Farm Smart: Utilising cloud-based technology to streamline farm operations in Lutterworth

In 2013, Simon Deacon made a major career change, moving from managing IT systems into full-time farming alongside his parents. Based in the village of South Kilworth near Lutterworth, the Deacon family has been farming for more than 100 years.

Today, they run a diversified enterprise made up of 300 acres of permanent pasture and a further 300 acres of arable land. Since taking on a bigger role in the business, Simon has focused on improving livestock performance, refining systems, and bringing a more efficient approach to farm management.

A mixed farm with a clear livestock focus

Under Simon’s management, the family has expanded cattle numbers from 100 to 170. The business now buys in store cattle rather than rearing calves on farm, allowing them to focus on finishing animals more efficiently.

The cattle are mainly dairy cross breeds and are predominantly finished indoors on straw during the winter months. Simon works with Kelvin Cave to formulate a diet feeder ration that supports growth, performance, and good overall condition.

Alongside the cattle, the Deacons also manage a flock of 300 Mule breeding ewes. These are put to a Suffolk tup and lamb in March, before being sold liveweight through the local market after lambing.

Feeding, forage, and regenerative thinking

Three years ago, the Deacons introduced a diet feeder, which transformed their feeding system. It now allows them to provide a more balanced ration based largely on home-grown feed.

That feed includes crimp barley, beans, and herbal ley silage, helping the family reduce reliance on bought-in feed while maintaining a productive and practical system.

With support from Severn Trent and ongoing soil health trials, Simon has also helped push the arable side of the farm towards a more regenerative approach.

This system helps support soil health, spread risk, and naturally suppress blackgrass, while fitting well with the wider mixed farming business.

Using Herdwatch to improve farm operations

Simon started using Herdwatch around eighteen months ago and quickly found that it helped streamline everyday management. One of the first things that impressed him was how easy it was to get started.

When choosing a farm management system, cloud-based access was a major priority. For Simon, that made Herdwatch the obvious choice.

Using data to improve individual animal profit

Simon has found Herdwatch especially useful in helping him focus on individual animal performance and profitability. The app’s automated insights feature plays a central role in that.

One feature he particularly values is the kill sheet upload. This allows farmers to upload images of kill sheets, market dockets, or processor documents directly into the app.

Herdwatch then extracts the key information and adds it to the relevant animal’s profile. Once that data is in the system, the automated insights feature provides a clear view of livestock performance across the farm.

Better organisation through groups

Another feature Simon has found very useful is the ability to create groups. This helps the family organise animals for practical jobs like selecting cattle for slaughter or managing stock across different sheds.

Grouping animals in this way speeds up day-to-day handling and also supports better feeding decisions, as the family can monitor where stock are housed and manage body condition more effectively.

Why cloud-based tools matter

Simon strongly believes that cloud-based tools have an important role to play in the future success of farm businesses. For him, better access to information leads to better decisions, stronger efficiency, and more control over costs.

By combining practical farming knowledge with live, accessible data, Simon is building a system that is more efficient, more informed, and better positioned for the future.

You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.