June 10, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Nebraska-based agtech startup HerdDogg has officially closed on its $6 million Series A4 fundraising round led by Serra Ventures and Wonder Fund North Dakota. Lever VC Fund II and other unspecified investors also contributed to the round. 

HerdDogg explained that intensive cattle systems are efficient at producing high volumes of meat, but they carry high risks for illness and mortality for the cattle. However, transitioning to a high-welfare, low-antibiotic model calls for an entirely new approach. 

Wearable livestock technology is revolutionizing the livestock industry by offering innovative solutions that enhance productivity, improve animal health, and streamline farm management. 

Wearable devices, such as collars, ear tags, and leg bands equipped with sensors, continuously monitor the vital signs of livestock, including heart rate, temperature, and activity levels. This real-time data allows farmers to detect early signs of illness or stress, enabling timely intervention.

HerdDogg is the name behind smart ear tags that have the ability to monitor the internal body temperature, movements, and acceleration of cattle in three directions, essentially acting like a Fitbit for cows. 

“Our team strives to improve the lives of cattlemen and their animals through consistent monitoring and early disease detection. This allows producers to make better decisions and be efficient with their time and resources, thus improving returns and lowering their environmental impact,” said Andrew Uden, CEO of HerdDogg, and a sixth generation cattle industry veteran.

Managers utilizing HerdDogg’s advanced data analytics can identify disease in cows days earlier than conventional methods, resulting in a marked reduction in on-farm mortality. By cutting these rates, the company explained that its technology can lower the number of cows being raised in the beef and dairy supply chain, benefitting the animals and resulting in lower methane emissions, while increasing the level of biosecurity in the food chain. 

“Early disease detection, and the resulting decline in mortality and morbidity, aligns farm practices with consumer demand for higher animal welfare standards and lower greenhouse gas emissions,” said James Caffyn, partner, Lever VC, whose Fund II took part in the investment round.

“HerdDogg will be able to create a robust animal health and performance database, enabling the company to provide actionable insights to farmers and operators throughout the supply chain that enhance farm economics while also improving sustainability.”

Since 1999, the average death rates in both small and large feedlots have increased 36 percent and 23 percent, respectively, according to data from the USDA. Likewise, since 2015, the average mortality rate for beef cattle is approximately 8.3 percent, leading to more than 2 million cows dying each year prior to slaughter.

With each cow emitting 220 pounds of methane annually, these deaths are equal to about 5 million metric tons of CO2e, or the annual emissions from over 1 million gas powered cars being emitted by animals that die from disease before they even reach the human food chain. 

HerdDogg stated that if its smart ear tags were deployed across every farm in the U.S. for post-weaning cattle, it could reduce the number of cows raised for food by approximately 700,000 animals, saving 1.7 million metric tons of CO2e per year. 

And having doubled the number of ear tags deployed across the U.S. and Australia over the past two months, with plans to soon enter the Canadian market, the company is on its way.

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and Agtech Intel News. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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