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      FARMER STORY  

    Rachael Bromage

    Cornwall, UK

    Rachel farms 150 acres near Falmouth in Cornwall with both Limousin beef cattle and Lleyn sheep.  

    With experience on a block calving dairy farm, she has suckler cattle, but her passion is her flock of Lleyns. With experience on a block calving dairy farm, she has suckler cattle, but her passion is her flock of Lleyns. Rachel also works with the local vets on reception, delivering medicine and helping out with TB testing. Using iLivestock to track all her animal data, the ease and improved accuracy of record keeping and smoother inspections has made the app an indispensable bit of farm kit to improve the genetics and health of her animals.
    Rachael-Bromage-Hero
    Rachael-Bromage-Hero

     

      FARMER STORY  

    Rachael Bromage

    Cornwall, U.K.

    Rachel farms 150 acres near Falmouth in Cornwall with both Limousin beef cattle and Lleyn sheep.

     With experience on a block calving dairy farm, she has suckler cattle, but her passion is her flock of Lleyns. With experience on a block calving dairy farm, she has suckler cattle, but her passion is her flock of Lleyns. Rachel also works with the local vets on reception, delivering medicine and helping out with TB testing. Using iLivestock to track all her animal data, the ease and improved accuracy of record keeping and smoother inspections has made the app an indispensable bit of farm kit to improve the genetics and health of her animals. 
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    playme

    Software for both cattle and sheep

    Welcome to sunny Cornwall and, just coming into autumn, I’m in the fields watching a few heifers, and some cows that will be calving October, November time. My sheep are also about to go to the rams in a couple of weeks’ time.

    iLivestock works well for both cattle and sheep. I may use different features for each, but it’s made life a lot easier. I’ve been able to make improvements in stock selection to breed replacements from, and, through weight tracking, the animals’ health has been better, as I’ve been picking up on problems a lot quicker.

    “… everything is there, ready to go!”

    Keeping you accurate and compliant

    I find using the phone app pretty intuitive; everything's there, ready to go! When I first started, I input all the sheep information myself, because there weren't too many of them. For the cattle, I downloaded it from BCMS, so it was all very accurate, and away I went!

    My 35 or so, mostly Limousin sired suckler cows will go to the Limousin bull shortly, and of my 40 pedigree Lleyn sheep, two thirds will go to a pedigree Lleyn ram, the other third will go to a Chartex. Tracking all our animals is massively important, as I can’t have anything that isn’t commercially viable. You know, something that isn’t pulling its weight. For this, genetics are really important.

    Enabling me to select the best cows or ewes to breed replacements. I look for good traits. Milk supply, being good on their feet, a good temperament. For my sheep, it’s good milky ewes, two lambs a year, and hardy, because they live out all year round.

    Collect and track stock data

     To collect and track information, iLivestock is brilliant. I use the notes to log how they are performing, the flag system to remind me which not to breed from, and I regularly track weights. In the summer, I’m weighing lambs every fortnight. This picks up whether we need to do an egg count for worms or signs of ‘Coxy’ and whatnot. 

    “Checking my app… I could immediately see they had all lost the same amount of weight…”

     About a month ago, the lambs just looked like they hadn’t really grown. Checking my stats on the phone app meant I could immediately see they had all lost the same amount of condition and weight. An egg count confirmed they had quite a worm burden. After treatment, the weight went back on and they’re doing fine. 

    “I’m much more efficient and accurate. I don’t forget stuff.”

    I can apply medicines to a group, like a batch of lambs or calves, or do it for individuals if they’re sick. That's so beneficial! I also use groups to tell me where the animals are on the farm; for spring or autumn calving; for yearlings; for animals not weaned yet… Yeah, I’ve got a group for everything!

    I also use iLivestock to link to BCMS to record births, deaths, together with on and off movements. Entering data in real time, I’m always completely compliant and for a death, all I then do is send the passport back. Brilliant! Likewise, when I tag a new calf, I can register it with them there and then, knowing who the mother is and tag number. I’m much more efficient and accurate. I don’t forget stuff.

    Taking the stress out of inspections

    Audited every 12 to 18 months, having the phone app massively helps with stress. All the data I need is right in my hand, in the app on my phone and synced up to my computer, so I can just print it out, or show the inspector whatever they need. It’s a massive, massive help.

    I guess I use the app multiple times a day, whether it's for the cows or for the sheep. I couldn't be without it now! I really like being able to link a calf or a lamb directly to its mother when I’m out in the field. So, if I have a problem and need to bring a cow and calf in, I can bring them in as a pair without having to go back to the office and look at passports. It’s great.

    Value for money, backed by great support

    At lambing and calving time, our pedigree information is input correctly and quickly and definitely speeds up the process. I did have a problem registering a calf about a month ago, and I rang the support team. They were brilliant. They sorted it there and then, and the calf was registered within ten minutes.

    When it comes to knowing when animals are ready for market, because I’m weighing them regularly, I can judge more easily when they're going to be ready to fetch the best price.

    Improved efficiency and record retrieval

     The efficiency of logging and accuracy of my medicine records has also definitely improved over the last six months. Before, when I’m applying medicines, I'd have notes on my phone with a tag number, or bits of paper shoved into my coat pocket. And I’d spend weeks going through them and writing them into a booklet for the Farm Assurance Scheme. Now, I log the information in the app as soon as I inject an animal. To be honest, my medicine records are a lot more accurate, and checks for meat withdrawal are really quick. 

    “… I would say, go for it!”

    If someone was thinking about getting the app, I would say go for it. It's made my life a lot easier, and I think our animals are probably healthier for it as well. I haven't got to worry about bits of paper any more! I have better, more accurate data whenever I want it, and that saves me time and money. It really makes the subscription good value for money.

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