A company launched at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is addressing a critical gap in livestock health management with innovative tools for cattle dental care. Ovation Agriculture, founded by SRUC lecturer Jillian Gordon, has designed a dental gag that allows for the examination of a cow’s mouth, potentially transforming animal welfare and farm productivity across Scotland and beyond.
Despite dental disease in cattle causing significant health and welfare concerns, regular dental health checks are not currently provided for the national herd. This oversight stems from a lack of specialised tools and knowledge rather than negligence. While the sector invests millions in improving overall health, welfare, and feed conversion efficiency, oral health – a crucial starting point for digestion – has received limited attention.
“Cattle chew their food at least twice before they actually start digesting it,” explains Jillian Gordon. “If they develop abscesses or infections, they’re not able to get the nutrition they need, leading to decreased production, potential infertility, and weight loss. By ensuring their dental health is managed, we’re able to give them a longer, more comfortable life and improve their productivity.”
With 1.7 million cows in Scotland, 9.6 million in the whole UK, and 1.5 billion globally, the potential impact of Ovation Agriculture’s innovation is substantial. The company plans to manufacture its dental gag tool and develop training resources to improve the way practitioners approach dental health in cattle. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance cattle welfare, increase production efficiency, and promote more sustainable farming practices in Scotland, the UK, and internationally.
Ovation Agriculture secured a runner-up position in the KickStart category, designed for early-stage ideas with high commercial potential, at this year’s Converge Awards, an annual ceremony celebrating the pinnacle of Scottish academic innovation. Impressing judges with its novel approach to cattle health, the company netted a £7,500 equity-free cash prize.
Adam Kosterka, executive director of Converge, commented on Ovation Agriculture’s innovation: “Jillian and Ovation Agriculture exemplify the kind of forward-thinking, industry-specific innovation that Converge aims to nurture. By addressing an overlooked aspect of livestock health with cutting-edge technology, the company has the potential to make a significant impact on animal welfare and farm productivity across Scotland and beyond.”
