Farm Smart: Using An App To Get Top Marks In The Bord Bia Audit
Co. Clare pedigree Limousin breeder Brian Kelly of Leana Limousins recently received top marks in his Bord Bia audit — and says Herdwatch has brought a huge change to his farming life since he started using it three years ago.
Brian Kelly farms in Kilnaboy, Co. Clare alongside his father Timothy, mother Mary, wife Teresa, and their two children Jack and Layla. Together, the family runs Leana Limousins — a herd of 40 pedigree Limousin cows, breeding bulls and heifers for sale to commercial and pedigree farmers across Ireland. Their aim is simple: to produce the best quality possible with the best star ratings achievable.
A bull in the top 1% — and the calves to prove it
Two years ago, Brian purchased a new bull who has since become one of 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. The results are already showing on the ground.
The quality of those calves feeds directly into Brian’s long-term ambition — to breed bulls of his own that are good enough to go into AI. With a bull of this index and high-index heifers coming through, he believes that goal is within reach.
Paperwork was a torment — until three years ago
For years, farm paperwork was a persistent source of frustration. Important details were written on scraps of paper that then got lost. It was disorganised, time-consuming, and at odds with how Brian likes to run things. When Herdwatch came out three years ago, he decided to give it a try. He has not looked back since.
Top marks in the Bord Bia audit — the auditor blown away
Brian describes himself as meticulous. As a result, every purchase and every treatment goes into Herdwatch on the day it happens. When the Bord Bia auditor arrived recently, the records were so thorough and well-organised that he was completely blown away. The farm received top marks.
The same discipline applies to remedy treatments. When animals are in the crush, Brian enters what they received into Herdwatch straight away. Consequently, there is no scrambling for records before an inspection — everything is already there.
Bord Bia is worth more than just getting cattle into the factory
For Brian, the value of a strong Bord Bia result goes well beyond compliance. It carries real commercial weight — with buyers, with neighbours, and with the wider market. Moreover, it signals to everyone who comes into the yard that this is a farm where things are done properly.
Brian uses Herdwatch for the following on the farm:
- Feed purchases — recorded at the point of purchase, every time
- Remedy treatments — entered in the crush 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, instantly
Looking ahead — bulls good enough for AI
Brian is not resting on what has been achieved. With a top-indexed bull producing high-index heifers, the goal is to breed bulls of their own that are good enough to go into AI. In his view, the combination of genetics and data is what will get them there.
You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.
Record it on the day — and never root for paper again
For Brian, the discipline of recording everything in Herdwatch as it happens has transformed compliance from a source of stress into a genuine competitive advantage — with top marks at audit and a reputation in the yard to match.
“Herdwatch has brought a huge change to our farming life. It has definitely made things more efficient.”
Join Brian and over 22,000 farmers using Herdwatch to simplify farm records, stay Bord Bia compliant, and build a farm with a reputation to be proud of.