Wales is known for its rolling hills and rugged mountains, they are an integral part of the iconic landscape and cultural identity. But in addition to this, these hills and mountains are the home and the providers to the Welsh hill flock – an integral part of Wales’ all-important sheep industry.
Approximately 92% of the breeding flock in Wales fall within these upland areas and 72% within what is known as ‘severely disadvantaged areas’. The majority of the sheep grazing these areas are Welsh hill breeds such as X X and X – traditional and hardy.
Adapted to their surroundings and following a diet made up largely of foraged grass, hill lambs are smaller than a typical lamb carcass reared on lower lands. These lighter carcasses have previously been in demand in Mediterranean export markets such as Greece and Spain. However, over the last decade many of these countries have suffered economic difficulties and their consumer requirements have changed. This combined with UK retailers favouring larger carcases has meant a fall in demand for lighter lamb carcases.
However, these Welsh hill breeds, and their sub-types, have remained popular within the farming sector and account for almost 40% of the Welsh ewe flock. Meaning that these hill breed ewes can significantly influence the efficiency and sustainability of Welsh sheep farms and consequently the supply and quality of Welsh lamb.
And it is easy to understand why they are so prevalent; they provide high quality protein from land that isn’t suitable for crops or other species. They are an environmental management tool, maintaining species rich habitats. They are hardy and mobile, make good mothers who need little assistance at lambing time and are able to rear their young from limited resources.
It is with this is mind that Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has launched its Hill Ram Scheme, an ambitious project to advance and champion the Welsh Hill Flock through genetic improvement. The scheme is part of the Red Meat Development Programme, a 5-year strategic initiative funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
The project will look to generate long term genetic improvements in the Welsh flock through the engagement with hill ram producers and utilising DNA-based technologies to enable performance recording to take place in extensive hill environments.
Seven leader flocks have been appointed within the first year of the project. The leader flocks are a core and geographically diverse network of hill farmers who produce a variety of native hill sheep breeds, including north Wales mountain type and improved Welsh. By the end of the project at least 35 flocks are expected to have joined the scheme.
Flocks that join the scheme will be offered support and help with monitoring genetic performance. Typical details which will need to be recorded include: which ewes go to which ram; pregnancy scanning results; ewes needing assistance during lambing; weights of all lambs born and at 18 weeks and scans of the lambs at 16 weeks. All of this data will be submitted for genetic evaluation.
Participating farmers will also set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in order to monitor genetic trends and better understand their business. Training and support will be offered on improving KPIs as well as understanding Estimated Breeding Values and using the DNS technology.
HCC’s Gwawr Parry, who is co-ordinating the project, commented ‘Through this project we are encouraging more farmers to use genetic data to their advantage. Performance recording does add additional work at farm level, but the results are cumulative, sustainable and permanent.’
She continued ‘The project will allow hill farmers to better understand their flock, using the best genetics to increase their finished lambweight without using more feed or losing the hardiness of the breed’
There are also plans to establish Performance Recorded ram sales, offering participating farmers the opportunity to highlight the genetic success of their flock and raise the profile of performance recorded rams within the sheep sector. Support and training is going to be offered to project participants in the run up to these sales.
The long-term goal? To establish increased number of performance recorded hill flocks in Wales as well as stand alone sales. But, the legacy of the project will be in the realisation of the importance of genetic improvement within the hill sector and the wider industry and ultimately allowing Welsh upland and hill farms to become resilient and thrive in the future.
