Our guest this week is Vicky Alexandrou, co-founder of Woven Optics.

Over the past eight years, Vicky has helped design and build a handheld microscope that lets you measure wool fibre diameter right there in the yards or shed. 

Instead of waiting for lab results, you clip a small sample, take a few quick images along the staple, and within seconds, the device tells you the mean micron, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and comfort factor.

You can scan the sheep’s ear tag so the data is linked instantly, meaning decisions on classing, culling or breeding can be made on the spot with the most up-to-date information.

Vicky and Ferg also chat about the importance of industry collaboration, the current commercialisation of Woven Optics, and the future potential of AI in agriculture.

Woven Optics is available now through your local Heiniger representative. 

Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected].

Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

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