After nearly two decades of farming experience, Jonathan Gillespie at Roselodge Farms made the decision to switch to Cogent in April 2024. Just over a year later, the results speak for themselves.
The Farm
Roselodge Farms operates a modern 250-cow robotic milking system in Northern Ireland. With almost 20 years of hands-on farming experience, the farm manager knows what works and what doesn't. The operation combines dairy production with an Angus beef scheme through Linden Foods, making every calf valuable to the business, regardless of sex.
"It doesn't really matter whether it's a male or female to me," Jonathan explains. "If it's a living calf, that's all that matters."
The Problem: More Than Just Numbers
Before joining Cogent, Roselodge Farms faced a frustrating situation with their previous genetics supplier. Poor account management and unreliable service were creating unnecessary headaches, but the real concern was fertility performance that simply wasn't meeting expectations.
Pregnancy rates sat stubbornly in the low-to-mid 20s, and the farm had been experiencing broader herd health challenges. A bout of E. coli in calves had impacted heifer development, meaning younger animals weren't reaching the production levels the farm needed. Milk yields had dropped, and the team was working hard to rebuild herd performance.
The Cogent Solution
The switch to Cogent brought immediate changes:
4M Ultraplus Sexed Semen Technology
Roselodge Farms adopted Cogent's 4M Ultraplus sexed semen for first and second lactation animals, with beef semen used on the remainder of the herd. The farm uses Triple Impact Angus to supply their Angus scheme commitments.
Activity Monitoring Integration
The farm implemented a phased approach: initially continuing with visual heat detection ("walk and chalk") during a three-month transition period to allow technicians to settle in. From July onwards, they fully integrated collar-based activity monitoring with their robotic system.
Reliable Technical Support
Working with Cogent technician Declan McConnell has proven valuable. "I have a good technician, to be fair," notes Jonathan. "He's fast, he's thorough with what he does."
The Results: A Dramatic Turnaround
The transformation in fertility performance has exceeded expectations:
- Pregnancy rate: jumped from 23-24% to 32%
- Conception rate: 52%
- Insemination rate: 64%
- First service conception: 55%
- Calving interval: 380 days
"This year in particular, I don't know what's happened, but... we're at 32% preg rate at the moment," he says, clearly pleased with the progress.
The herd has also recovered from earlier health setbacks, with production climbing back over 9,000 litres per cow.
What Made the Difference?
When asked about the change, the Jonathan is direct: "It's funny how they talk about the conception rates and all. You get higher fertility with the 4M. Well, we are getting more pregnancies this year and not very much else has changed."
Beyond the genetics, the relationship with Cogent has proven straightforward and reliable. "I can't complain. I've had no issues really to complain about. Fertility's going well and when I need semen, it’s there without fuss. It’s just good service, plain and simple."
Looking Ahead
With 80 pregnant heifers due to calve from August onwards, the herd will grow towards 300 cows. The farm plans to continue building on their improved fertility platform, maintaining their Angus beef strategy whilst focusing on genetics that deliver results.
The robotic milking system, whilst occasionally requiring attention, has solved another critical challenge: labour availability. "It's getting labour. That's the big thing," Jonathan explains. With limited family involvement in milking and seasonal staff holidays, the robots provide consistency the operation needs.
The Bottom Line
Roselodge Farms' experience demonstrates how the right genetics partner can transform farm performance. By combining proven 4M sexed semen technology with reliable service and skilled technical support, Cogent has helped this Northern Ireland farm achieve fertility rates that seemed out of reach just 15 months ago.
As the farmer puts it simply: "I can't complain – and that says a lot."
With Cogent's commitment to the growth of the Northern Ireland Dairy Industry, you can be sure we will have the service or product you need. The expertise of our technicians is supported by our industry-leading 4M Ultraplus Sexed Semen.
Get in touch with your local Genetics Consultant for all your genetics needs or call for free on 0800 783 7258.