Farm Smart: Transforming dairy farming: How Guy Ford and Herdwatch revolutionised Manley Old Hall Farm in Cheshire

Farm Smart Case Study

In Cheshire, Guy Ford uses Herdwatch to simplify dairy records, improve breeding decisions, and save time on a busy 320-cow grazing system.

Cheshire, UK 320 Cow Dairy Herd Kiwicross / NZ Holstein

Guy Ford farms in partnership with his parents at Manley Old Hall Farm in Cheshire. Together, they run a 220-hectare dairy enterprise with 320 cows.

Guy Ford using Herdwatch to manage herd records.

A structured grazing system built for performance

The farm runs a spring calving system in a tight 10-week block. This requires strong planning and teamwork.

“Focus on the systems and KPIs specific to your farm. Set clear targets and make the system work for you.”

Improving dairy farm management UK with Herdwatch

Guy has used Herdwatch for over eight years. Before that, the farm relied on paper records, which were slow and error-prone.

“Herdwatch is an extra pair of hands. It’s easy to use and gives you all the information at the touch of a button.”

Now, all key events are recorded instantly on mobile. This includes births, movements, breeding, and treatments.

Better breeding decisions

Guy reviews historical data to make better breeding decisions. This improves herd performance over time.

Simple audits and reporting

Reports are quick to generate and easy to share. This removes stress around inspections and saves valuable time.

“The app makes audits much easier. Everything is accessible and ready when you need it.”

More time for what matters

The biggest benefit has been saving time. Evenings are no longer spent catching up on paperwork.

“The greatest benefit by far is spending more time with family.”

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

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