Overview
Caryl Hughes farms in partnership with her family (J.E.Hughes & Son) at Tuhwntirafon, Llanarmon D.C. They farm approximately 900 acres of land, with 60% rented across four distinct blocks. The main holding is an upland farm where the farmyard is situated at an elevation of 1000ft, and the land elevates up to 1600ft.
Livestock includes 1200 Welsh Mountain ewes and 300 Welsh Mule ewes. The farm maintains replacement ewes, consisting of approximately 280 Welsh and 70-100 Mule. Scanning rates are 120% for the Welsh and 165% for the Mule ewes. Lamb sales begin with Texel crosses from the Mules in late June, followed by Welsh and Mule lambs from September. Fat stock and store animals are sold through live markets. Additionally, 25 Limousin cross dairy type suckler cows calve in spring, and around 30 young weanlings/stores are purchased annually for grazing, with some heifers retained as replacements.
Two projects will run alongside the farming operations, focusing on sheep health and performance. The first project will examine the effects of two different footbath solutions on sheep lameness. The second project will investigate whether bolusing tup lambs increases their weight gain and overall performance, aiming to reduce the number of lambs sold beyond four months post-weaning.
The project will also contribute to the Sustainable Land Management outcomes including:
- Maximising resource efficiency
- High animal health & welfare
