John Foulkes Cefn Gwlad

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-Come here.

-Hey! Away.

-Come by.

-A LAMB BLEATS

-December 2013

-Come here.

-JOHN FOULKES AND FAMILY

-It's 20 December.

-This is Marchynys Farm

-in Penmynydd, Anglesey.

-It's the home of John Foulkes, his

-wife, Eirwen, and their son, Jack.

-Lambing has already begun.

-The sheep look very happy

-and contented.

-I'd be very happy and contented too,

-with plenty of food before me!

-A LAMB BLEATS

-There we go.

-There's a lot of work involved

-with these lambs, John.

-Yes.

-It gets easier after the first week.

-We hire a machine

-that dispenses milk.

-The lambs are split up

-into two lots.

-There are 50 lambs in here.

-The smallest lambs often do better

-than the larger ones.

-They're sharper.

-Some of the large ones...

-..they're slower.

-The smallest ones are triplets.

-Will you continue

-to rear these lambs?

-Yes - they'll be kept inside.

-Lambs born later are kept outside,

-with creep feeders in the fields.

-They're kept

-with the other sheep and lambs.

-Don't put too many together -

-that's the secret.

-Are older ewes that have been

-sponged the first to lamb?

-Yes.

-I pick out the older sheep

-and the culls.

-We sponge the best ones.

-It improves the value

-of the older ewes.

-You get less depreciation.

-The poorer ones

-are sent straight for slaughter.

-We'll be selling some of them.

-We have a sale

-on the last Monday of the month.

-There's a sale in Gaerwen.

-There's a sale in Gaerwen.

-

-That early?

-They'll be two weeks old

-at the time of the sale.

-A lot of beef farmers

-don't keep sheep.

-They have a few cattle

-in fields at the moment.

-They shouldn't be

-too heavily stocked.

-Things will improve

-when the grass starts growing.

-The weather has been against us.

-That's an amazing sight.

-An amazing sight.

-What are these?

-Sheep with six or eight teeth.

-They'll be lambing in late January.

-They're very heavy.

-The sheep in this pen

-are all carrying triplets.

-These black-headed, cross-bred sheep

-have found a home in Anglesey.

-Are they good sheep?

-They're quite different from mules.

-They're quite different from mules.

-

-We're satisfied with them.

-They keep something in reserve -

-they don't work at 100% efficiency.

-In spring,

-when we have heavy weather...

-..they survive, because

-they keep something in reserve.

-You have bales and a pit.

-We make sure we have plenty of grass

-outside in spring.

-They're turned out with two lambs,

-ideally weighing about 20 kilos.

-This is intensive care.

-There are costs,

-but there are returns too.

-When you keep large animals,

-you have to treat them well.

-And you have to use their size.

-They'd bankrupt me if they

-just gave birth to one lamb...

-..that sold at 15 kilos.

-These black-headed sheep

-can look after themselves.

-Yes, it's what we need.

-They're survivors.

-The sheep look so contented.

-That silage looks excellent.

-Lucky you didn't visit last year -

-our silage was terribly bad.

-Are these sheep kept here

-day and night?

-They're kept outside on slats.

-They're clean - not a speck of dirt.

-We've just...

-The dog wants attention.

-We've put new slats in this pen.

-Plastic slats.

-We'll see how they compare.

-These sheep are home-bred.

-Jack's been trying

-some Scotch Mules.

-How many acres of silage

-do you harvest?

-We make a lot of silage.

-These white sheep are Texels

-and North Country Mules.

-What are your priorities, John?

-Producing two lambs from each ewe?

-Two lambs, that can be sold

-at around 20 kilos.

-I'm happy with the current market.

-But we could change if buyers

-paid more money for larger lambs.

-You're a commercial farmer,

-at the end of the day.

-Yes, we don't have

-any pedigree or show animals.

-Will you bring them indoors

-for lambing?

-We'll be scanning these

-in early January.

-Then we'll start thinning them out.

-We'll take out the triplets first.

-Then we'll take out

-some of the twins.

-We'll start preparing a mix with

-the silage, adding some protein.

-Jack, John's son,

-supervises the lambing shed.

-He's being kept busy.

-Another two, Jack.

-A job well done.

-They don't come much better.

-Two Texel-cross lambs.

-That's a good cross -

-Texel with black-headed sheep.

-These sheep are quite big

-and they eat a lot.

-But they do the job.

-It's good to see these lambs

-arriving in twos and threes.

-But costs start mounting

-when you bring them on.

-They sell well

-when we've finished with them.

-There's less depreciation.

-They're strong lambs.

-Are you waiting for the weather?

-You can't trust the weather yet,

-so we keep them in.

-We had hail

-and a cold wind yesterday.

-What a contrast.

-Snow on Snowdon's peak...

-..and these large, green fields

-busy with little lambs.

-Eirwen, John's wife...

-..is a farmer's daughter,

-a mother and a grandmother.

-She also runs a clothing boutique

-in the village of Menai Bridge.

-She, too, is very busy.

-Hello, there!

-Hello!

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Very well, thank you.

-I've come from the farm -

-they were very busy.

-Do you lend a hand sometimes?

-Do you lend a hand sometimes?

-

-Yes, sometimes.

-Not so much now,

-because of the shop.

-Where did you get the idea

-for the shop?

-It's something I'd wanted to do for

-years, and the opportunity came up.

-I bought the building.

-So far, it's doing well.

-Where do you buy the clothes?

-In London, mostly.

-There are two showrooms

-in Manchester...

-..but most of them are in London...

-..and there's a big show

-at the Kensington Olympia.

-You have two granddaughters.

-You have two granddaughters.

-

-Yes, Erin and Megan.

-They'll soon grow

-to share your interests.

-We'll see.

-You've lived on a farm

-all your life.

-All my life.

-Farming is what we discuss

-at mealtimes - sheep and so on.

-That's how it's always been.

-Now, we can talk a little

-about clothes.

-A month has gone by

-since my previous visit.

-This is another farm

-owned by the family - Tyn Buarth.

-This is where cattle are fattened.

-It's a very busy time for them.

-Feeding is vitally important

-for John.

-Every morning - there's something

-old-fashioned about the routine...

-..he fetches barley

-and mixes it with molasses.

-Nothing could be more old-fashioned

-than molasses.

-Talk about feeding the 5,000 -

-John isn't far behind!

-What's happening now?

-We had a lot of rain yesterday

-and it got into the sheds.

-This morning, I've had to muck out

-and put clean straw down.

-Stay there while I bring the cattle

-back into the shed.

-Don't let any of them go past you.

-I won't.

-Well done for filling a gap!

-Come on, boys.

-Hup, hup, hup!

-They stretch all the way back

-to the Menai Bridge!

-How many cattle are there?

-How many cattle are there?

-

-Did you count them?!

-That's a lot of cattle!

-Hup, boys!

-This is here for security.

-What about the white ones -

-do they sell well?

-White Holsteins -

-don't worry about them.

-They do well enough.

-That's what matters in the end.

-Are all your cattle black and white?

-Yes, Holsteins are my favourites.

-Give me a good Holstein steer

-who can eat and grow...

-..that's what does it for me.

-They're large cattle, aren't they?

-They weigh about 330, you could say,

-on the hook.

-They don't kill out very well.

-They need to weigh about 650

-to make the grade for slaughter.

-Are they out on grass in the summer?

-These were bought

-from August onwards.

-They've spent some time outdoors.

-They won't be going out - they'll be

-sold from the shed as fat cattle.

-They're doing well -

-there's meat on them.

-A good rib and a good loin,

-but their back legs are smaller.

-They have a good rib.

-Would you like a T-bone steak

-this big?

-Not now - but at one time, maybe!

-These have T-bones

-of a marketable size.

-Do they taste nice?

-Friesian-Holstein -

-it's in the marbling.

-These keep the starlings out.

-Is that what they're for?

-They go after the food.

-The starlings are a plague.

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-These cattle are closer

-to finishing, are they?

-Yes, there's some meat on them.

-They've been on this mix

-for almost 100 days.

-I see.

-I give them rapeseed.

-A kilo of rapeseed,

-a kilo of molasses...

-..four kilos of barley

-and 25 kilos of maize silage.

-Corn is good for fattening cattle.

-Those three are the closest

-you'd get to Coca-Cola and chips.

-Having slats underneath them

-saves on straw.

-It saves on straw and time.

-They stay incredibly clean.

-We've put rubber mats on them.

-Some of the cattle

-didn't like lying on bare slats.

-They had trouble getting up.

-It's a lot better with rubber mats.

-Let's have a look.

-I was watching you mix the feed.

-Barley, silage...

-..corn.

-These cattle

-are younger and lighter.

-They're not quite ready

-for the final push.

-There's more silage in this mix.

-Again, they get a kilo of rapeseed,

-a kilo of molasses...

-..three kilos of barley,

-and more silage.

-Half of it is silage and maize.

-There's something very old-fashioned

-about using molasses.

-Years ago, when cattle

-were given chaff...

-..you had to add molasses to it.

-Yes, and back then,

-you used a bucket to handle it.

-In about a month's time,

-we'll change their diet.

-It'll be more like the others' diet,

-to fatten them up.

-Their colouring varies a lot.

-Yes - some are all white.

-And red cattle.

-There must have been a red Holstein

-bull - we're getting red cattle.

-There are two over there.

-It's like opening

-a box of chocolates!

-Yes, a few surprises!

-But there's a lot of work involved,

-isn't there?

-Then there's the food.

-Do you buy the barley?

-Do you buy the barley?

-

-Yes, we buy the barley.

-And you grow the corn

-and the silage.

-That's very handy, John.

-We creep-feed the lambs.

-There's a little more

-than a ton in here.

-I'll drive it up

-to the creep feeders.

-Once I start the engine,

-it'll soon fill.

-There's no need to handle bags.

-I buy it in bulk - it's cheaper.

-Farmers have to take care

-of the grass...

-..they have to take care

-of the stock...

-..and take care of the husbandry.

-And the starlings!

-They're like pigs, aren't they!

-Before I installed the netting,

-there'd be a million of them.

-They were like a sea.

-Did you count them all?!

-Yes, John is an affable man

-and he's good company.

-He has areas of land

-within a 15-mile radius...

-..in Penmynydd, Llangaffo

-and Penmon.

-Having to move animals

-from one place to another...

-..and having to travel

-around to feed them...

-..is hard work, but his animals

-receive excellent care.

-We're in Penmon now.

-Penmon, yes.

-This is for wintering, is it?

-Yes, for wintering -

-the ground is dry.

-It makes a difference.

-They're fine yearlings.

-Did you buy them for breeding?

-Yes. They're Scotch Mules.

-Most of them are carrying lambs.

-The biggest problem is that

-a lot of them are carrying twins.

-I don't allow any of them

-to rear twins.

-I turn them out with one lamb.

-That allows them to grow -

-that's important.

-And you get an extra year

-out of them.

-Yes.

-It all helps.

-John and Eirwen have been blessed

-with three children.

-We've already met Jack.

-Today, the daughters, Sara and Elin,

-are at home.

-You've come home, and you're

-taking a look at the sheep.

-It's good to be home from the city.

-You live in Cardiff, don't you?

-Yes, I live in Cardiff.

-What do you do?

-I'm a physiotherapist.

-Interesting work.

-Yes - I'm kept busy, but I enjoy it.

-What do you do, Elin?

-I've been living in Llyn

-for about a year and a half.

-I live on a beef and sheep farm,

-with Harry.

-Harry did well last year.

-He came very close

-to winning a competition...

-..run by the Farmers Weekly.

-He was in the top three

-for Beef Farmer of the Year.

-He did very well.

-He's busy with lambing now, is he?

-Yes, he's quite busy with lambing.

-There's always something

-that needs doing.

-I teach at a local primary school,

-in Botwnnog.

-It's good to see you at home,

-with the sheep.

-Excellent!

-This is a handy trailer, Jack.

-It's very handy.

-Did you have it custom-built?

-Yes, by a company called Parkhouse,

-based in the north of England.

-What is its length?

-It's 26 feet long,

-split into six compartments.

-The ramp works on hydraulics.

-The old man isn't getting any

-younger, he can't lift the decks!

-Who wants to lift decks?!

-Do leave the decks inside

-when you lift the sheep decks?

-You leave them inside and lift them?

-Yes, up to the roof, and then

-we can use it for cattle.

-It takes less than ten minutes.

-You have lots of land

-scattered about.

-You can no longer move sheep

-and cattle on foot along roads.

-The trailer is kept busy.

-We used to use a Land Rover

-and a small 12-foot trailer.

-We were back and forth all day.

-This trailer can carry

-three equivalent loads at once.

-We save on diesel too.

-I know you're a lot younger

-than your father and me...

-..but was this

-a once in a lifetime purchase?

-Yes - a one-off

-expensive purchase...

-..instead of spending less,

-but spending twice.

-What are you doing now?

-I need to carry out EID scanning.

-We scanned them to see how many

-lambs they're carrying...

-..earlier in the year.

-I need to enter the information

-into the system.

-I'll come with you.

-I'll stand and watch you.

-The sheep are in good condition.

-Yes - they've had a good season.

-We scan the sheep and keep records

-of their performance.

-We've fitted EID ear tags

-on most of the flock.

-A few of the older sheep

-don't have them.

-You must find it useful,

-if this is the second year.

-Since they have EID ear tags,

-I may as well us it.

-This is second season

-I've been collecting information...

-..from scanning and lambing.

-It'll take about three years

-to gather enough data...

-..to help me make decisions.

-It's an extra job, but I hope

-it will bring benefits.

-I want to weed out

-unproductive sheep.

-The system

-is quite expensive, isn't it?

-Yes, it has cost

-about 1,000, all told.

-The system I have is quite simple.

-The software is on a laptop at home.

-The ewes in this group

-are carrying twins.

-I'm just scanning the ear tags

-and registering two lambs.

-Is it sent to a computer?

-Yes, I'll dock it with the laptop

-later on.

-It all goes into the software.

-It forms a record

-of what each sheep has produced.

-If, in two or three years' time...

-..the records show a ewe has

-produced a single lamb each year...

-..I can decide what to do with her.

-Other ewes may have bred

-two good lambs each year.

-Those are the ones to keep.

-That's right.

-But for older farmers who are more

-used to traditional ways...

-..it's a completely different

-scenario.

-Yes, the job changes and

-we must become more efficient.

-Each and every lamb

-makes a difference.

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