Proving every animal is real, so cattle can count as collateral.
AgOpen Technologies is developing per-animal identity and verification for the cattle business, so ranchers, lenders and insurers can stand behind the same record of which animals exist, where they are and that they are alive.
The “ghost cow” problem
A bank or insurer often can’t prove that a specific animal is the one it lent against or insured. Headcounts drift, cattle move and records live on paper. Lenders call these “ghost” or “phantom” cows.
Because the livestock can’t be verified, lenders fall back on what they can verify, which is land. Producers are asked to pledge real estate as collateral even when their real working asset is the herd.
How verification changes the loan fileOne verified record per animal
Three parts work together to produce a record that a lender, insurer or investor can rely on.
Per-animal electronic ID
A AgOpen ID Tag paired with a rumen bolus gives each animal an identity that is hard to lose or swap.
Drone data & computer vision
Drone-captured imagery and a computer-vision model for estimating cattle weight, with the dataset being built now.
Verification ledger
Cryptographically signed records of identity, headcount, location and liveness for USDA-verified, U.S.-born-and-raised cattle.
Built for both sides of the cattle loan
Producers get a record that supports their credit. Lenders and insurers get a record they can verify. Both sides will work from the same tools: the AgOpen Cattle Ledger and AgOpen Cattle Books accounting software tie the herd, the books and the loan file together for the rancher and the lender.
Ranchers & cow-calf
Use your herd, not just your land, to support the credit you need.
Explore →Stockers & feedyards
Verified headcount and location for cattle that move through your operation.
Explore →Lenders & insurers
Attach a UCC-1 to a verified animal and underwrite against records you can check.
Explore →From the pasture to the loan file
Each animal carries an AgOpen ID Tag and a rumen bolus.
Identity, headcount, location and liveness readings are cryptographically signed.
Drone data and computer vision add an independent view of the herd.
Lenders and insurers check the ledger, so collateral ties to a verified animal.
Tag, fly, verify
Bolus and ear tag for identity, a drone count from the air, a computer-vision model on AgOpen-controlled infrastructure, and one verified record per animal. Your ranch data belongs to you.
See the layer stackPilot interest from an Oklahoma bank
We are looking for more pilot partners: lenders, insurers and producers who want to help shape per-animal verification before it ships.
Recent news
AgOpen Technologies, Inc. files to incorporate in Delaware
The Antlers, Oklahoma ag-tech company has filed to form as a Delaware C-Corporation as it builds per-animal verification for cattle credit and insurance.
Read more →Regional community bank signs letter of interest to serve as AgOpen pilot lender
A regional community bank has signed a non-binding letter of interest to explore piloting lending against verified cattle once AgOpen’s system exists.
Read more →