Rob Moore: Using AgriWebb to secure investment

With a growing demand for green gas, beef cattle farmers are demonstrating a vital role in the UK’s future energy mix. Farm Manager Rob Moore runs a beef unit, supplying manure into an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, successfully creating energy from agricultural waste. However, AgriWebb-powered farm data has been the key to proving the case for investment, enabling him to move forward.

The Need for Data

Prior to AgriWebb, Rob used an alternative livestock software solution. However, he found the fact that it wasn’t cloud-based counterproductive; the stakeholders who wanted to access the data couldn’t rely on it being up-to-date. As COVID arrived and Rob had to isolate himself, it became increasingly apparent that a tool like AgriWebb could truly change the way he ran the farm. And by signing up to the AQM+ package, he had an advisor that was empowered to help him even more. Rob used  insights from AgriWebb to secure investment, improve efficiencies, decrease cost of production, and even aid future planning.

‘I’m constantly astonished by the lack of data farmers are functioning on’. – Rob Moore, Livestock Farmer

Proving the Case for Investment

Initially, Rob wanted to move to zero grazing to drive his philosophy of “trust in grass.” But he also wanted to remain in control of his own feed stocks and include grass in his feed ration. To do so, he needed to secure investment for machinery: a front mower for his tractor and a self-loading wagon. Backed by investors, he had to prove the case for investment with up-to-date, reliable data. By his own admission, this would have been extremely difficult to capture without some sort of software support.

They tested the machinery, knew the theory and the investment required. But they lacked reliable, regular insights until they started using AgriWebb. Since then, AgriWebb has enabled Rob to build up a bank of knowledge about every animal. By taking the cows off fruit and ve, and giving them a stable diet over 12 months, they’ve reduced feeding costs. And they can prove it is working through tracking cattle grades and weights using the livestock business management technology.

In 18 Months, Rob Reduced Feed Costs by 19%

Because AgriWebb is cloud-based, it means everyone from accountants to nutritionists can easily access the data captured on the farm, at any given time. However, Rob still maintains control of who can see and do what on his AgriWebb account.

Gaining investment for the zero-grazing machinery resulted in Rob lowering his cost of production, and he now controls his own feed supply chain. He’s reassured he can feed a large sized herd reliably and sustainably, every day. With digestate from the AD plant going back on the grass, he knows he’s providing his cows with nutrient-rich, organic matter.

Capturing Data Early to Learn Early

Rob and James introduced a weighing protocol at the same time as mucking out. As that happens every four weeks, they capture useful data, regularly. They built a better picture quicker; seeing useful results from the livestock business management app in the first six months.

By capturing all their livestock data and monitoring daily light weight gains, they proved they were already saving money. Within 12 months, performance data informed a collaborative management plan, resulting in increased carcass weight and an improved number of kills per year, from an average of 42 weeks to 48.

AQM+ Partnership = Production Control

Having easily-accessible and accurate farm data really helps empower advisors to help farmers. Rob had support from James Doel and the AQM+ programme. James helped with the transition to AgriWebb, and by analysing the information in the platform, he advises on the best performing cattle (including understanding where the best bought-in cattle came from), helps monitor the best feed-mix, and keeps an eye on weight gains to ensure maximum production and welfare. He helps to assess the bigger picture,while Rob can focus on smooth day-to-day operations on farm.

According to James, “AgriWebb presents information in a clear, transparent manner so you can interpret the data and take action.” And it isn’t just James who uses the livestock business management technology to help Rob. The AgriWebb platform has enabled key stakeholders to talk remotely about the performance of certain breeds and make better informed management decisions, adding value and better production control.

Empowering Advisors to Help with Livestock Productivity

By comparison, arable farmers and agronomists have been accessing similar software models for years, so beef farmers can now make smart and timely decisions through similar insights.

Rob believes some farms are still underutilising the value they hold in livestock, because they evaluate beasts by eye. He says, ‘We need to capture and utilise accurate data to manage our animals’. By being transparent and sharing farm insights and performance, Rob has seen the whole enterprise benefit.

Farming can be unpredictable, but with an experienced team linked to accurate data, Rob finds that they can take a step back and look at the whole business. They can make small but effective changes, as and when required, with experts dipping in and out.

As a result, the farm has improved their ability to measure the feed given to cattle, as well as adjust feed according to live daily weight gain. So, cows meet their target pre-slaughter weight goals, ensuring they are at an optimum weight for a better-quality meat and a higher price.

Visibility and Time Savings with Technology

With constantly updated reporting for financial teams, vets and nutritionists, Rob spends far less time producing reports and handing over insights. The team logs in and accesses what they need, when they need it. They are confident in the farm’s performance because they can see what’s happening for themselves. And meetings by phone or on-farm focus on next steps, not on retrieving metrics from memory.

Rob says, ‘We’ve become completely transparent and gained enormously as a result’.

Changing Old Habits

Replacing old habits and trusting technology rather than reaching for paper and pen takes time and resilience. But Rob sees how worthwhile that change has been for him and the farm. Given the challenges currently facing the sector, for some farmers, human expertise has proved helpful to make the most of their livestock business. This is where Rob has found the AQM partnership so helpful: having guidance to help him innovate has been invaluable, whilst AgriWebb has helped to provide more confidence in both everyday and long-term decision-making.

According to Rob, ‘Capturing data is only half the equation, it’s what you do with it that counts‘.

Improved kill-out

From the insights gained in AgriWebb, Rob and James decided to switch abattoir, achieving a 1.29% improvement on kill-out as a result.  That might sound insignificant, but with each carcass weighing 300kg, that is an additional 3.78kg. In current prices that equals over £16, and makes all the difference.

James thinks that using livestock business management on farm can really empower decision-making. ‘Sometimes a simple management decision can help make a massive difference’, he says.

And that is the real story, that the information that technology can give you, can empower everyone to ensure the farm succeeds well into the future.

Try AgriWebb free for 14 days to see how it can help your farm. Read more about how AgriWebb works with AQM here.