Antler Bio Secures $3.9 Million for Dairy Gene Expression Technology

Antler Bio, a British AgriTech company, develops gene expression technology to assist dairy farmers in increasing milk yield and improving herd health. The company announced a $3.9 million investment round, bringing its total capital raised to $7.8 million including grants.

The round was led by The First Thirty Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage agricultural technologies. Participating investors included Endgame Capital and regenerative agriculture angel syndicate Generation-RE.

Antler Bio, founded in 2020 by CEO Maria Jensen and CSO Nathalie Conte, utilizes its EpiHerd system to interpret how cows’ genes respond to environmental stress, nutrition, and health challenges. This data enables farmers to make informed decisions aimed at increasing milk yield, improving animal welfare, and enhancing fertility, resilience, and longevity within their herds.

"This investment will enable us to scale EpiHerd to thousands of farms across Europe, grow our team, and continue refining the technology to meet the evolving needs of farmers," commented Maria Jensen, CEO & Co-Founder at Antler Bio.

The company operates in key European markets including the UK, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, partnering with over 100 farms. Reported results from EpiHerd implementation include milk yield increases of up to 22%, a 6% rise in milk fat, and a 5% increase in milk protein. Antler Bio states these improvements contribute to higher quality milk and an average return on investment to the farmer exceeding 7:1.

Market conditions indicate pressure on dairy farmers. Between April 2023 and April 2024, over 440 dairy farms in the UK exited the industry. EU milk production is forecast to drop to 149.4 million metric tons in 2025. Upcoming changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order in the US will reward milk quality over quantity.

The dairy technology market includes companies offering herd management software and genetic analysis tools. Competitors may include Afimilk, which provides integrated dairy farm management systems focused on herd health and production. Allflex Livestock Intelligence offers animal identification, monitoring, and data solutions for livestock management. CRV, a global cattle improvement organization, focuses on genetics and breeding programs to enhance herd efficiency and health.