In this episode, Daniel Foy and Jim Reynolds sit down with Matt Dobbs, CEO of AgSense, to explore the intersection of animal welfare, production efficiency, and agricultural technology. Matt, a veterinary surgeon and lawyer by training, shares his journey from clinical practice to leading AgSense, a UK-based AgriTech company focused on enhancing dairy cow welfare and sustainability. 

The discussion begins with Matt’s background in veterinary care and his transition from treating individual animals to herd-level welfare strategies. He emphasizes how proactive health planning, rather than reactive treatments, has been a guiding principle in his career. The conversation then delves into how AgSense’s technology.  

Jim and Daniel highlight the importance of moving beyond traditional metrics and incorporating the Five Domains Model, which evaluates an animal’s physical and emotional well-being. They discuss the need for standardized data collection, AI-driven insights, and cost-effective sensor technology to scale welfare monitoring across diverse farming systems. 

Matt also addresses broader industry challenges, including labor shortages, farm consolidation, and the ethical responsibility of improving animal welfare while maintaining productivity. The conversation underscores how technology, when combined with strong ethical values, can drive sustainable improvements in livestock management. Matt shares AgSense’s global expansion, upcoming innovations in AI and environmental monitoring, and the importance of industry-wide collaboration.  

Bio: Matthew Dobbs BVM&S, Cert CHP, DipLaw, ARAgS, MRCVS 

A vet and lawyer, Matt has spent time in academia (University of Sydney and Royal Veterinary College) before founding Westpoint Veterinary Group. He is a Nuffield Scholar, recipient of the Bullock Award and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in Agriculture, and an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies. 

Matt is the founder & CEO of vision-based livestock monitoring AgTech business AgSense, chair of the MWI Clinical Advisory Board, and the Digital Practice Lead for Stonehaven Consultancy. He also founded and chairs multiple digital businesses, including FarmLaw.co.uk, HeckinGood, VetYou, and Animal Health Angels.