Digital imagery and machine learning startup MyAnIML just concluded it’s proof of concept – early detection of pinkeye in cattle. The six person startup also entered into an agreement with West Texas A&M University for a more extensive field trial covering a broader array of diseases.
Shekhar Gupta, MyAnIML CEO
“Based on the research I had been doing since September of last year (I believe) that diseases show up on the muzzle before they show up on the body and you can differentiate between a healthy and sick muzzle,” founder and CEO Shekhar Gupta told the 4thEst8. “I’m proud to say that we’re the first company in the entire world who has done it.”
Gupta says pinkeye is highly contagious and if not caught quickly can spread to an entire heard of cows, requiring expensive treatment and potentially killing 2 percent of the animals if not treated quickly enough. It can also leave many animals blind, and if its a milk cow that cow is taken out of production until it is well, resulting in loss income for the farmer. A test just concluded on nearly 800 animals. Gupta says his technology finds the disease three to four days in advance of other methods. Partnering with Texas A&M for a trial that runs through next spring will cover a wider array of diseases.
“Pinkeye is just the beginning. We have pneumonia, we’ve got flu, we’ve got (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheiti), we’ve got (Bovine Viral Diarrhea), we’ve got so many other diseases,” he said. “So when we launch in May timeframe next year we will have a very good data set of each of these diseases.”
Founded in February of this year the Overland Park, KS company was inducted into TechStars-KC in June. TechStars Managing Director Maria Flynn tells the 4thEst8 it invested $120K in MyAnIML in the form of a convertible note. Otherwise, Gupta says his startup is self funded.
NOTE: This article was edited on 8/27/2021 to change the university partner from Texas A&M to West Texas A&M at the request of Shekhar Gupta, who misspoke during the interview.
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