Brazilian Startup Offers AI Solution for Livestock Calf Losses
· Bloomberg HT
Brazilian agritech startup Herdian has successfully reduced loss rates with its AI-powered camera system designed to prevent newborn calf mortality in farrowing units.
AI-Powered Monitoring System
Brazilian agritech startup Herdian has developed an AI-powered monitoring system to prevent the death of newborn calves in livestock operations. According to Bloomberg, cameras equipped with computer vision technology continuously track the movements of breeding sows. The model preemptively identifies the risk of sows crushing their piglets and sends immediate alerts to farm personnel. The AI infrastructure was trained using over 6,000 images and 30,000 hours of video footage provided by the company.
Calf Mortality Prevention Tests
Data from the 2025 Annual Report on Swine Production Performance, published by Agriness, indicates that 9% of piglets born in farrowing units in Brazil die. Overly active sows are among the primary causes of these losses. Herdian Commercial Director Eduardo Dapper reported that crushing-related losses decreased by 2% to 3% in initial tests. In trials conducted at Ianni Agropecuária facilities in Porto Feliz, São Paulo, the loss and stillbirth rate during farrowing, which was 13%, dropped to 10%.
Behavioral and Nutritional Analysis
Ianni Agropecuária Company Director Alice Ianni stated that the system complements staff observations by providing critical data on animal behavior. The developed technology regularly monitors the sows' feed and water consumption while analyzing the piglets' proximity to their mothers and nutritional status. Notifications are sent to the unit manager in situations such as the sow lying on its side or ceasing to eat. The system also maintains its functionality during nighttime hours and in challenging farm environments where cameras may be slightly soiled.
Startup's Growth and Investment Goals
Herdian, which began operations in 2024, successfully secured BRL 300,000 in angel investment in July 2025. The startup, aiming to reduce livestock mortality rates by 50%, currently serves a total of six major corporate clients, with field tests ongoing at three of them. The company, which currently monitors 3,000 breeding sows, plans to launch another investment round by the end of 2026 and aims to increase the number of tracked animals to 10,000 by the end of 2027.