To operate efficiently, primary producers need to maximise the number of pregnant cows that give birth to live calves, while minimising the costs of doing so. Feeding cows that you think are pregnant, only to find out at calving that they are not, costs around $480 per head. Identifying non-pregnant cows early allows producers to cull and sell these animals, both saving cost and releasing cash flow. An Australian start-up, Agscent, are developing a Diagnostic Device that detects pregnancy in cows through a simple to administer breath test. Alternative tests require complex, specialised and invasive rectal intervention.
Hexafly produces a range of sustainable, natural commodities
through insect farming. They take in the raw material
bioproduct and use insects to upcycle that waste into valuable sustainable
products such as organic fertiliser, high protein animal feed, sustainable
insect oil and natural chicken feed.
They believe
insect farming is the most efficient form of farming in the world in terms of
the amount of protein produced per square metre and resources needed. There is
also a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions
compared with other farming methods and it is also the most efficient when it
comes to water usage.