Four young cattle breeding enthusiasts from all over the UK have seen off the competition to become finalists in Cogent’s Futures Programme 2015.
The Futures Programme offers participants an insight into the life of a Sire Analyst. As part of the competition, finalists Tom Hull from Lancashire, Andrew Patterson from Northern Ireland, Carys Jones from Monmouthshire and Scott McLean from Northern Ireland will visit a range of dairy herds across the UK and match suitable sires to potential bull mothers.
Their suggested matings will be presented to Cogent’s Genetics Committee, with the highest scoring candidate receiving an elite embryo package and the chance for their resulting bull to enter the Cogent stud under their own prefix.
In addition, the overall winner and runner-up will be taken on an all-inclusive trip to Holland to attend the Tulip Sale and HHH show to gain an insight into the latest breeding strategies.
Cogent’s Catherine Jackson said: “We were exceptionally pleased with this year’s standard of entries, making the choice for the final four a very tough decision. I am delighted to welcome Tom, Andrew, Carys and Scott to Cogent Futures 2015 and look forward to working with them.”