Removing the barriers to the uptake of electronic recording of sheep flocks

This pilot project aimed to work with up to 1500 eligible sheep farming businesses to better understand their concerns about the use of EID technologies and to provide them with access to information, training and support relating to the practical benefits of electronic recording.

P1000050 300b The project utilised a combination of online training and provided a financial incentive of £500 for participation and to encourage the use of technologies that would ultimately lead to increased operational efficiencies and improved performance.

Participating sheep farmers provided a range of information with data obtained online via the online registration process, on completion of the web-based training and via follow-on surveys.

The information gathered focussed entirely on collecting on participants previous attitudes and experiences of recording (electronically or manually), on their experiences in using EID equipment and software to date as part of this project and what they would hope to achieve through the continued use EID recording on their flock.

The project ran from November 2014 to August 2015.

A total of 1966 businesses registered to participate and 1716 businesses completed the project.

Click here to read the summary of the project findings.

The full report can be found here.

Testimonials

“We can now make decisions based on facts rather than opinions and in-turn we can monitor how the sheep respond to the management changes so it does help avoid potential arguments!”

Rhys Edwards, Hendre-Ifan-Goch Farm, Bridgend
“The stick reader and basic software package has been a very good introduction to the benefits of EID within my sheep enterprise.”

Richard Roderick, Newtown Farm, Scethrog
“Normally we have to read all the tags manually but this year we were able to scan the ewes with the EID reader. It made such a difference not to have to struggle to read an ear tag and making out the number.”

Llew Thomaas, Llygad-yr-Haul, Carmarthen
“It was the project that prompted me to take the decision to invest in the equipment which will really help improve the performance of the flock.”

Jack Foulkes, Marchynys Farm, Anglesey
“Accessing individual records whilst handling the sheep was not a priority so a stick reader seemed the right choice for us. Batch management has become so much easier.
Keeping it simple has meant that we have a data collection system that is easy to access, and we can keep records in a format that we can understand and interrogate easily.
We used to spray mark the sheep to identify who has had what treatment, but now we just swipe with the stick when administering medicines, and make a note on the spreadsheet.”

John Davies, Cwmbetws, Eglwyswrw
“Recording electronically has released sufficient time in the business so that interrogating barren and lameness figures can now become a reality.”

Gethin Evans, Rhosgoch, Llanilar
“Having made that initial effort, I now save so much time. With the handheld reader I now have individual records at my fingertips when working with the sheep. It is still very early days, but I reckon the use of EID will really prove its worth.”

Gerallt Francis, Penllwyn, Llanfyllin
“ chose a handheld reader as I thought it would suit my farm system the best - I am interested in accessing individual records while working with the sheep. I have found it simple to use; not really that complicated after all.
The handheld reader is nice and easy to use, I just needed to get used to downloading the data onto the computer back in the office. As I got more familiar with it, I was able to start interrogating the data on a per ewe basis to help review performance trends.”

Richard Jenkins, Upper Llifior, Berriew
“I was concerned that using EID would create work for me, but it is the exact opposite; I get better quality decision making information, more quickly, and I’m using the reader to help me undertake batch control, record medicine treatments and capture scanning results.”

Dafydd Davies, Pontargamddwr, Tregaron
“Despite our best efforts we also found mistakes were made when we recorded everything by hand. Sometimes the bits of paper ended up so wet we could hardly make out the numbers. The odd recording sheet had also ended up in the washing machine!”

Gethin Jones, Heol Feiniog, Pontsian

This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007 - 2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union. Disclaimer. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken in its preparation, no warranty is given as to its accuracy, no liability accepted for any loss or damage caused by reliance upon any statement in or omission from this website.