5 minutes with Aimee Charteris

Founder – Smart Shepherd

What is Smart Shepherd technology?

Smart Shepherd is an award-winning technology that measures the maternal performance of free-range livestock. It accurately identifies the lambs raised by each ewe and measures the strength of the ewe-lamb bond. Smart Shepherd is a game-changer for improving mothering ability, productivity, eating quality and welfare.

How did your interest in sheep/lamb monitoring technology emerge? How did you come up with this idea?

I was raised on a Gisborne sheep and beef farm and went on to train as a Livestock Geneticist. Most of my working career has been spent in and around red meat supply chains, working out where and how we can improve the supply chain. The team and I have worked in the sheep industry for the last 18-years. We have always had a desire to use proximity technology to characterise behavioural traits that may improve welfare within production systems. While the primary aim is to improve maternal success in the genetic space, we saw the opportunity to use this technology in commercial operations to select fit-for-purpose maternal replacements in any production animal species that are run on large scale.

What do you think the biggest drawcard for reproductive behavioural monitoring technology such as this is?

Knowledge. Good mothers are the heart of any family. Gathering further knowledge around the variation that exists in maternal success can be used to harness further increases in production. This is particularly important when we appear to have reached the ceiling in some systems — such as sheep. Most commercial farmers wean 150 percent, but we believe the gap between scanning and weaning could be considerably reduced. There is currently no other way to obtain this information on a large scale, in a cost-effective manner. There are other means such as DNA but for a commercial farmer, this is generally cost prohibitive. For those who have invested in radio frequency identification (RFID or EID), it creates a mechanism to extract significant value out of this investment.

What are some of the most exciting things you have seen in the last few years in the ag tech space and why did these get your attention?

Monitoring technology in the dairy industry. This technology comes in the form of a collar which monitors the health and wellbeing of individual cows, specific aspects of reproduction and overall herd or group management. Collecting real-time information, then making fast and efficient decisions, demonstrates a producer’s commitment to the wellbeing of all. Around the globe customers now prioritise welfare and environmental values in the products that they purchase and they will do this even more in the future; making this game-changing technology.

Most commercial farmers wean 150 percent, but we believe the gap between scanning and weaning could be considerably reduced.”

What is coming up for Smart Shepherd this year?

We can’t wait to get back out on the farms and see our clients who used the system in the genetics space last year. We want to grow this market with the right customers and we will also be looking for suitable commercial farmers to continue to beta test our maternal select system in both sheep and deer. Automating reading capability in the yards will be one of our main focusses with some tweaks in the hardware, firmware and software.

How are Kiwi sheep farmers at trying out new technology, have you seen a shift in attitudes in the last 5 years?

We need to improve out of sight. We find that the innovators and early adopters are always eagerly awaiting something new to integrate into their business. However, there is a large proportion of the industry who wait to adopt when technology becomes common-place or where regulation enforces the use of it. We need our farmers to become more curious so we can get better as an industry. We cannot continue to go about our business in the same ways and using the same methods as we have in the past. One of our favourite mantras is that if we aim to do things differently, we are likely to get an altogether different result. The chance that it will be considered ‘different’ in 10 years’ time is slim – it will likely be commonplace. We need to get in front of the game. I believe the success of farming businesses will depend on this type of technology in the future.

What advice would you give Kiwis wanting to bring a farm technology solution to market?

The first step is to work out who has the pain point and will they pay for your ag-tech solution. Once you have a product, trial it with a group of relevant people you trust. When moving towards getting to market, make sure you get the right people around you. Define your vision, values and purpose and go for it! Be prepared to be agile, patient, have an open mind and ask for honest feedback. I can’t stress enough the need to surround yourself with the right people and be prepared for the long-haul.

We cannot continue to go about our business in the same ways and using the same methods as we have in the past.”

What is the biggest barrier for New Zealand farm tech innovators/ inventors and how can this be overcome?

Taking the first step. This is how you finally overcome the battle to begin. Be courageous and just start…. back yourself to find your way.