Farm Smart: ‘The Small Job That Was Costing Me More Time Than I Realised’
For Co. Laois suckler farmer Adrian Dowling, accuracy was never the problem — time was. Herdwatch changed how paperwork fits into everyday farm life, and now he says “I wouldn’t go back to any other way.”
Adrian Dowling farms near Ballyfin, Co. Laois, in a four-way partnership with his parents and brother. The farm sits at the foothills of the Slieve Blooms, with roughly half its land extending onto the mountain itself. It is a well-run suckler operation — built steadily over more than two decades — and Adrian has always taken his records seriously.
The issue was never accuracy. It was time.
A family suckler farm built over time
The suckler enterprise was established by Adrian’s father in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It started with just seven in-calf Charolais-cross heifers bought from a dairy herd. Over the years, steady investment followed — slatted housing, dry sheds, and calving facilities were added as the herd developed.
The most recent shed, built in 2020, incorporated calving pens and a handling crush. Meanwhile, the land base grew too. From an original 16.5 acres, the farm has expanded through purchases, reclamation, and long-term rental. Today, the family farms 63 acres, with recent opportunities allowing them to buy previously rented mountain ground.
Breeding, docility, and doing the job right
The farm breeds its own replacements and sells cattle mainly as stores, along with a small number of cull cows each year. The herd currently calves 17 cows annually, with plans to increase to 20.
Breeding decisions are carefully considered. The herd carries mixed genetics — Limousin, Charolais, and Simmental crosses — and AI is used extensively. Adrian selects bulls with strong replacement and terminal traits. Above all, however, one characteristic takes priority.
The farm breeds its own replacements and sells cattle mainly as stores. Mixed genetics — Limousin, Charolais, and Simmental crosses — make up the herd. AI is used extensively, with Adrian selecting bulls that balance replacement and terminal traits. Docility, however, always comes first.
The herd currently calves 17 cows annually, with plans to increase to 20 as the farm continues to develop.
Why he moved away from paper records
Before Herdwatch, all farm events were recorded in a notebook at home. That information was then transferred into the official Department herd book. Adrian was diligent. However, certain tasks were taking far more time than they should.
He first heard about Herdwatch from a neighbour. When he joined Bord Bia shortly afterwards, he researched it further. The decision was quickly made.
Recording in real time — as the job gets done
Today, Herdwatch is used daily on the Dowling farm. Adrian records everything on his phone while he is doing the work — treating cattle, weighing stock, checking due dates. In other words, there is no catching up later.
The features he relies on most include:
- Calf registrations
- Medicine treatments & remedy purchases
- Weighing & performance reports
- Field mapping & silage records
- Movement certs & herd compliance reports
Having everything in one place has also transformed how he handles inspections. As a result, audits are no longer something he has to prepare for over several stressful days.
Saving time where it matters most
For a part-time farmer, time efficiency is everything. Adrian is clear about the single biggest benefit Herdwatch has brought to his operation.
Instead of dreading the paperwork, he now records as he goes. Consequently, nothing gets missed and nothing gets forgotten. That shift in how record-keeping fits into the working day has made a real difference.
You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.
I couldn’t recommend Herdwatch enough
More than 20,000 farmers across Ireland already rely on Herdwatch to manage their records, stay Bord Bia compliant, and take the stress out of audit season — from dairy herds to beef and sheep farms.
“I couldn’t recommend Herdwatch enough.”
Join Adrian and thousands of other farmers using Herdwatch to save time, stay organised, and make paperwork the easiest part of the job.