Author: Eleanor Telling

The veterinary and animal health industry is not shy of adopting new technologies. With tools for improving veterinary workflow to agri-tech solutions aimed at improving dairy yield; there are a lot of tools emerging with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning tools.

There’s a growing demand for the development and use of wearables, smart cameras and other sensors in animal health for pet animals and on farms. These devices generate a huge amount of data, which raises the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) using machine learning algorithms and real-time analysis.

Batch Block is a Blockchain-powered tool that will focus on improving key areas of pharmaceutical supply chains, by improving how effectively drugs are tracked from one point to another and keep a verifiable record of all intermediaries any shipment goes through. Blockchain technology allows a full audit-train of data, allowing an everlasting, tamper-proof and time-stamped record to be kept in a distributed manner.

The term ‘Blockchain’ has taken the tech industry by storm in the last few years. Every industry is impressed by the benefits blockchain technology offers and are utilising it in their operations. Health is no different, and there is potential for the use of blockchain in animal health.

With vHive continuing to expand, we’re pleased to welcome our newest member of the team – Impact Manager, Muhammad Ali Ishaq. Ali brings to us a diverse experience in web technologies and digital marketing. As he takes on his brand new role, let’s get to know him better.

Well, been out and about, but will pick and choose here…. As a fresh veterinary graduate, I started out working to improve animal husbandry practices and livelihoods of dairy cattle farmers in rural areas of Uganda. Shortly thereafter, I continued with dairy cattle health management work in South Florida before heading over to the University of Florida where I completed my graduate studies in epidemiology. While pursuing graduate studies, I coordinated the veterinary teaching hospital’s infection control and biosecurity program activities.

There’s been drastic changes and improvements in the animal health space in the past year. These advances have had far-reaching implications on not only veterinary practices and research but also on the livestock industry and our understanding of animals as a whole.

As a vet student with a keen interest in all things tech, I was thrilled and intrigued when I heard about plans for a new venture in veterinary technology to be based at the University of Surrey.

I’ve worked in a few areas now, although still fresh on the scene. Whilst I was studying Computer Science at Brunel University, I did some part-time I.T. Support at a small sports analytics startup which gave me a real apetite for software development. After university I joined a private software house and began learning commerical software practices and building B2B software solutions from scratch and also redesigning legacy solutions.

Amongst other projects, the two are performing research on foot loading and 3-D motion analysis in German Shepherd dogs. This project looks at conformation features of German Shepherds as it varies within the breed. The aim is to investigate if their posture and gait, which in future studies could be correlated with musculoskeletal health and therefore to welfare issues.