HEARD Systems Pty Ltd is an Australian private company. Our primary focus is developing and commercialising a ‘real-time any time’ handheld device suitable for farmers or contractors to pregnancy test cows on farm. The final product will incorporate a radio frequency identification reader for cattle eartags, and integrate with farm software and websites to provide useful and timely reproductive data.
Management and Key People
Richard Shephard
CEO & Head of ResearchCEO and Head of Research Dr Richard Shephard has been central to developing this pregnancy testing technology. He is an experienced cattle veterinarian. He has extensive experience in farm management, agri-business and epidemiology consultancy and has a special interest in cost-effective reproductive management programs for cattle. Richard has a degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney, a Masters degree in Veterinary Epidemiology from Massey University and a PhD from the University of Sydney. He is experienced in identifying and commercialising technology opportunities, communicating with investors and negotiating effective co-development models.
George A. Mark
Product Development ManagerProduct Development & Operational Manager George Mark has considerable experience with productisation and new product development both in Australia and overseas from his work at Cochlear, Electrolux, and Siemens. George works with start-up companies to prepare successful commercial launch.
Gaetano Gargiulo
Biomedical Engineer and inventorBiomedical Engineer and inventor Gaetano Gargiulo has expertise in measurement of electrical body signals (ECGs, EMGs, and EEGs) and experience in biomedical devices and prototype design.
Linda Ring
Project ManagerLinda has extensive project management experience couple with BioMedical degree. Linda manages the development team to ensure product milestones are successfully achieved.
History
‘Real-time any time’ handheld device suitable for farmers or contractors to pregnancy test cows on farm
Cattle veterinarian Dr Shephard invented the HEARD pregnancy diagnosis device from concerns about rectal-based pregnancy testing systems and from discussions with farmers (in Australia and beyond). Beef producers in particular have routinely expressed concerns about the difficulties of securing timely pregnancy testing for their herds, and an inability to pregnancy test individual cows on demand. It became increasingly clear there was a substantial unmet need for a portable handheld device to detect pregnancy in cows, which could be operated by a relatively unskilled operator on farm.