Farm Smart: Peace Of Mind For The Price of A Cup of Coffee
Co. Sligo farmer Nigel Flannery has been using Herdwatch since its launch in 2014 — and now recommends it to every farmer he meets, describing it as “almost as important as the animals themselves.”
Nigel Flannery farms on the shores of Lough Gara in Co. Sligo, running a mixed suckler and sheep enterprise while working full time off-farm. Before Herdwatch, finding time to keep records was a constant struggle. Furthermore, coming from the west of Ireland, poor internet connectivity ruled out most software solutions entirely.
On a bad day, there was no phone signal at all — never mind an internet connection. As a result, any system Nigel used had to work offline and store data securely in the cloud. Phones have a short lifespan on a farm, so data safety mattered too.
Nigel Flannery on his suckler and sheep farm on the shores of Lough Gara, Co. Sligo.
Finding Herdwatch at the Ploughing — and not looking back since
In September 2014, Nigel found the solution he was looking for. He signed up to Herdwatch at its launch at the National Ploughing Championships and has not looked back since. Moreover, over nearly three years of using the app, Nigel has not just been a user — he has actively helped shape how it develops, giving feedback directly to the Herdwatch team on potential new features.
Tagged and registered before he comes in for the tea
For Nigel, the key discipline is recording events at the moment they happen — not later. Calves are tagged and registered before he comes in from the yard. Remedies are logged before he gets out of the van. Consequently, records are always current and withdrawal dates are already there when they are needed — even if a remedy sits unused for months.
In addition, Nigel uses the reminder feature for animals that need a repeat treatment. The blackleg injection, for example, must be given again after six weeks. Rather than relying on memory during a busy period, Herdwatch sends him the reminder automatically.
Spreading the word at a Knowledge Transfer event
Nigel recently attended a Knowledge Transfer event in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, where a vet spoke about the importance of recording animal remedies. The farmers in attendance were struggling with the same paperwork burden Nigel had faced. When they asked what the best solution was, he told them about Herdwatch.
Specifically, he made two points that resonated strongly. First, no computer or computer skills are needed. Second, no internet connection is required to record. His advice was straightforward — try the 30-day free trial and see for yourself.
The price of peace of mind — €2.50 a week
When farmers at the event questioned Nigel about the cost, his response was characteristically direct. Rather than quoting a price, he turned the question around.
At €2.50 per week — the price of a cup of coffee — Herdwatch saves farmers an average of two hours per week, according to a recent survey. For a farmer working full time off-farm, that calculation is straightforward.
€2.50 per week · Saves an average of 2 hours per week · Works offline · No computer needed
Nigel uses Herdwatch for the following on his farm:
- Calf registration — tagged and registered at birth, before coming in
- Remedy purchases — recorded before getting out of the van
- Withdrawal period tracking — already recorded at purchase, ready when needed
- Repeat treatment reminders — automatic alerts for follow-up doses
- Animal movements — movement certs with double-check before finalising
- Offline capability — works with no signal, syncs to cloud when connected
You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.
Almost as important as the animals themselves
For Nigel, Herdwatch solved a problem that other solutions could not — working offline in poor signal areas, keeping records safe in the cloud, and fitting around a full-time job without adding to the workload.
“Herdwatch is almost as important as the animals themselves.”
Join Nigel and over 22,000 farmers using Herdwatch to simplify farm records, stay compliant, and save hours every week — try it free for 30 days.