iLivestock is proud to support Love Lamb Week, the annual campaign that showcases the sustainability and quality of UK lamb.

Love Lamb Week, which runs from 1 to 7 September 2023, is a collaborative initiative by AHDB, the statutory levy board for agriculture and horticulture, and other industry bodies and organisations. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of eating lamb, especially among younger consumers, and to highlight the hard work and dedication of sheep farmers across the country.

As part of the campaign, iLivestock is featuring some of its users who offer high-quality lamb from their native breeds. These include:

• Jayne Carter of @ryecroft_rare_breeds in Wigan, England. Jayne runs a family farm where she breeds pedigree registered Coloured Ryeland sheep and produces high-welfare, outdoor reared, grass fed lamb, hogget, mutton and pork.
• Julie Comins of @elchies_animals in Moray, Scotland. Julie and her husband Brian run a farm with 300 British Boer goats and 100 Ryeland and Ryeland cross sheep. They sell their goat and lamb meat in their on-site farm shop and online.
• George Sturla and Hollie Blockley of @beeches_farming in North Wales. George started his solo part-time farming venture in 2016 with seven sheep. Now he and Holly have more than 150 breeding ewes, suckler cows and store cattle. They deliver lamb and beef boxes to local households.

Flock performance

Elchies Estates Farm, Beeches Farm, and Ryecroft Farm are some of the businesses that offer grass-fed, free-range, and high-welfare lamb from their family farms using iLivestock to manage their flocks, improve their performance, and sell their meat directly to customers. Technology can help sheep farmers enhance their businesses and reach new markets.

iLivestock CEO and co-founder Ewen Wardman said:

“We are delighted to join the celebration of UK lamb and to support our users who produce this delicious and nutritious meat with the use of iLivestock to monitor and record their animal data. We hope that this campaign will inspire more consumers to enjoy British produced lamb.”

To find out more about Love Lamb Week, visit the official website or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

How a trip to China inspired a revolutionary app for livestock farmers

Have you ever wondered how iLivestock came to be? Our CEO and co-founder Ewen Wardman has recently shared the story behind the creation of iLivestock in a podcast by Agri-EPI Centre, as part of a series about the latest advancement in agri-tech.

In the podcast, Ewen reveals that the inspiration for iLivestock came about while he worked for a tag company that installed a large-scale RFID system on a pig farm in China. He noticed that the farmers there were using their smartphones to take pictures of EID tags and jotting down notes beside them. This led him to think of creating an app that could streamline the process.

In the following years, Ewen and his team have spent a lot of time on farms, learning from livestock farmers in Great Britain and South Africa to fully understand needs and challenges of their potential users. This had led to the development of an offering of livestock management software and hardware products to help farmers monitor a livestock’s weight, health and performance, as well as meet the sustainability and environmental standards required by the industry.

Small-scale famers form a large part of the livestock sector and need tech innovations that fit their needs and budget. iLivestock caters to a fragmented industry where existing tech products are too costly or unsuitable for small farms.

Try it for free

Want to give iLivestock a try for your farm? Download the free demo and see what you think.

Meet Damian Barson, a first-generation farmer at Tessleymoor Farm who is using iLivestock to manage his 200-ewe flock of Swaledales and English Mules and further grow his flock on his new farm in Yorkshire 🐑🐑🐑

Damian is a renowned dog trainer, but in 2021 he made the switch to become a sheep farmer. Damian works with iLivestock because he wanted to incorporate a flexible system into his rather new farming venture to manage his sheep and other animals on the farm.

He started with nine Ryelands and has grown his flock to 200 sheep of various breeds, including Swaledales and English Mules. Recently, he relocated from a 64-acre farm in Lancashire to a larger farm in Yorkshire with more land and farm buildings and plans to grow his flock with a minimum of 300 sheep to lamb in 2024.

Sheep management

The iLivestock farm management platform helps Damian to be accountable for his lambing and to keep track of his records for this year and the next. He likes that iLivestock is app controlled, that he can access it from his phone while he is out in the field 👨‍🌾📱

Farm highlights

📍 Tessleymoor Farm / Coville House Farm, Bouthwaite, Harrogate, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
🚜 Sheep farmer
🐑 200-ewe flock of Swaledales and English Mules

iLivestock features used on the farm:

• Breeding records
• Weighing
• Medicine recording
• Blow fly strike
• EID Reading

iLivestock partners with Edinburgh University to offer an online course on data-driven farm animal practice

iLivestock, a leading provider of farm management software and data-driven hardware technology, is proud to announce its collaboration with the University of Edinburgh to deliver an online course on the power of data in farm animal practice. The course aims to up-skill farm animal professionals in data science, allowing them to use and interpret on-farm data for improving health, productivity and welfare of their animals.

The course consists of five modules, each lasting two hours, covering topics such as data collection, analysis, visualisation, and application. iLivestock helped put together the first two modules, which are now open for enrolment. The first module introduces the concept of data and its impact on farm animal productivity, health and welfare. The second module focuses on data-driven performance and growth monitoring, and teaches participants how to weigh livestock and measure growth rates using various methods.

The course is designed for anyone who works with livestock or has an interest in farm animal health and welfare, such as farmers, veterinarians, advisors, technicians, researchers, and students.

Farm management

iLivestock’s platform is featured as a case study in both modules, demonstrating how it can turn a smartphone into a powerful farm management tool. The app allows users to record and keep track of data easily and efficiently, and provides useful insights and recommendations based on the data. The app also integrates with other technologies such as electronic identification tags, weigh scales, and cameras, to automate data collection and analysis.

Collaboration partners

The course is delivered by the University of Edinburgh’s Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, in collaboration with SRUC, Agri-EPI Centre, SEBI Livestock, Peacock Technology, Royal School of Veterinary Studies, and iLivestock.

Ewen Wardman, iLivestock’s CEO and co-founder shared his excitement:

“We are excited to be part of this online course that teaches the value of data in farm animal practice. Data is essential for making informed decisions on any livestock farm. Data-driven applications like iLivestock have transformed the way farm management is done. We hope that this course will inspire more sheep and cattle farmers to adopt this technology.”

To find out more about the course, please visit the course website.

iLivestock, a Scottish company that develops innovative solutions for livestock management, has been highly commended for its eWeigh system at the AgriScot Innovation Awards 2022.

The eWeigh system is a smart and affordable device that allows farmers to weigh and record their animals with ease and accuracy. The device connects wirelessly to a smartphone app, where the data is stored and analysed. The app also provides useful features such as animal identification, health status, breeding history and performance indicators.

The eWeigh system was praised by the judges for its simplicity, functionality and value for money. They said it offered the benefits of advanced weigh indicators at an entry level price, and that it was developed, tested and built in Scotland.

The AgriScot Innovation Awards are an annual event that showcases the best new products and services in the agricultural sector as part of AgriScot. They are sponsored by The Scottish Farmer.

It was Nofence Grazing Technology that went home with the Innovation Award. As explained by the Scottish Farmer's own editor Ken Fletcher and presenter of this year’s event: “It has been a tough job this year but we were unanimous in our winner which went to Nofence Grazing Technology’s GPS-controlled head collars for cattle, sheep and goats - which allows farmers to graze cattle without the high costs of fencing."

iLivestock's founder and CEO, Ewen Wardman, said he was delighted with the recognition and thanked his team for their hard work and dedication:

"We are very proud of our eWeigh system and the positive feedback we have received from our livestock farming customers. It is a great honour to be highly commended at the AgriScot Innovation Awards and to be featured in The Scottish Farmer. We are always looking for ways to improve our products and services and to help farmers manage their livestock more efficiently and sustainably."

iLivestock's eWeigh system is available to order online or through selected distributors. For more information, visit www.ilivestock.co.uk/eWeigh or call 01234 567890.
​

Flags are coloured icons that you can use to label and filter your animals by any criteria you want 🚩🖍️🎨

How does it work?

You can use flags to mark animals that need special attention, have health issues, belong to different breeds, or have any other criteria that you want to keep track of. You can also filter your animal list or groups by flags to quickly find the animals you are looking for 🔎

There are three ways to add flags to your animals:

• Via the animal: Go to the animal list, find and view the animal, and toggle the flags at the top.
• Via the stock list: Go to the animal list, select some animals by tapping on them, press the floating action button in the bottom right, select 'More Actions' and then 'Flags', and choose the colour.
• Via a group: Go to a group, select some animals (or none to apply to all), press the floating action button in the bottom right, select 'Settings on all group animals' and then 'Flag Colour', and choose the colour.

To filter by flags, use the 'Filter' tool on the right of the search bar and select 'Flags’.

Want to give it a try?

Want to start working with flags? Contact the iLivestock team for more information or visit the support page on our website.

Are you tired of losing track of your livestock? Do you want to know if any of your animals are missing, stolen, or dead? If so, you need to check out the new inventory feature in our app! 📱📋📝

The inventory feature is a smart and easy way to manage your groups of animals. It lets you scan the EID tags of your animals in a field and compare them with the original group. It then creates an auto-group with the missing animals, so you can see who is not there. You can also mark the missing animals as “dead” if necessary 😢

Whether you have sheep or cattle, you can use the inventory feature to keep track of your animals. This feature is especially useful for farmers in South African, who face a high risk of livestock theft. But it’s also relevant for farmers in other parts of the world, who may experience losses due to predators, diseases, or accidents.

iLivestock’s inventory checker:
a simple and effective way to update your livestock numbers

iLivestock is your trusted partner for livestock management. We have been working with farmers for over ten years. We help you with everything from breeding to health to movements to weights to reports. We also keep our software updated and give you the best support.

Inventory support

Have any questions about the inventory section in iLivestock or need additional support? Check out the 'How to use inventory' article in our academy hub.

Want to give it a try?

Farmers who want to try out the new inventory feature can contact the iLivestock team for more information.

Visit iLivestock at the Royal Highland Show 2023!

Are you a livestock farmer looking for a smart and easy way to manage your flock or herd on the go? Do you want to save time and money on record keeping, compliance, breeding, medication, weight recording, and more? If so, you should visit iLivestock at the Royal Highland Show 2023!

Event details

📅 22-25 June
🕘 9:00 - 5:00PM
📍 Royal Highland Centre, EH28 8NB
📺 iLivestock demo, Agri-Demo Area, Thu 22nd, 10:30AM
👀 Stand F 94(A)

If you are looking for a fun and informative day out, don't miss the Royal Highland Show, Scotland's biggest annual agricultural show, from 22nd to 25th June at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh. This annual event showcases the best of food, farming, and rural life, with hundreds of exhibitors, competitions, demonstrations, entertainment, and more.

Live demonstration

One of the highlights of the show will be the iLivestock agri-demo on Thursday 22nd June at 10:30AM, where you can see how iLivestock can save you 8 hours a week on compliance paperwork. iLivestock is a leading livestock management software that uses the latest smartphone and tablet technology to help you keep track of your sheep and cattle records. iLivestock connects to a range of EiD readers and weighing devices, and works online or offline. You can also sync your data across multiple devices and access it from anywhere.

The iLivestock agri-demo will be a live demonstration of how iLivestock works on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, and how it can connect to EiD readers and other devices. You will also see how iLivestock can help you capture and manage your cattle and sheep records, such as breeding, medication, grouping, and reporting information. The agri-demo will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and get feedback from the iLivestock team, who have been working closely with farmers across the world for over ten years.

Come and see how iLivestock can help you make better informed business decisions and increase your profitability, productivity, and sustainability.

We look forward to seeing you at the Royal Highland Show!

iLivestock to showcase its innovative livestock technology at NSA North Sheep 2023

Are you looking for a simple and efficient way to manage your sheep and cattle records? Do you want to use the latest smartphone and tablet technology to make your life easier? If so, you should visit iLivestock at NSA North Sheep 2023 on stand 3.

NSA North Sheep 2023 is a major event for the sheep industry in Northern England. It will take place on Wednesday 7th June 2023 at Bradford House Farm near Ponteland in Northumberland, kindly hosted by JE Woodman & Son. The event will showcase the best of commercial farming in the region, with hundreds of trade stands, seminars, demonstrations and a farm tour.

iLivestock is a livestock management software trusted by farmers around the world. It allows you to weigh, scan and manage your animals on the go, with or without an internet connection. You can also sync your data across multiple devices and access it online.

With iLivestock, you can:

• Keep your sheep and cattle records in one place
• Capture breeding, weight, medication and ultrasound information
• Aid compliance with relevant local legislation
• Create smart groups and perform group actions
• Connect to EID readers and weigh heads
• Generate reports and export them to Excel
• Access live chat, email and telephone support

iLivestock is designed to fit your farm and your routine, whatever that looks like. You can choose from different pricing plans and add-ons to suit your needs.

Don't miss this opportunity to see iLivestock in action and learn how it can help you improve your farm productivity and profitability. Visit us at NSA North Sheep 2023 on stand 3 and keep an eye out for our show offer. We look forward to meeting you!

📅 When: 7 June, 9:00 - 5:00PM
📍 Where: Bradford House Farm, NE20 0HA
👀 Find us on stand 3

Local review

Meet Gerald Horn, a farmer in the Yorkshire Dales:

"I have sucklers and sheep on my farm. I use iLivestock for medicine, EID reading and weighing. I like the iLivestock platform because it is easy to manage."

For more information about Gerald Horn, watch his video.

Shropshire farmer Hayden Woolley uses data to breed wool shedding sheep. He started with 60 sheep and now has one of the largest commercial shedding flocks, breeding EasyCare and Exlana sheep mainly. By 2024, he plans to have all 3000 shedding ewes in full performance recording, almost double his current flock size.

Sheep performance

Hayden is focusing on flock performance to save costs, increase profits and to breed an efficient and sustainable sheep. Some of this year's lamb crop have been sired by imported rams from New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain.

Each lamb is being recorded in the field using iLivestock.

Farm highlights

📍 The Albynes, Bridgnorth, WV16 4SX, Shropshire, United Kingdom
🚜 Sheep and arable farmer
🐑 4,000 ewe flock, mainly EasyCare and Exlana, alongside 700 New Zealand Romneys
🧭 Farm area 1,700 acres: 450 owned; 300 acres of arable and temporary grass, the rest permanent pasture.

iLivestock features used on the farm:

• Group animal records
• Group medicine records
• Breeding
• Ewe performance reports
• Movements register