framework the association operates within.

Regional players

• Walloon Breeders' Association (Elevéo / Awé): Belgian (Walloon) livestock breeders' association running herd-book and genetic services, including for the Montbéliarde breed's Belgian herd. Comparable as a regional peer managing Montbéliarde genetics in Belgium under the French OS umbrella.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/montbeliarde
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montbeliarde-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Montbéliarde Association