Gerallt Jones

• Gerallt farms Graianfryn, a 300-acre mixed livestock family farm where he has developed efficient, integrated systems focused on animal health, animal performance and making the best use of home-grown feed. His practical experience across beef, sheep, grassland and forage production gives him a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing livestock farmers.
• The farm has around 300 Holstein × beef cattle, purchased locally as dairy-beef calves at two weeks old. All are reared through a high-health calf-rearing system, designed and managed by Gerallt, before being finished on farm at around 18–20 months. The system focuses on achieving consistent growth rates and efficient use of feed and inputs, with home-grown spring barley forming an important part of the finishing ration within a TMR (Total Mixed Ration) system. Efficient growth, reduced time on farm and the use of home-grown forage and barley help improve resource efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of the system.
• Following advice from animal nutrition specialists through Farming Connect’s Advisory Service, Gerallt has developed higher-protein silage leys incorporating red clover, used across both the cattle and sheep enterprises. This reflects his approach of improving forage quality, maximising the value of home-grown feed and reducing reliance on purchased inputs.
• His 500-strong Highlander × Aberfield breeding flock, crossed with Abermax rams, is managed with a strong focus on animal health and performance, producing lambs for early-season markets. Ewes lamb indoors and lambs are finished on farm using high-quality grass and red clover-based forage and grazing, with no concentrate feed used at any stage.
• Regular weighing and monitoring of animal performance help assess growth rates and informs feeding and management decisions. This measurement-based approach allows Gerallt to assess whether changes made on farm are delivering improvements in performance and efficiency.
• After graduating with a BSc in Agriculture with Animal Science from Aberystwyth University, Gerallt worked for private-sector companies specialising in animal nutrition and animal health, before moving into agricultural field officer roles within Welsh Government and local authority environmental services. This has given him experience of both the practical challenges faced by farmers and the wider technical, environmental and regulatory considerations affecting agricultural businesses.
• Gerallt offers a combination of hands-on livestock experience and strong technical understanding of animal health, nutrition, grassland management, forage production and whole-farm decision-making. As a mentor, he will focus on understanding each farmer’s individual system, identifying factors limiting performance and developing practical, realistic solutions that improve efficiency and profitability. His experience of managing different enterprises also allows him to consider the wider impact of changes on labour, machinery, feed costs and overall farm profitability.

• 300 acres
• 300 Holstein × beef cross cattle, bought locally and finished on farm
• 500 Highlander × Aberfield breeding ewes, with lambs finished on farm

2002: BSc Agriculture with Animal Science, Aberystwyth University

2002–2005: Worked for private companies specialising in animal nutrition and animal health

2005–2012: Agricultural field officer roles within Welsh Government and local authority environmental divisions

“Make the most of what you already have on farm before increasing reliance on purchased inputs, always consider whether an investment will deliver a worthwhile return.”

“Measure performance and costs so that decisions are based on what is actually happening on your farm.”