An innovative project that utilises enhanced water technology to boost efficiency and productivity across the livestock industry is gaining momentum.
British agri-tech company Oxcel has had successful results from its Innovate UK-funded trials, which confirm that its nano-oxygen-enhanced water technology delivers significant benefits for both farmers and the environment.
Oxcel has collaborated with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the UK Agri-Tech Centre to develop the technology “Water-as-a-Service model” (WaaS). This plug-in farm-ready solution has been trialled in the UK’s Eastern Innovation Zones and has produced promising results in the intensive livestock industry.
Validated through trials at SRUC and on leading commercial farms, Oxcel’s nanobubble system transforms ordinary drinking water by boosting dissolved oxygen levels, supporting improvements in animal welfare, productivity and carbon efficiency – all without requiring changes to farm infrastructure.
In addition, field trials with poultry producers reported reduced mortality, fewer abattoir rejections and increased carcass weights. Further pig trials across Northern England have demonstrated faster growth rates, improved feed efficiency, reduced feed intake and pigs reaching slaughter weight up to five days earlier.
What is the impact?
The validation trials showed that oxygen-enriched drinking water significantly improves broiler welfare, including reducing hock burns and white striping, improving feather condition and gut health. These improvements not only support animal welfare but also higher quality protein production.
A practical and scalable solution for farmers
Central to Oxcel’s innovation is a simple, nanobubble delivery system that quadruples the dissolved oxygen content in drinking water. This technology enables farmers to achieve higher animal welfare standards, greater liveweight gain and better farm economics without the need to disrupt existing infrastructure on farm. Oxcel’s WaaS model also removes the barriers of high upfront investments and maintenance, enabling easy adoption and tangible returns.
Validated by Innovate UK-funded research at SRUC, commercial trials have shown that welfare improvements and profit increases can go hand in hand.
Scaling up for broader impact
Oxcel is now actively expanding farm partnerships and is engaging with investors to scale its now patent-pending technology across the UK and internationally.
Alex Leigh, Founder and CEO of Oxcel, said: “Farmers are the heroes of the food system. At Oxcel, we support them in raising more healthy and resilient animals, better profits and lower environmental impact. With easy-to-use technology, that fits right into existing setup, we are accelerating the transition toward more efficient and sustainable farming.”
Dr Farina Khattak, Professor of Applied Poultry Nutrition at SRUC, added: “Water quality is vital for animal health, yet it is often overlooked. Our research demonstrated that oxygen-enriched water can significantly enhance both welfare and meat quality, offering farmers a practical, non-pharmaceutical solution to improve production standards.”
Dr Fiona Short, Innovation Lead for Animal Health & Nutrition at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, commented: “This project is an excellent example of how Innovate UK funding can successfully bring industry and academia together to validate innovative technologies that enhance livestock production.”
