Rinderunion Baden-wurttemberg E.v. (rbw)

What Rinderunion Baden-wurttemberg E.v. (rbw) does

Rinderunion Baden-Württemberg e.V. (RBW) is a non-profit, member-owned cattle breeding cooperative (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Herbertingen in the Baden-Württemberg district of Sigmaringen, Germany. Founded in 2000 through the consolidation of all cattle breeding and insemination organizations of the state, RBW serves approximately 8,000 member farms and offers an integrated set of services spanning dairy breeds (Fleckvieh, Holsteins, Brown Swiss), beef cattle, and heritage regional breeds (Vorderwälder, Hinterwälder, Limpurger, Original Braunvieh). Core offerings include herdbook registration, breeding value assessment, semen sales, genomic typing, artificial insemination and embryo transfer, livestock auctions, and farmer training.

The platform comprises a herdbook of approximately 203,942 pedigree cattle and genomic typing programs that monthly evaluate over 900 heifer calves across Holsteins, Fleckvieh, and Brown Swiss. Semen is produced at the Herbertingen headquarters and at subsidiary RBW Genetik GmbH in Bad Waldsee, which began manufacturing sexed semen in May 2020 and produced more than 300,000 sexed doses in 2025; total RBW semen output exceeds 1.1 million doses annually. A computer-aided mating program has matched 594,700 animals across more than 2,480 herds. Members access services through a free online portal, the RBW-Besamungs-App for insemination technicians, a network of field sales representatives, and four auction venues (Bad Waldsee, Ilshofen, Donaueschingen, Herrenberg). On July 1, 2026, RBW completed the migration of its herd book and member administration onto the VIT (Vereinigte Informationssysteme Tierhaltung) platform, modernizing its core data infrastructure.

The revenue model rests on five streams: semen and genetics sales (transaction fees on ~1.1M doses including ~300K sexed doses), auction commissions on ~30,904 animals marketed annually, subscription-based herd typing services (440 herds, 41,000+ cows), annual membership fees that include portal access, and one-time training course fees (€460 members, €590 non-members). Distribution runs through a regional field sales force, direct on-farm semen delivery, four auction locations, and online channels. RBW is led by Managing Directors Matthias Hensler and Dr. Alfred Weidele with a board chaired by Josef Volkwein; the organization has no external equity, parent company, or venture backing and operates as a member-governed cooperative.

Name

Rinderunion Baden-wurttemberg E.v. (rbw)

Legal name

Rinderunion Baden-Württemberg e.V.

Website

https://rind-bw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rinderunion Baden-Württemberg e.V. is a member-owned German cattle breeding cooperative serving roughly 8,000 farms across the state of Baden-Württemberg with integrated semen genetics, genomic herd typing, livestock auctions, and farmer training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Breeding Services

NAICS

Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120), Cattle Ranching and Farming (1121)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEACAD

Dairy Breeding & Genetics (AI, Embryo Transfer)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Dairy Cattle Farming

SECONDARYAFACAEAD

Breeding Program Design & Genetic Consulting (Mating Plans, EPD/Index Selection)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Livestock Services (Breeding, AI, Pregnancy Checking, Handling)

SECONDARYAFAEABAD

Seedstock/Purebred Beef Cattle Breeding

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Beef Cattle Ranching & Feedlots

SECONDARYAFAEAJAJ

Genetic Trait Selection (e.g., polled, disease resistance) Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Breeding & Genetics Services

Keywords

• Cattle breeding genetics
• Semen production sales
• Livestock auction services
• Genomic herd testing
• Herdbook administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Herbertingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 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. Semen and Genetics Sales: Sale of cattle semen doses, including conventional and sexed (gesextes) semen. RBW sold over 1.1 million doses in 2025, with over 300,000 being sexed semen produced at the Bad Waldsee facility
2. Auction Services: Marketing and auction services for breeding cattle, calves, and beef cattle. RBW markets approximately 30,904 animals annually through its auction system at four locations
3. Training Courses: Self-insemination courses (Eigenbestandsbesamung) and continuing education for farmers and veterinarians, with fees of €460 for members and €590 for non-members
4. Herd Typing Services: Genomic typing services for herd management, with over 440 herds and more than 41,000 herdbook cows participating in typing programs
5. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for farmers participating in RBW breeding programs and accessing the customer portal

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RBW is a comprehensive cattle breeding organization that sells bull semen (conventional and sexed) across multiple breeds (Fleckvieh, Holsteins, Brown Swiss, regional breeds), provides genomic herd typing and breeding value assessment, manages pedigree herdbook registration, and markets breeding and slaughter livestock through a network of four regional auction venues. Supporting services include computer-aided mating programs, AI training courses for self-inseminators, embryo marketing, and field-based breeding advisory across Baden-Württemberg.

Product overview

Rinderunion Baden-Württemberg e.V. (RBW) is a comprehensive cattle breeding and marketing organization offering an integrated platform of breeding services. The core offerings include breeding bull semen across multiple breeds (Fleckvieh, Holsteins, Brown Swiss, Wäldervieh), herd typification/genomic testing services, and livestock marketing through auctions and direct sales. Supporting modules include a customer portal for online ordering and communications, mobile applications for field use, youth education programs (Young Breeder Academy), AI training courses, and premium genetics auctions (Sale Night). The organization manages approximately 203,942 herdbook cattle and 1.1 million semen doses sold annually, making it one of Germany's largest cattle breeding companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RBW Genetik GmbH: A subsidiary producing sexed semen for dairy farms in Baden-Württemberg and international customers.

Products and services

• Bull Semen (Breeding Bulls / Bullen)
• Herd Typification (Herdentypisierung)
• Livestock Marketing & Auctions (Vermarktung)
• AI Training Courses (Besamungskurse / Eigenbestandsbesamung)
• RBW Sale Night (Elite Genetics Auction)
• Embryo Marketing (Embryonen)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.1 million semen doses sold annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VIT - Vereinigte Informationssysteme TierhaltungcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2026RBW is collaborating with VIT on a comprehensive herdbook and member administration migration project. As of July 1, 2026, the member administration has been successfully migrated to the new VIT structure, creating a modernized foundation for future data integration.
• EUROgenetikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUROgenetik is a partner organization in cattle genetics. RBW hosted the 2026 EUROgenetik Bull Mother Tour in Baden-Württemberg, showcasing elite breeding animals and genetics to approximately 40 experts from Austria and Germany.
• AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational agricultural exchange organization that facilitates visits from foreign agricultural delegations to RBW. Hosted groups from Kenya and Uzbekistan learning about German cattle breeding and semen production.
• Arena HohenlohecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent venue partnership for cattle auctions at the Ilshofen location. Arena Hohenlohe serves as the primary auction venue for the Hohenlohe region.
• Landwirtschaftsamt IlshofenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal agricultural authority (Landratsamt Schwäbisch Hall) that collaborates with RBW on cattle shows and exhibitions, including the successful Mannheimer Maimarkt 2026.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• ZuchtData EDV-Dienstleistungen GmbH: Austrian data services provider for cattle breeding organizations, similar to RBW's partnership with VIT. Provides herdbook and genetic evaluation software infrastructure that adjacent breeding associations rely on.

Regional players

• Rinderzuchtverband Sachsen-Anhalt eG: Regional German cattle breeding association operating in eastern Germany. Similar member-owned cooperative structure to RBW with herdbook, AI services, and auction offerings in its own territory.

Broad incumbents

• ABS Global (Genus plc): US-based global cattle AI and genetics company owned by Genus plc. Operates in Germany selling sexed and conventional semen plus genomic services, competing with RBW for premium dairy genetics customers.
• VikingGenetics: Scandinavian-Netherlands cooperative providing AI services, genomic testing, and breeding programs across Northern Europe. Competes with RBW for cross-border sale of dairy and beef genetics in the German market.
• Semex Alliance: Canadian-headquartered global genetics alliance distributing dairy and beef semen worldwide, including into Germany. Provides genomic sire evaluations that compete with RBW's regional breeding value assessments.
• CRV Holding B.V. Dutch-headquartered international cattle genetics cooperative with broad global footprint. Sells sexed semen, genomic evaluations, and breeding programs across Europe and beyond, including into southern Germany via partnerships.

Emerging players

• ST Genetics: US-based cattle genetics company that has rapidly expanded sexed semen (SexedULTRA) globally including Europe. Represents emerging competition to RBW Genetik's sexed semen production.

Direct peers

• RUW Rinder-Union West eG: Cooperative AI and breeding organization serving North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Offers comparable services to RBW (herdbook, semen, auctions, breeding consultation) for dairy farmers in western Germany.
• Masterrind GmbH: Germany's largest cattle AI and breeding organization, headquartered in Lower Saxony. Offers the same full-stack of herdbook management, semen production, genomic testing, and auction services as RBW, but at significantly larger scale across multiple German states.
• Bayern-Genetik GmbH: Bavaria's regional cattle AI and breeding organization, the most direct geographic neighbor of RBW. Provides semen production, herdbook services, and breeding advice for the Fleckvieh-dominant Bavarian dairy market, closely overlapping RBW's offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Rinderunion Baden-wurttemberg E.v. (rbw)