Farm Smart: Top Marks in the Bord Bia Audit courtesy of Herdwatch
Co. Clare pedigree Limousin breeders Brian and Teresa Kelly farm alongside Brian’s parents in Kilnaboy — and recently received top marks in their Bord Bia audit with the help of Herdwatch.
Kilnaboy, Co. Clare is home to Leana Limousins — the herd of Brian and Teresa Kelly, who farm alongside Brian’s parents, Timothy and Mary. Together, the family runs 40 pedigree Limousin cows, breeding bulls and heifers for sale to commercial and pedigree farmers throughout Ireland. Their goal is straightforward: to produce the best quality animals possible, with the best star ratings achievable.
A bull ranked in the top 1% — across all breeds
For any pedigree breeder, the quality of the bull is everything. The Kellys are in a strong position — they own a bull ranked among the highest-indexed pedigree bulls in the country. Furthermore, he sits in the top 1% for both replacement and terminal indices within his own breed and across all breeds.
Paperwork was a torment — until Herdwatch
For years, farm paperwork was a persistent struggle for the Kelly family. Important details were written on scraps of paper that then got lost. It was time-consuming, unreliable, and a constant source of frustration. About five years ago, however, they decided enough was enough. They signed up to Herdwatch and have not looked back since.
Recording everything — even a 25kg bag of meal
Brian describes himself as meticulous when it comes to records. As a result, everything goes into Herdwatch on the day it happens — whether it is a feed purchase from the co-op or a remedy treatment in the yard. The discipline of recording immediately means nothing gets lost and nothing needs to be reconstructed before an audit.
The same approach applies to remedy treatments. When animals are in the crush, Brian enters what they received into Herdwatch straight away. Consequently, the medicine book is always up to date — without any effort at the end of the day.
Top marks in the Bord Bia audit — and an impressed auditor
The Kelly family recently had their Bord Bia audit. Their records were so thorough and well-organised that the auditor was completely blown away. In total, they received top marks — a reflection of the consistent, real-time recording approach Brian has maintained throughout the year.
For Brian and Teresa, the value of a clean Bord Bia audit goes well beyond the inspection itself. Moreover, it carries real commercial weight when buyers come to the yard.
A strong audit result also signals to other farmers — who talk among themselves — that this is a farm where things are done properly. In the pedigree breeding world, that reputation matters.
Brian uses Herdwatch for the following on the farm:
- Feed purchases — recorded on the day, from the co-op or farm store
- Remedy treatments — entered in the yard at the time of treatment
- Medicine withdrawal periods — visible on the phone at all times
- Bord Bia audit reports — generated from year-round real-time records
- Herd information — accessible anywhere, on any device
You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.
No more rooting for paper the week before an audit
For the Kelly family, Herdwatch has turned farm paperwork from a persistent torment into something that takes a few seconds at the time — and is always ready when the auditor arrives.
“Herdwatch has brought a huge change to our farming life. It has definitely made things more efficient.”
Join Brian, Teresa, and over 22,000 farmers using Herdwatch to simplify farm records, stay Bord Bia compliant, and build a farm with a reputation to match.