Hi-Tech solution for one of the UK's largest broiler farms

The increasing use of technology by today’s new breed of farmer is nowhere better demonstrated than in a Shropshire based enterprise which is set to become one of the largest single site Broiler farms in the UK.

Lower Heath Farm in Whitchurch has installed the latest in communications with a state-of-the-art alarm and communication centre from Rotem. Charles Simpson is the second generation of Simpsons to run the farm, still working with his father Alan in running an operation which will soon see the total number of broiler chickens increased to over half a million.

Charles recognises the benefits of using technology to help him in the day to day running of such a demanding business and turned to agricultural ventilation experts Hydor when he decided to expand his existing operation with the addition of three new sheds. The Simpsons are long standing customers of Hydor and already have a range of equipment supplied by the Salisbury based company, including HE, HV and Sidewall fans, plus inlet winch motors, all of which help to maintain optimum temperatures for the farm’s broilers.

The latest equipment supplied and installed by Hydor in a bespoke project are seven Rotem Platinum controllers and the Rotem communicator, the heart of the farm’s new ventilation system, along with all the ventilation, lighting and motors for the farm’s three new broiler sheds.


The Rotem communicator uses advanced communication methods to ensure the modern farmer has access to important information regarding the condition of his livestock, 24 hours a day and from wherever he happens to be. Connection to the farm can be made via phone lines, ADSL, cellular networks, cable modem and satellite. This allows Charles to dial in and check the conditions of the sheds from anywhere, whatever the time, with the added peace of mind that a text is sent to his mobile phone should any alarm be activated, thus allowing a speedy intervention to rectify any problem. This has resulted not only in lower mortality rates in the chickens but also energy savings through improved control over temperatures via the Platinum controllers, a vital consideration in today’s energy conscious society and one which brings with it considerable cost savings. The controllers feature two programme selections: the industry standard ’staged ventilation’ for those requiring minimal programming involvement and the ’advanced dynamic ventilation’ for those who want to be involved in every detail of their environmental programming, all achieved though a large, user- friendly LCD display.

Commenting on the new system, Charles said ""We have worked a lot with Hydor in ensuring that the environment for our chickens is as good as it can be, with things such as underfloor heating and a hotbox on top of the roof. We have already tested the new computer based technology and all the units talk to each other, to the office and to me when I need them to. It is easy to use, has achieved good results, with the increased control showing savings in gas. I suppose I am from a younger generation that is more computer orientated and I just want to make use of the available technology to make my life a little easier."

Hydor Ltd is part of the £70 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.