With lambing season on the horizon, optimising the use of modern tools like the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) and Herdwatch app will ensure you are ready for your Bord Bia inspection and create a smooth operating farm system.

Each spring, Irish farmers gear up for the busy and important lambing season. This time of year involves managing the birth of many lambs, ensuring the health of both the ewes and their newborns, and keeping everything running smoothly.

Thanks to improvements in breeding practices and farm management technology, farmers are now better equipped than ever to handle these challenges.

Farmers can ensure they are fully prepared for Bord Bia inspections or farm audits by using the Herdwatch app to easily track and manage their farm records.

The app allows farmers to document essential details such as animal health, breeding, vaccinations, and treatments in real-time, making it simple to stay organised.

When it’s time for an inspection or audit, farmers can quickly generate reports that provide a clear, accurate snapshot of their farm's operations, demonstrating compliance with Bord Bia standards.

With all the necessary information stored securely and accessible at the touch of a button, farmers can streamline the auditing process, save time, and focus on maintaining high-quality, traceable practices that meet industry requirements.

The SIS is a vital part of Ireland's strategy to boost productivity and profitability in sheep farming.

It encourages farmers to choose breeding stock based on performance data backed by science. The goal is to improve genetic traits that lead to healthier lambs and more robust flocks.

A central part of the SIS is genetic selection. This involves choosing rams with desirable traits like easy lambing, faster growth, disease resistance, and overall hardiness.

Farmers who participate in the SIS can access detailed data, including estimated breeding values (EBVs), which predict an animal's genetic potential for traits that impact farm success.

Selecting the right ram is key to smooth lambing. When both the ewe and ram have strong genetics, it reduces complications during lambing and improves the farm's long-term profitability.

While genetics are important, the welfare of both ewes and lambs is just as critical. Maintaining good animal welfare practices during lambing helps prevent disease, reduce stress, and ensure lambs thrive.

This includes monitoring nutrition, minimising stress, and providing veterinary care when necessary, all of which can be recorded on the Herdwatch app.

With the fast pace of lambing season, it’s easy to miss important details. That’s where effective record-keeping comes in.

Thanks to technology, it’s now easier than ever to track the health and welfare of the animals. Detailed records help farmers spot potential issues early, streamline their operations, and ensure their livestock receive the best care.

In the past, farmers had to rely on handwritten notes to track everything, which could be time-consuming and prone to errors.

With tools like the Herdwatch app, farmers can easily record and manage the health and welfare of their flock from their smartphones.

Sheep farmers can use the Herdwatch app to stay compliant with farm assurance and scheme requirements like Bord Bia and the SIS.

The app simplifies record-keeping by allowing farmers to track all the essential information required for these schemes, ensuring they meet all regulatory standards.

For Bord Bia, farmers need to maintain records of animal health, breeding, movement, and medication treatments. The SIS requires detailed breeding records, including EBVs for rams, lambing data, and flock health and welfare information.

Herdwatch makes it easy to track and store this data, generate reports, and ensure that all records are up-to-date and easily accessible for inspections and audits.

By using Herdwatch, farmers can stay organised, save time, and ensure they remain fully compliant with all scheme and certification requirements, ultimately improving farm efficiency and traceability.

Farmers using the Herdwatch app are also eligible for a pre-audit check where trained staff go through your digital records in detail and offer advice on areas that need improvement.

On the call, the Herdwatch staff member will go through your herd and flock reports, remedy purchases and treatments, movement records and more.

The pre-audit check is included as part of the pro complete plan and is a vital tool in ensuring you pass any inspection and remain compliant.

If you would like to hear more about the pre-audit check and join over 20,000 farmers using the Herdwatch app, get in touch today on 0505-34400 or download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store and create your free account.