coba select sires

What coba select sires does

Select Sires Member Cooperative (SSMC), formed on October 1, 2023 through the merger of four predecessor cooperatives (All West/Select Sires, COBA/Select Sires, Select Sires MidAmerica, and Minnesota/Select Sires), is a farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with a joint operational headquarters in Logan, Utah. The cooperative serves over 5,200 dairy and beef member-owners across 27 U.S. states and Mexico, employing more than 300 people including field account managers, professional A.I. technicians, genetic and reproductive advisors, and CowManager specialists. SSMC operates two bull collection and storage facilities in Illinois (CSS-certified in Elgin and non-CSS in Hampshire) with a combined capacity of 100,000 units, and distributes products via direct field sales and on-farm service delivery.

The cooperative's core offerings center on elite dairy and beef cattle genetics, with related revenue streams from CowManager ear-tag herd monitoring subscriptions (a third-party technology resold under exclusive distribution covering fertility, health and nutrition modules), a broad animal health and nutritional product portfolio (BioCycle line with proprietary L-form bacteria, calcium supplements, calf care products, heat detection aids, udder care, and nitrogen tanks for semen storage), and professional services including ProTECH A.I. technician training and auditing, genomic testing, and sire services. CowManager technology underpins the cooperative's principal AI-enabled value proposition, providing real-time alerts on activity, rumination, eating time, and ear temperature, with documented enterprise outcomes including $32,000+ annual savings at Calori-D Dairy (1,300 cows) and approximately $225,000 at Dickman and Sons Dairy (3,200 Holsteins).

SSMC generates revenue through a hybrid model combining subscription-recurring streams (semen/genetics purchases, CowManager monitoring, semen storage at $0.15 per unit per quarter), transactional fees on animal health products, and professional services revenue from ProTECH and genetic/reproductive advising. Pricing includes volume-based sire services tiers (negotiable above 2,001 units), credit card convenience fees of 3% (with no fee on ACH), and patronage rebates returned to member-owners ($556,000 disbursed in 2024). Distribution is direct via territory-based account managers, with the cooperative serving as exclusive CowManager distributor, an STgenetics partner for sexed semen sorting, and a Calf-Tel reseller for calf housing equipment. SSMC doubled its income from operations in its first full post-merger year (2024), with the first CEO Chris Sigurdson leading business model enhancement and member-owner alignment initiatives.

Name

coba select sires

Legal name

Select Sires Member Cooperative

Website

https://cobaselect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Select Sires Member Cooperative (SSMC) is a farmer-owned cooperative providing elite dairy and beef cattle genetics, artificial insemination services, CowManager herd monitoring subscriptions, and animal health products to over 5,200 member-owners across 27 U.S. states and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cattle Genetics and Reproductive Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (1152), Cattle Ranching and Farming (1121)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Stud Services & Managed Mating Programs (AFAEAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial Beef Cattle Breeding (Crossbred) (AFAEABAE)

Keywords

• Cattle genetics breeding
• Artificial insemination services
• Herd monitoring technology
• Animal health products
• Dairy and beef genetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Semen and Genetics Sales: Primary revenue from sales of dairy and beef bull semen, including elite young sires and daughter-proven sires, to member-owners and commercial producers.
2. Animal Health Products: Comprehensive portfolio of herd management solutions including calf care products, cow care supplements, feed additives, breeding supplies, heat detection aids, udder care, and nitrogen tanks for semen storage.
3. Professional Services: Revenue from ProTECH training programs, professional A.I. technician services, genetic and reproductive advising, and sire services including custom collection and storage.
4. CowManager Monitoring Subscriptions: Subscription-based monitoring system with fertility, health, and nutrition modules providing real-time alerts and data for herd management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Select Sires Member Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative that supplies dairy and beef producers with elite bull semen (sire genetics), professional artificial insemination services, the CowManager real-time herd monitoring system, and a broad portfolio of animal health and nutrition products. The offering is delivered via direct field sales, ProTECH-trained A.I. technicians, and custom sire collection/storage facilities serving over 5,200 member-owners across 27 U.S. states and Mexico.

Product overview

Select Sires Member Cooperative (SSMC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of cattle genetics and herd management solutions organized into distinct product categories. The core offering centers on elite dairy and beef cattle genetics through Sire Services and artificial insemination programs. The flagship technology product is CowManager®, an ear tag monitoring system with three modules (fertility, health, and nutrition) providing real-time alerts for activity, rumination, eating time and temperature. Supporting products include Calf Care solutions (acceleration products, colostrum replacers, microbial supplements, calf housing, jackets), Cow Care/Feed Additives (BioCycle line with proprietary L-form bacteria, DTX products for mold challenges, calcium supplements, hydration products), Heat Detection tools (tail paints, breeding indicators, CIDR inserts, heatmount detectors), Udder Care products (teat dips, liniments), and Equipment (nitrogen tanks for semen storage). Services include ProTECH professional A.I. technician training and auditing, A.I. training courses for producers, genomic testing, and genetic/reproductive advising. The portfolio serves dairy and beef producers across 27 U.S. states and Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ProTECH: Professional AI Technician Training and Auditing Program - an innovative training program designed to enhance the skill of employed technicians and offer on-farm auditing programs for dairy and beef operations.
• CowManager

Products and services

• ProTECH Professional A.I. Technician Training and Auditing Program Professional A.I. technician training and on-farm auditing program designed to enhance the proficiency and consistent success rates of artificial insemination technicians, supporting dairy and beef operations.
• CowManager Herd Monitoring System Revolutionary ear tag system with computer microchip providing real-time monitoring of fertility, health, nutrition and location; measures activity, rumination, time spent eating and temperature through three plug-and-play modules (health, fertility, nutrition) for dairy and beef producers.
• Sire Services (Custom Semen Collection and Storage) Custom semen collection, sexed semen sorting (via STgenetics), and storage services for both CSS and non-CSS certified semen at Illinois facilities, with capacity to store 100,000 units.
• A.I. Training Courses Hands-on artificial insemination training courses covering A.I. technique, heat detection, synchronization, semen handling and herd management, delivered to dairy and beef producers.
• Genomic Testing Service Genomic testing service to accelerate breeding outcomes as part of strategic genetic planning for dairy and beef herds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% reduction in mastitis cases, 15% reduction in lameness, 30% reduction in postpartum diseases, 20% lower mortality rate in heifers
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• STgeneticscoreTechnology or IntegrationSSMC partners with STgenetics for semen sorting services. CSS collection samples are transported to an STgenetics laboratory for sexed semen sorting, then returned to the Illinois facility for storage or shipment. This partnership enables producers to access sexed semen products through SSMC's sire services.
• CowManagercoreTechnology or IntegrationSSMC serves as a distributor and service provider for CowManager ear tag monitoring systems, offering the fertility, health, and nutrition modules to member-owners. This exclusive partnership provides real-time herd monitoring technology integrated with SSMC's genetic and reproductive services.
• Calf-TelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSMC offers the complete line of Calf-Tel calf-housing products, including hutches, pens, group housing, and accessories. Products use thermoforming technology for durable, UV-resilient, well-ventilated calf housing.
• Build A Better CalfminorOthersProduct tag/brand category for calf nutrition and care products including Accel RS, AccelAIRate, Milk Replacer, First Day Formula products, Tri-Start Jr., and related calf management solutions.
• Maximize Cow PerformanceminorOthersProduct tag/brand category for cow performance solutions including Accel Ensile+, Accel Fortifier, Accel MXL-600, Bovine Accellyte II, Freshen Up, Tri-Mic, and Tri-Start products.
• Zions Bank / CardXminorOthersPayment processing partners contracted to process ACH or electronic payment transactions. Zions Bank handles checking/savings account payments; CardX processes credit and debit card payments with a 3% convenience fee for credit cards.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ABS Global: ABS Global is one of the world's largest cattle genetics and artificial insemination businesses, offering dairy and beef semen, reproductive services, and technician programs — directly comparable to SSMC's core offering. It is owned by Genus PLC, providing it with corporate capital and global scale that SSMC's cooperative structure does not have.
• Genex (Cooperative Resources International): Genex is a U.S. member-owned cooperative offering dairy and beef A.I. services, genetics, and herd management products, directly mirroring SSMC's structure and product set. It serves as the most structurally analogous peer, competing for the same producer customers across overlapping U.S. geographies.
• Alta Genetics (URUS Group): Alta Genetics provides dairy and beef genetics, A.I. services, and reproductive consulting globally as part of the URUS Group. It competes head-to-head with SSMC in semen sales, progeny testing programs, and technician-driven reproductive services for commercial producers.
• CRV: CRV is a farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in the Netherlands offering dairy and beef genetics, A.I. services, and herd management data tools across global markets. Comparable to SSMC in cooperative structure, genetics offering, and the integration of digital herd monitoring with reproduction services.
• Semex: Semex is a Canadian farmer-owned genetics cooperative selling dairy and beef semen, reproductive solutions, and herd management technology internationally. It is a directly comparable peer in cooperative model, genetics portfolio, and the bundling of reproductive services with digital monitoring.
• Cogent Breeding: Cogent Breeding provides dairy and beef genetics, A.I. services, and sexed semen products primarily in the UK and international markets. Comparable to SSMC in genetics and reproductive service offerings, though its primary market is outside SSMC's U.S./Mexico territory.
• STgenetics: STgenetics is a major sexed semen and cattle genetics company that partners with SSMC for sorting services but also competes directly in elite dairy and beef genetics. The dual partner/competitor relationship and overlap in sexed semen and reproductive services makes it a closely comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Zoetis is the largest global animal health company offering pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics, and genetic testing across livestock species. Its broad portfolio overlaps with SSMC's animal health products, but Zoetis is not focused on the cooperative genetics-and-service model.
• Elanco Animal Health: Elanco is a major global animal health company offering cattle pharmaceuticals, parasiticides, and nutritional health products. It competes with SSMC's BioCycle, cow care, and calf care product lines as a broad incumbent with significantly larger R&D and marketing scale.

Others

• CowManager: CowManager is the technology company that develops the ear tag herd-monitoring system that SSMC distributes and services under an exclusive partnership. As the source of SSMC's flagship digital product and a company with its own direct distribution ambitions, it is the most adjacent ecosystem participant and a potential disruptor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 →

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