Antler Bio, a UK-based. female-led AgriTech company using gene expression technology to improve dairy farming, has raised a $4.3 million funding round led by The First Thirty Ventures. The investment brings Antler Bio’s total funding to $8.5 million, including grants, and will be used to scale its proprietary EpiHerd system across Europe.
The EpiHerd platform offers farmers a previously unavailable window into how cows respond to environmental and nutritional stressors by analysing gene expression. This enables data-driven insights that help farmers optimise herd health and milk production. Already active in the UK, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, Antler Bio is working with over 100 farms and delivering results that include up to 22% higher milk yields, a 6% increase in milk fat, and a 5% boost in milk protein.
A new standard in dairy herd insight
Antler Bio’s EpiHerd system is the first of its kind to apply gene expression data to commercial dairy farming. It measures how each cow’s genes respond to stress and nutrition in real-world farm environments. The resulting insights allow farmers to proactively address underlying issues that limit productivity and animal wellbeing.
These improvements deliver a strong economic return. According to the company, the system provides an average return on investment of more than 7:1, increasing farm profitability while also enhancing fertility, resilience, and longevity across herds.
Maria Jensen, CEO and co-founder of Antler Bio, commented:
“Bringing a technology like EpiHerd to an industry that has never seen anything quite like it is no small task, but we’re incredibly excited about the future. 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-benefiting their profits but, importantly, the wellbeing of their animals.”
Backed by AgriHealth investors amid dairy sector pressures
“The First Thirty Ventures” led the round; a venture capital firm focused on technologies at the intersection of agriculture and health. Endgame Capital and Generation-RE, a regenerative agriculture-focused angel syndicate, also participated.
Naeem Lakhani, Managing Partner at The First Thirty, said:
“Antler Bio is a great example, combining biology and technology to help reshape the global food system. Their work supports animal welfare, enhances farm efficiency, and leads to improved nutrition for consumers. As a company at the forefront of this change, we’re proud to support their journey.”
The investment arrives as dairy farmers face rising costs, regulatory uncertainty, and growing pressure to improve productivity. In the UK alone, over 440 dairy farms exited the industry between April 2023 and April 2024. Meanwhile, upcoming US Federal Milk Marketing Order reforms and falling EU production forecasts highlight a global shift towards quality over quantity.
Antler Bio’s EpiHerd aims to help farmers stay competitive by improving milk quality and herd health, without requiring major infrastructure changes or herd expansions.
Founded in 2020 by Maria Jensen and Nathalie Conte, Antler Bio combines expertise from the human and animal health sectors to bring gene expression analytics into agriculture. Its flagship EpiHerd technology decodes how cows’ genes react to environmental factors, enabling early detection of stress and imbalances that can impact performance.
The company currently operates across key European markets and is focused on expanding its reach to thousands of farms, helping producers generate more sustainable, higher-quality milk while supporting animal wellbeing and long-term resilience in dairy farming.
