In case you missed it … new cow tech start-up event announced
Manure treatment start up gets help from Google
The biggest news of the week was the announcement that Aidan Connolly’s AgriTech Capital would host a new dairy technology forum. The Global Dairy Tech Start-up Spotlight will be a 90-minute virtual meeting held Oct. 1, 2020. It will feature 10 rapid-fire, 5-minute pitches from up-and-coming technology companies. The new event is pay-to-play. According to the event announcement, it is “funded by the start-ups themselves.”
Eight of the 10 spots are filled as of the announcement Sept. 3, with two more spots available. Here’s the list of those that are confirmed to be participating.
Advanced Animal Diagnostics (Q Scout Lab)
Cainthus (ALUS)
EIO Diagnostics (FirstLook Mastitis)
Livestock Water Recycling (PLANT)
milc group (one feed, train trac, milc pulse)
Pharm Robotics (Sureshot)
These are all good picks. Here’s two other start-up companies I think are worthy and that I would like to see fill the last available spots.
Connecterra (Ida)
In addition to pitches from the companies, a panel will discuss the dairy farm of the future. The trio of panelists is comprised of Marcia Endres, PhD, professor and director of graduate studies, animal science, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities; Joao H.C. Costa, PhD, professor, dairy science, University of Kentucky; and Jeffrey Bewley, PhD, analytics and innovation scientist at Holstein Association USA.
To get registered for the free event, go here.
A New Zealand start up is moving into limited release with its new wearable technology. Halter was released this last week to several dairies in the Waikato dairy region of New Zealand. Like other wearables, the new cow tech can detect heats, locate cows and aid in sorting. However, its additional unique features include virtual fencing and remote shifting of cows. No push up required to get cows to the parlor, they claim. The device uses sounds and vibrations to prompt a cow to move. It is also solar-powered.
Image source: halterhq.comThe company says its technology will be available to other New Zealand dairies next year.
“It has really changed the way things are done, and it’s going to change the way things are done.”
– Dairyman Luke O’Neil
Read more here.
Livestock Water Resources (LWR) is getting a boost from Google. The search engine giant and business innovator accepted the Canadian company into its “Google for Startups Accelerator for Women Founders” group from among 100s of technology startups. The invite gives the company access to mentorship, technical project support and product design workshops.
“We have accumulated and anonymized thousands of manure treatment data points from years of operation focussed on the optimization of manure. Through mentorship and technical project support, we will advance our machine learning platform and improve our overall product design.”
– LWR CEO and Co-Founder Karen Schuett
The company uses technology to analyze and digitize manure data to reduce emissions, increase production and maximize barn hygiene and sanitation.
Read more here.
Lastly …
If you haven’t seen this photo of 3D-printed meat, you need to take a look.
This is what cattle producers are up against. However, I wouldn’t be scared. In fact, cattle producers should feel like Lebron James starting against a rural high school basketball team, if compared to this!