Damian Barson

Farmer story

Damian Barson

Damian Barson is a renowned dog trainer, but in 2021 he made the switch to become a sheep farmer. He uses iLivestock, a smart farming app, to manage his farm and achieve his goals.

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 Yorkshirewith more land and farm buildings. His new farm will include sheep breeds that are more suited to the land and farming system. He plans to continue to increase his flock in the next few years - with a minimum of 300 sheep to lamb in 2024 - on his journey to becoming a successful first-generation sheep farmer.

Tessleymoor Farm / Stonehouse Farm, Chop Gate, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
200-ewe flock of Swaledales and English Mules

Livestock farming

I started with sheep in May 2021. I was renting a lot of land for training dogs and decided to remove the cost of grass cutting by buying a few sheep. Shortly after this, I was offered the opportunity to rent a working farm that had fallen into disrepair. I began to renovate the property and fence the 64-acres of land. A year later, I had my first lambing season; it was a steep learning curve, hard work, but a new adventure.

I use iLivestock to record all the information about my sheep and also my goat herd. I can easily record their movements, medicines, breeding records, and blow fly strikes. I also have an eWeigh system that connects to my phone and allows me to capture weights and breeding data straight into the app. I like how user-friendly and integrated iLivestock is, and how it gives me real-time information that I can access whenever and wherever I want.

I was using spreadsheets to keep track of the sheep, which did not give me the flexibility and functionality I needed. That’s when I started to research different software options, trying to figure out how I could automate it, and what I could do with it. After an initial chat with Ewen (CEO and Co-Founder of iLivestock Ewen Wardman) about the benefits of a livestock management platform, I decided to give iLivestock a try and moved all my data from spreadsheets to the app.

Sheep management

Working with the iLivestock app was easy to do and I was impressed by how much easier it was to manage animal records this way. I have been using iLivestock for over a year now and I am very happy with it. I use iLivestock for all livestock except pigs, and adapted the cattle section for the goats. One of the most useful features is when a sheep is down in the field, I can instantly access their medication record, preventing any inconsistencies or overdosing of medication. It is also invaluable as part of the breeding programme, as it quickly identifies sheep that are not in lamb for consecutive years, which can then be moved on to market.

I am lucky to have the help of a friend one day a week on the farm but apart from that, I work alone. iLivestock saves me so much time and stress by keeping all my records in one place. It helps me monitor and improve the health and productivity of my flock. It also helps me comply with all the rules and standards that apply to sheep farming.

I like how user-friendly and integrated iLivestock is, and how it gives me real-time information that I can access whenever and wherever I want.

I was able to get a grant last year to invest in some Rappa equipment and an EID reader from iLivestock. The Rappa system is very useful for creating temporary pens and handling areas for the sheep. My plan is to set up some sort of permanent drafting system on the new farm, where I can use the weight crate and the eWeigh system in one place.

New farming practices

The new farm in Yorkshire is not only an increase in acreage, it’s also a different environment in which to farm. The elevation rises from 160 metres to 290 metres above sea level, which means that it can be battered by wind, rain and snow from all angles. For this reason, I am thinking about a change to a breed of sheep more suited to this environment. I will be looking at sheep that are hardy, adaptable and will thrive on poor quality pasture. However, I am tempted to keep some of my English Mules because they are good all-round sheep that mother well and produce good lambs. They are also easy to handle and have good temperaments. Ultimately, I am looking to produce a premium product with all meat sold directly from the farm or to local suppliers and butchers. I would also like to diversify my income by offering workshops and experience days with local charities and community groups.

With these goals in mind, I will continue to use iLivestock. In my experience, I have to say it’s a great livestock management software. My tip for anyone who wants to try it is to go at it with an open mind. Do not compare it to what you have used before, because it might be different and better. Be willing to adapt and learn new ways of doing things. Start small and see how it works for you. And don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need help. The support team is very friendly and helpful.

One of the most useful features is when a sheep is down in the field, I can instantly access their medication record, preventing any inconsistencies or overdosing of medication.