Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) recently welcomed a group of farmers from Brittany to the Aberystwyth area to share knowledge about how farmers in Wales finish their lambs on grass. The group also wanted to learn more about grass management due to the similar climate.
As part of their 7-day visit, the group spent a day with HCC staff which included presentations about its current projects, mainly focussing on the Welsh Government and European Union funded Red Meat Development Programme (RMDP), and a visit to Moelgolomen farm, Talybont.
At Moelgolomen farm, the group were welcomed by farmer Rhodri Lloyd-Williams and his father Simon. The Lloyd-Williams family are noted for their innovative way of farming on the hills of Bontgoch and were keen to share their knowledge with the group. Rhodri Lloyd-Williams said,
“It’s been a pleasure welcoming the group from Brittany to the farm and being able to share ideas of performance recording and genetic improvement which helps to produce lambs that meet the market requirements whilst still maintaining the hardiness of the traditional hill breeds. Over the past year we have also seen an increase in interest at ram sales and believe that this is as a result of the Hill Ram Scheme which has had a positive impact on the industry.”
The Hill Ram Scheme, part of the RMDP, is the first of its kind in the UK and is intended to encourage Welsh hill farmers to use performance-recorded rams to help produce lambs that meet market specification for a wide range of markets at home and abroad. A total of 29 farms are part of the scheme so far, and form a geographically diverse network with a large range of flock type and size.
James Ruggeri, HCC Industry Development Executive, who hosted the group’s visit to HCC said:
“We were delighted to welcome the group of innovative farmers to the area and share our knowledge and expertise about the red meat industry in Wales. The visit gave us the opportunity to speak to the group about the RMDP and introduce the group to the Lloyd-Williams family who are leading by example in the hill sheep sector.”
RMDP is a 5-year project as part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Welsh Government.