Untapped Ventures Invests in Herd-I to Transform Dairy Farm Health Through AI
Pioneering AI-Driven Lameness Detection and Body Condition Scoring, Led by Industry-Proven Founders
We are thrilled to announce our investment in Herd-I, an agritech company dedicated to using innovation to solve the critical challenges facing the dairy industry. Founded by industry disruptors with proven success—Karl Jameson, a successful entrepreneur and strategic business lead, and Peter Mitchell, a seasoned founder with an extensive entrepreneurial background and a proven track record of success in building New Zealand brands from start-up businesses to global leaders in their sector.
Addressing a Critical Need in Dairy Farming
Despite advancements in agricultural technology, lameness and inconsistent body condition scoring (BCS) continue to challenge dairy farmers worldwide. The lameness in dairy cows in the U.S. is on average 30% and can be as high as 50%, costing U.S. farmers up to $1.2 billion annually and causing significant declines in animal welfare and productivity. At the same time, traditional BCS methods—often performed by eye or via a certified assessor—yield only point-in-time insights that can miss gradual changes in cow health.
Herd-I’s Game-Changing AI Solutions
Herd-I tackles these challenges with two core technologies that integrate seamlessly into daily farm operations:
Early Lameness Detection System:
A small on-farm computing device connects to a smart camera, recording each cow as she exits the milking shed.
Video footage is streamed to the cloud, where machine learning models trained by veterinary experts analyze and score locomotion using an industry-standard lameness scale.
Early detection enables prompt treatment, reducing long-term health issues, higher calving rates, more milk in the vat , less labor and safeguards profitability.
AI-Powered Body Condition Scoring (BCS):
Recently launched in June 2024, this system uses an EID reader to identify each cow.
A compact camera then streams video to the cloud, where state-of-the-art machine learning assigns BCS based on DairyNZ’s industry-standard scale.
Farmers receive daily, consistent BCS data, allowing them to intervene quickly when a cow’s condition begins to decline—optimizing feed use, milk production, and overall herd health.
Area Sales Manager, Bernard Anselmi, shares more about how Herd-i's innovative camera system detects early signs of lameness in cows on the Rural Exchange podcast.
Unmatched Data and Insights
What truly sets Herd-I apart is its unparalleled dataset: over 17 million independently validated locomotion scores plus more than 1 million video images used to train the BCS model. This deep data foundation enables the AI to deliver precise, consistent daily monitoring that far exceeds traditional manual methods.
A Practical, Scalable Approach
Herd-I’s dashboard provides comprehensive data panels, analytics, and alerts, helping farmers easily track individual animals and make well-informed decisions. Both the lameness detection and BCS systems integrate with existing operations, making them suitable for farms of any size. Beyond improving productivity, Herd-I’s near real-time insights also help reduce emissions intensity by fostering healthier, more efficient cows.
Looking Ahead
We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Herd-I into our portfolio as they build on their success in New Zealand and expand into the vast U.S. market. Their mission to transform dairy farming through AI-powered insights aligns perfectly with our vision to invest in innovative solutions that drive meaningful industry change.
If you're an AI founder pushing the boundaries of innovation, we want to hear from you! Untapped Ventures is investing $500k+ in visionary technical AI founders who are building the future of Native AI B2B startups, with a focus on Agentic AI, Vertical AI, and AI Infrastructure. Pitch us your idea by submitting through our pitch form here.