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New technology could help dairy industry

A leader with Ascus Biosciences says new technology will help farmers improve animal health and productivity on their farm.

Jimmy Owens says endomicrobial ecology uses a natural approach to improve animal health.

“It allows us, kind of for the first time with what tools are available, to go inside animals and analyze their microbiomes and the microbial communities in those animals,” he says. “We can use those insights to isolate which specific microbes have a positive benefit on the health and well being of an animal and then turn those into products for livestock producers.”

He tells Brownfield it will be especially helpful in the dairy industry.

“What we can do now with advances in science and technology in our platform around endomicrobial ecology is understand what’s going on inside the cow,” he says. “It’s going to enable higher functioning rumen for a dairy cow, which is going to lead to better digestibilit and higher-quality milk as we’re isolating the right microbes that allow more consistent, high quality milk production that’s safe for cows.”

He says the company will introduce an endomicrobial feed supplement following regulatory approval this year.

Ascus Biosciences is based in San Diego, California, with commercial operations in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Audio: Jimmy Owens, Ascus BioSciences