So when he asked us to choose a bullock and read out its eartag number we played rough and chose a Simmental-cross whose ears were so hairy the tag number was obscured except for the last digit - a six. But that was no problem for Mr Burrough. Within seconds his phone had made contact with the distant computer and the phone’s screen showed that this farm had three bullocks whose tag numbers ended in a six.

Only one of them was a Simmental-cross. Closer inspection of the bullock’s eartag confirmed it was the one in question. By pressing the appropriate keys on the phone, the screen showed information such as the animal’s age, how long it had been on farm, whether it was in retention for a BSPS claim and which claims had been made.

The mobile phone was able to contact the distant computer and obtain information from it because it was WAP-enabled; WAP stands for Wireless Application Protocol. “That’s all you need to know about the mobile phone side of it really,” says Mr Burrough.

“I accept that some farmers will not want such instant access from the field, the cattle yard or the auction market, but they will be interested in the computer program and central database which the mobile phone contacts and which they could contact just as easily through their home computer if they have internet access.” Access to a computer is necessary to send new information to the database.

The Cattle Controller program has been developed by Mr Burrough, a farmer’s son with experience of business use of information technology as well as the complexities of modern day cattle records.

It has many features in common with other cattle recording programs on the market, but claims its unique points include the weekly e-mail to users giving warnings of cattle approaching critical dates such as BSPS qualifying ages and retention periods, the fact that it is rented by the month, and of course the ability to access it via WAP mobile phones.

The central database is secure - only the user can access his data - and reliable, says Mr Burrough. It is backed up — copies made of the information - several times a day. Back-up copies are removed from the premises and held in fireproof storage overnight.

At any time users can print off lists of their cattle, either the whole lot or just those in specified categories. The program monitors stocking rates for extensification payments and can be used to predict the position several months ahead.

When cattle are born, bought or sold and their data is entered into the program a movement record is automatically made. Movement records in the form required to meet legal obligations can be printed out when required.

At present Mr Burrough has not included medicine and treatment records, nor does the program make passport applications or notify cattle movements to the British Cattle Movements Service. But it could if the demand was there, he says.

He will be offering the service for £10 a month. Anyone with internet access can try out the programme (www.CattleController.com) or seek further information (info@CattleController.com). The next step is a free one-month trial after which the agreement can be confirmed or cancelled. After the free trial month a fee of £10/month is charged by standing order. The agreement can be cancelled at any time and the user’s data downloaded.