Key Takeaways
- A 400-sow study using Verility’s Fertile-Eyez showed comparable pregnancy rates with fewer inseminations than standard methods.
- Fertile-Eyez protocols reduced semen doses by 40% and system labor by 24%.
- The diagnostic tool resulted in a 91% overall conception rate and improved pregnancy rates in nonstanding heat sows.
- Verility received its final tranche of a $4 million round from Mountain Group Partners.
- Plans are in place for customer trials and a new funding round in 2025 to support commercialization.
Verility’s Fertile-Eyez Demonstrates Comparable Results with Fewer Resources
Verility Inc. has released the findings of a 2024 study evaluating its patented Fertile-Eyez™ fertility analysis technology. The study, which involved 400 sows, found that insemination protocols using Fertile-Eyez delivered pregnancy and embryo rates on par with traditional breeding methods—while using fewer semen doses and requiring less labor.
According to Verility CEO Liane Hart, “Both protocols delivered comparable performance, but the Verility protocol ultimately required only an average of 1.15 inseminations per sow compared to two per the standard breeding protocol.”
Measurable Reductions in Breeding Inputs
The study, conducted in partnership with AcuFast, showed several operational benefits of using Fertile-Eyez:
- 40% reduction in semen doses
- 45% fewer boar heat tests
- 20% reduction in boar exposure days
- 24% overall reduction in breeding system labor
- 91% overall conception rate
- 38% pregnancy rate in nonstanding heat sows
Hart noted the system could also reduce nonproductive sow days and enable the use of higher-indexing boar semen to accelerate genetic progress.
Industry Response and Verility Funding Support
Amanda Minton, Manager of Swine Reproductive Solutions at AcuFast, highlighted the unique nature of the tool: “We have never seen results this positive with other ovulation interventions. Fertile-Eyez works with the biology of the animal, not through hormonal induction.”
Following the study, Verility received the final tranche of its $4 million funding round from Mountain Group Partners, which had backed the company for its potential in transforming animal fertility diagnostics.
“We believe Fertile-Eyez will play an important role in reducing labor and increasing production efficiency,” said Rob Readnour, Managing Director at Mountain Group Partners.
Next Steps: Trials and Commercialization Plans For Verility
Verility plans to conduct broader customer trials throughout 2025 and into 2026. These efforts will support the acquisition of purchase orders and letters of intent ahead of a planned Series A-2 funding round expected to close in July 2025.
Hart emphasized the goal of scaling commercialization efforts and validating the technology in real-world production environments.
Expanding Applications and Intellectual Property
Originally validated in humans through research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Fertile-Eyez now holds patents in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The company holds exclusive licensing rights to this technology, which now supports ovulation detection and semen analysis across multiple species.
Hart said, “Our AI-driven diagnostic platform leverages smartphone-enabled solutions to deliver accurate and accessible reproductive tools for both human and animal health.”
Strategic Shift Toward Ovulation Focus
While Fertile-Eyez was initially marketed for semen analysis, the company has pivoted toward ovulation tracking, which Hart described as “the Holy Grail” of animal breeding due to its complexity and detection challenges.
“Our work has validated the use of pioneering technology to make the breeding process simpler, faster, more efficient, and more profitable,” she said.
Verility is part of the Purdue Strategic Ventures portfolio and continues to expand its efforts to bring next-generation diagnostics to the agricultural and animal health sectors.
