THE CHALLENGE
The challenge facing dairy producers today is the lack of a reliable, affordable, and easy-to-use solution for early detection of subclinical ketosis in cows during early lactation, a period when animals are especially vulnerable due to negative energy balance. Elevated levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate or BHB in blood and milk are key indicators of this condition, but current diagnostic tools either lack sensitivity or require expensive, lab-based technologies that are too slow and complex for on-farm use. Common methods like urine or milk test strips are prone to user error and are not highly sensitive, while advanced techniques like chromatography and mass spectrometry, though accurate, are impractical for daily herd management. This creates a major gap in the market for a rapid, cost-effective, and robust point-of-care device that can deliver laboratory-grade accuracy in real time under typical farm conditions. Without such tools, farmers miss the opportunity for early intervention, which can lead to reduced milk production, fertility issues, and higher veterinary costs—directly impacting profitability and animal welfare.
OUR SOLUTION
Our solution is a low-cost, disposable biosensor built on a paper-based platform that enables dairy farmers to detect subclinical ketosis in cows quickly and accurately right on the farm. Unlike current methods that are either slow and lab-bound or unreliable and hard to interpret, our device uses a screen-printed electrode system enhanced with graphene oxide for better sensitivity and fast electron transfer. It is engineered to detect beta-hydroxybutyrate, a key ketosis marker, using a stabilized enzyme system that produces an electrical signal in under one minute. This signal is measured with simple electronics and can be transmitted via Bluetooth to a mobile device for instant results. The sensor delivers laboratory-grade accuracy across a wide detection range with excellent selectivity even in complex fluids like milk. Designed for real-time monitoring and ease of use, it empowers farmers to take immediate action to protect animal health, improve milk yield, and reduce veterinary costs—offering a practical, scalable solution to a costly problem in dairy production.
Figure: Overview of the invention
Advantages:
- Ultra-low detection limit for early subclinical ketosis detection
- Rapid response time with real-time Bluetooth connectivity
- Wide dynamic range covering both subclinical and clinical levels
- Low-cost, portable design suitable for on-farm continuous monitoring
Potential Application:
- On-farm subclinical ketosis screening in early-lactation dairy cows
- Real-time herd health monitoring and management
- Veterinary point-of-care diagnostics for metabolic disorders
