Back to School

A Farmer's story

Back to School

Posted on: Monday, October 17, 2011

Back to school…. Back to routine

With children across the country back into their daily routine after the summer break, and days getting shorter, it’s also a ‘routine’ part of the year where breeding sheep are traded. You may have also noticed the eatwelshlamb website has had a bit of a revamp; this is to coincide with the Autumn lamb campaign, the part of year where (if my sources are correct) most Welsh Lamb is eaten!

One can set their calendar during September and October according to where and the name of the sheep sale to be held- a number of which have been established for decades and linked to a specific sheep breed, county or parish. Everyone’s farming system is subtly different and ahead of the so called breeding season, both female and male sheep are bought and sold to provide next year’s lamb crop. We tend not to buy any breeding female sheep as the Lleyn breed we keep lends itself to enabling us to rear our own replacement ewes. However, with part of our flock being pedigree Charollais, this time of year involves selling our surplus breeding rams to other farmers for siring next year’s lamb crop.

We normally sell at 3 auctions, in sales that are organized by the breed society. 2 are down with 1 to go at the end of the month. Finished lamb prices have dipped slightly in the last week, and it’s what one gets from lamb sale returns that dictates what to spend on a sire for next years lamb crop. Let’s hope that prices don’t dip any further ahead of the final sale at the end of the month! This will be a multi breed sale which offers perspective ram buyers the opportunity to purchase more than one breed at one location- similar to a supermarket scenario for buying sheep I suppose.

Whilst a few days will be spent off farm, there’s plenty to be getting on with as we’ll need to be ensuring that our ewes are on a rising plane of nutrition ready for the rams to go in 3 weeks time. Before that though, our rams will need to have their MOT’s to make sure they’re up to the job!

 

 

 

A Farmer's story

Farmer with lamb

Hello there! My name is Myrddin Davies and I’m a North Wales farmer and the ‘Face of Welsh Lamb’ – an ambassador for the brand. I’m passionate about Welsh Lamb and more than happy to praise its high quality, excellent flavour and wonderful heritage to anyone who’ll listen.

So let me tell you a bit about myself. I’m 29 and really looking forward to getting married to my fiancée, Elliw, next year. Our farm, Nant y Wrach Bach, which translates as “valley of the little witch”, lies in the parish of Pandy Tudur, south east of Conwy, North Wales.

We have 180 acres on which we keep 500 breeding sheep, up to 40 beef cattle, and 300 turkeys in the run-up to Christmas. Most of our sheep are Lleyn, a breed which originated from the Lleyn Peninsula in North West Wales. They’re a breed with strong maternal traits which we cross with pedigree Charollais, a meatier breed, to produce our prime lamb.

When I take over from my Father, Gwynfor, in the next few years I’ll be the fourth generation of my family who’ve worked this farm. That’s the kind of heritage and tradition that has helped Welsh Lamb achieve Protected Geographical Indication status from the European Union, which acknowledges these virtues.

We’re really proud of the traditional farming practices which basically haven’t changed much for centuries. Sure, we have a tractor and have adapted the farming system to the 21st century, but apart from that we’re sheep farming much the same way our ancestors did.

It’s the way of life that appeals to me. I love the fresh air and working with the seasons. Sheep farming is about grass, pure water, and letting nature take its course – it’s about as natural as you can get. Simple ingredients that produce a fantastic, high-quality product.

It’s hard work mind and definitely not your typical 9-5 job. But I think it’s more rewarding. And there’s always the challenge of trying to improve and produce better lamb.

But we don’t just produce food; we look after the whole environment. For example, we’re part of an agri-environment scheme that encourages farmers to restore old hedges and plant new ones. It’s our job to help protect the unique environment that’s sustained our way of life for centuries. You could say that sheep farming is essential to maintaining the stunning landscapes we have in Wales.

As the Face of Welsh Lamb my main remit is to talk to journalists and provide an insight into how lamb is produced by showing them round the farm. I also talk to people at shows and fairs about how we produce Welsh Lamb and explain what’s so special about it.

Occasionally, I also take part in cookery demonstrations and discuss the different cuts of meat available, so my experience working in a local butcher’s shop certainly comes in very handy!

 

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