Farm Smart: Streamlining Bord Bia Compliance: Revolutionising Farming in the West of Ireland with Herdwatch
Moyard, Co. Galway farmer Tomas O’Toole has used Herdwatch for over 10 years to stay on top of Bord Bia compliance, manage a mixed sheep and suckler enterprise, and even demonstrate the app to the next generation of Irish farmers.
In the rugged landscapes of Moyard, Co. Galway, Tomas O’Toole runs a 200-acre mixed livestock farm that blends tradition with modern efficiency. He manages both sheep and suckler cattle across varied ground — and has relied on Herdwatch since he started farming in 2014 to keep everything organised and compliant.
A dual sheep system: lowland and hill flocks
Sheep farming is at the core of Tomas’ operation. He runs two distinct flocks across the farm. His lowland flock consists of Suffolk X Belclare ewes — known for excellent mothering ability and strong lamb growth rates. His hill flock is made up of Lanark sheep, a hardy breed well-suited to the challenging terrain of the West of Ireland.
With over 230 ewes plus replacements, Tomas sells lambs either to the factory or as store lambs, depending on market conditions. It is a flexible system built for consistent turnover.
Spring-calving suckler herd: quality over quantity
Alongside his sheep, Tomas runs a 15-cow spring-calving suckler herd, using a Charolais stock bull to breed top-quality Limousin and Charolais cross calves. All weanlings — rated 4 and 5-star — are sold in October, keeping the system streamlined and profitable.
By linking Herdwatch to his ICBF account, Tomas can instantly access pedigree data, star ratings, and breeding insights — helping him make smarter decisions about his breeding programme and herd quality.
Farm schemes and Bord Bia compliance
Tomas is an active participant in all major farm schemes. Staying on top of compliance requirements is a significant part of running his operation. The schemes he participates in include:
- Bord Bia Quality Assurance
- Sheep Improvement Scheme
- Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP)
- Beef Welfare Scheme
- SBLAS
Before adopting Herdwatch in 2014, Tomas relied on paper notebooks to keep track of treatments, feed, and spray records. It was inefficient and time-consuming. Now, everything is recorded digitally in real time, straight from the yard.
How Tomas uses Herdwatch every day
For Tomas, Herdwatch covers every aspect of farm record-keeping and compliance. In particular, four areas make the biggest difference to his daily routine:
Bord Bia inspections and cross-compliance. Herdwatch has simplified the process of maintaining accurate records. Tomas can quickly retrieve information on animal movements, remedies, and treatments — without the need for paper documentation.
Remedy and treatment tracking. The app allows Tomas to track all remedies purchased and used, including dosages and treatment reasons. Real-time data collection ensures compliance and keeps health records accurate.
Breeding and stock insights. Tomas uses the breeding section to register calves, track pedigree, and monitor weight. With Herdwatch linked to ICBF, he can check star ratings directly in the app and make more informed decisions about his breeding programme.
Movement certs and documentation. Movement certs and other necessary documents are completed and stored digitally. As a result, Tomas can access them instantly — whether for an inspection or a sale.
Educating the next generation of Irish farmers
Tomas is not just focused on his own farm. He is also investing in the future of Irish agriculture. He is currently building a new slatted house on an out-farm to improve housing for his livestock.
Furthermore, as a Teagasc Better Sheep Farm host and Green Cert training farm, Tomas regularly demonstrates Herdwatch to visiting students — showcasing how technology can make farm management easier and more efficient for the next generation.
You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.
Bord Bia compliance — sorted in seconds
Tomas has used Herdwatch for over 10 years to stay compliant, manage his flock and herd, and keep everything organised across a 200-acre mixed enterprise — all from his phone in the yard.
“I use Herdwatch all the time for my Bord Bia inspections. It’s brilliant and gets me through every time without fail.”
Join Tomas and over 20,000 farmers using Herdwatch to take the stress out of compliance, simplify record-keeping, and get back to farming.