Kay and Tom Hutchinson: easier livestock EID recording at Bail Hill Farm

When County Durham farmers Kay and Tom Hutchinson began using EID technology with iLivestock in 2016, their aim was to make traceability faster and livestock records easier to manage. Their experience shows how a compliance tool can become a valuable part of everyday farm management.

Kay and Tom farm at Bail Hill, near Barnard Castle, where they have managed sheep alongside pedigree Limousin and Hereford cattle under the Kingshaugh prefix. Their livestock have included 180 breeding ewes, with 100 pedigree Swaledales.

With different species, bloodlines and family-owned flocks to keep track of, accurate records were essential—but capturing and organising all that information created a significant amount of paperwork.

The Hutchinsons decided to introduce electronic identification and connect the information from their animals with iLivestock. At the time, Kay described EID as the direction livestock farming was heading and wanted the family to become familiar with the technology before it became a necessity.

Making identification quicker and more reliable

Recording tag numbers manually meant calling them out and writing them down, creating opportunities for numbers to be misheard or recorded incorrectly. Tags could also be difficult to read in everyday farm conditions.

Electronic reading offered a faster and more accurate process.

Tom recalled: “We scanned 53 sheep this morning in less than a minute.”

This was particularly useful when animals were being prepared for the mart. Livestock could be checked close to departure, reducing the chance of discovering missing or incorrect tag records after a sale.

Routine tasks such as recording treatments and livestock movements also became easier to complete in the field.

One record for each animal

Connecting EID with iLivestock allowed the Hutchinsons to build a more complete history for individual animals.

Sheep and cattle records could be held together and accessed from a phone or tablet. Information such as movements, medicines, withdrawal periods, lambing details, breeding records and farm notes could all be associated with the correct animal.

Having that information available made inspections less stressful and reduced the need for lengthy preparation. It also meant the family was less reliant on memory or separate handwritten records when making livestock decisions.

Supporting breeding decisions

Individual records proved especially valuable during tupping.

Rather than trying to remember relationships from one season to the next, Tom could review pedigree information and trace animals back through earlier generations. This helped the family avoid pairing related ewes and tups.

Clear records were also important because livestock from several family members needed to be managed. Tom’s father and the couple’s children had their own Swaledale and Herdwick flocks, making it useful to distinguish between animals and holdings within one system.

Finding value beyond compliance

EID is often introduced because farmers need to meet identification and traceability requirements. The Hutchinsons’ experience demonstrated how the same information can also support more productive farm management.

Once records are captured consistently, farmers can look back at breeding, lambing, treatment and performance information rather than using EID only for movements.

As Tom explained:

“We can use the data to make the flock more efficient and productive.”

That principle remains important as electronic identification requirements expand internationally. A first investment in compliance equipment can provide a foundation for weighing animals, monitoring performance and making more informed management decisions.

Starting with what the farm needs

Adopting livestock technology does not have to mean changing every farm process at once.

Farmers can begin by identifying animals and improving their digital records. Reading and weighing equipment can then be added as the farm’s requirements develop.

iLivestock brings these activities together through a straightforward identify → weigh → manage approach:

• Identify animals accurately using their EID tags.
• Weigh individuals and monitor changes in growth and performance.
• Manage breeding, medicine, movement and performance information from connected animal records.

Today, iLivestock’s eTagReader, weighing equipment and livestock management software create a connected system designed to be accessible to family-run sheep and beef farms.

Still part of the iLivestock community

Kay and Tom’s story was first shared by Allflex in 2016, when they were beginning to explore the possibilities of connected livestock records.

Ten years later, they remain iLivestock customers. Their experience is a reminder that the information connected to an EID tag can do more than demonstrate compliance. Used effectively, it can save time, improve accuracy and build a clearer picture of every animal.

Subscriber savings on Allflex MSD tags

iLivestock subscribers currently receive 15% off the recommended retail price of Allflex MSD sheep and cattle tags. This offer is available in the UK only.

Subscribers can choose from the available tag options and mix products to suit their flock or herd. To access the discount, contact the iLivestock team. We’ll put you in touch with our Allflex representative, who will help you choose and order your tags directly.

This story revisits a case study originally published by Allflex in 2016. Read the original Allflex article.