Scanabull Raises $1.1M to Revolutionize Cattle Weighing with AI-Powered Scans
Raglan, New Zealand – Scanabull, an agritech startup, has secured NZD $1.1 million in seed funding to advance its innovative cattle weighing technology. The funding round was led by Sprout Agritech, with participation from Enterprise Angels and Callaghan Innovation’s Deep Tech Incubator program.
Addressing Inefficiencies in Traditional Cattle Weighing
Traditional cattle weighing methods often rely on visual estimates or require moving livestock into yards and onto fixed weighing platforms. This process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and can cause stress to the animals, potentially leading to temporary weight loss. Scanabull aims to overcome these challenges with a faster, more accurate, and less stressful solution.
How Scanabull’s Technology Works
Scanabull utilizes the LiDAR sensor found in Apple’s iPhone Pro and Pro Max models, or its own dedicated Scanabull Weigh Point camera, to create a 3D model of the animal. The system then employs proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to analyze the animal’s shape and structure, estimating its live weight in approximately one second. The company has trained its models on over 100,000 animal data points, achieving over 93% accuracy for individual animals, with improved performance when analyzing groups of cattle.
On-Device AI for Reliable Data Access
A key feature of Scanabull’s technology is its on-device processing capability. The AI algorithms run directly on the iPhone or Weigh Point camera, eliminating the necessitate for cloud connectivity. This is particularly beneficial for farms in areas with limited or unreliable internet access. According to Scanabull, they have developed a unique model architecture to enable this level of performance on edge devices.
Two Products for Diverse Farm Needs
Scanabull offers two primary products:
- WeighApp: Designed for farmers, stock agents, and veterinarians, this app allows for scanning animals in yards, pens, or near farm gates.
- Weigh Point: A system for automatic weighing in the paddock, ideal for tracking growth trends over time.
Benefits for the Beef Supply Chain
The technology aims to provide more accurate and timely weight data throughout the beef supply chain. This can lead to:
- Improved pricing accuracy for farmers and traders.
- Better informed decision-making regarding animal management and sales.
- Reduced inefficiencies for processors by providing reliable weight data before livestock arrive at the plant.
- Reduced stress on cattle by minimizing handling.
Investor Confidence in Agritech Innovation
Crispin Dye, investment manager at Sprout Agritech, highlighted the potential of Scanabull’s approach, stating that technologies bringing reliable data into agricultural supply chains have “enormous potential.” He further noted that Scanabull’s use of computer vision and on-device AI “opens up new possibilities for livestock management and supply chain transparency.”
Future Expansion and Ambitions
Scanabull plans to use the new funding to further develop its AI models and expand its data collection efforts. The company similarly envisions expanding its technology beyond live weight estimation to include carcass weight prediction and body condition scoring. Their ultimate goal is to facilitate data-driven decision-making across the entire beef industry, from birth to processing.
The official launch of Scanabull is scheduled for Fieldays 2026 in June.