Russian tech startup Neiry has become the first in the world to insert neuro-implants into cow brains to increase milk yield when all other methods are exhausted.
Neiry announced its intention to begin testing its neuro-implants on live cows back in April. Last month, its specialists performed surgeries on five cows to fit them with a stimulator attached to the back of the head and electrodes that penetrate deep into the brain. With the help of these devices, they hope to reach areas responsible for appetite, stress, and reproductive function, and stimulate them through electric impulses. The first tests were performed in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region, and so far, the results are very encouraging.
Photo: Stijn te Strake
According to Neiry investor Alexey Mariza, in many dairy cow farms, all measures to increase production have already been implemented, so radically new approaches like neuro-implant brain stimulation have the potential to significantly disrupt the dairy production industry and provide a significant competitive advantage.
According to a recent report by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti, Neiry specialists performed surgeries on five cows to fit them with special neuro-implants. The cows were conscious during the implantation process, survived the procedure without any noticeable side effects, and returned to the production cycle. Although the company has yet to release official data on the effects of the implants on milk production, Neiry claims that the cows’ milk production improved.
Photo: Unsplash
Scientists are currently working on selecting the optimal stimulation program depending on the area they are trying to stimulate: for example, when a cow’s appetite decreases, the system selects the appropriate neuromodulation mode for recovery. Neiry admits they still have work to do to improve their neuro-implants, but the Russian company considers they already work well enough to be sold commercially in the near future.
Not everyone is impressed with Neiry’s cow brain neuro-implants. For example, Andrey Neduzhko, General Director of the Steppe agricultural holding, believes the implants carry unnecessary risks for the animals and are unprofitable because of their exorbitant price. However, Neiry claims that it has already identified ways of significantly lowering the prices of its products, one of which involves carrying out the implantation in a proprietary mobile operating room.
