Teulu Owen, Red House Cefn Gwlad

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-THE OWEN FAMILY

-It's a glorious morning.

-I'm in Montgomeryshire...

-..visiting a farm I'd called Ty

-Coch, but its name is Red House.

-It's in Aberhafesp, outside Newtown.

-A young couple has been farming here

-for two years...

-..Huw and Sioned Owen.

-Their son, Dafydd Robart,

-is a student at Llysfasi College.

-All in all,

-the farm's future seems bright.

-Huw and Sioned

-will tell us their story.

-The young family moved here

-from Tywyn in Meirionnydd...

-..where Huw has his roots - his

-family farms at Sandilands...

-..and they also run

-Bryn y Mor caravan park...

-..as a thriving family business.

-More land was needed

-to expand the business...

-..and this farm

-in the fertile Severn Valley...

-..came on the market.

-You were fortunate to be able to buy

-a farm of this size.

-It came on the market

-at the right time.

-We had been looking

-at various places and areas.

-We were fortunate...

-..because farms of this size don't

-come on the market very often...

-..in Wales.

-This farm happened to come up

-at the right time.

-It came with a decent block of land.

-This is paradise!

-There's no place like it.

-There's no place like it.

-

-No.

-It's looking at its best today.

-We're looking down the valley -

-towards where?

-Caersws is below us, over there,

-beneath the trees.

-Further on, there's the main road.

-The valley leads up to Llanidloes.

-Does your land extend

-as far as that tractor?

-Yes - can you see the tractor

-in the ploughed field?

-That marks the boundary.

-There's another boundary

-where those sheep are.

-Does spring come early?

-Yes, down in the valley.

-You'd be surprised.

-Sometimes, the river

-breaks its banks in winter...

-..and there's heavy flooding.

-But the fields dry out very quickly.

-How long have you

-been breeding Limousins?

-Yes, we've been

-breeding Limousins...

-..it must 35 years.

-There weren't many Limousin breeders

-when we began.

-We were among the first

-to bring them to Wales.

-You know the Drysgol-goch family and

-Brian Jones of Bailea, Sennybridge.

-How large is your herd?

-At the moment, we have 110 cows.

-Our ultimate aim is to have

-a completely pure-bred herd.

-In order to increase the herd,

-we've had to buy some stock...

-..the black cattle.

-We've been buying them

-at the market in Welshpool...

-..throughout the summer.

-You want to increase the numbers.

-Yes, to get things going.

-You have a lake, over there.

-Do you fish?

-Do you fish?

-

-No, unfortunately.

-I think Arthur created the lake

-when he built the milking parlour.

-There wasn't enough water.

-Arthur created the lake.

-Red House used to be one of the

-area's most prominent dairy farms.

-I knew the late Arthur Davies well.

-Hafesp was the prefix

-of his Holstein Friesian herd.

-Huw and Sioned

-have continued to use this prefix...

-..with their Limousins...

-..which now graze

-these beautiful hillsides.

-These are your cattle.

-Are those the black cattle

-that you bought?

-Yes - all the red cattle

-are pure-bred...

-..and the black cattle

-were bought throughout the summer...

-..in Welshpool.

-That's a nice red calf

-beside the black cow.

-Yes.

-We like to buy a fairly beefy type.

-We like a decent shape.

-It won't be long

-before you'll have a pure herd.

-No.

-Our aim is to breed them ourselves.

-Our aim is to breed them ourselves.

-

-They're nice cows to work with.

-Although all cows are rather wild,

-these days.

-Generally we put a lot of effort...

-..into getting rid of heifers

-that don't behave.

-We remove them - we don't keep them.

-We remove them - we don't keep them.

-

-Very wise.

-We sell them as stores.

-We sell them as stores.

-

-Do you always sell at the market?

-Yes, at the livestock market.

-We like to give our support

-to the market.

-That's important,

-extremely important.

-It's something

-my father believed in strongly...

-..and as a family,

-we're following his lead.

-Of course, Welshpool

-has the best market in Europe.

-Yes, we're very fortunate.

-There are several markets, really.

-We sell everything

-through the market.

-What stands out,

-down all the generations...

-..is the effort you put in.

-You have to make an effort.

-Over 20 years of hard work

-has brought us to this point.

-You try your best.

-When I left school,

-we had Sandilands.

-We've expanded the business

-from there.

-The business has grown

-and it's quite big, now.

-Fortunately, the whole family

-plays a role in the business...

-..my sisters, Bethan and Sian,

-and Geraint, Dad and I.

-You have a caravan park too.

-You have a caravan park too.

-

-Yes, it's another key element.

-We have diversified.

-That's an important word -

-diversification.

-My father and my grandfather

-started diversifying many years ago.

-We have about 150 pure-bred ewes.

-You've been breeding Texels

-for many years.

-Yes, it must be about 30 years.

-Really?

-Do you register all of them?

-We registered all of them

-until we moved here two years ago.

-Sadly, there's such

-a lot of work involved...

-..so we're keeping them pure,

-to cut down on paperwork.

-You choose your work.

-Do you keep the sheep at home, or

-send them away on tack in winter?

-They stay at home, and

-they're kept inside for lambing.

-We're adapting

-the buildings and sheds...

-..for our own purposes.

-They're very smart sheep.

-It's an attractive farm.

-You have hedgerows

-that provide shelter.

-The sun is shining today.

-It's a sunny spot.

-Yes, this hillside

-is particularly sunny.

-Spring comes early.

-Sunshine adds a great deal of value

-to the land.

-It's good to have sunshine.

-That's a lot of sheep, Huw.

-Yes, quite a few.

-I'm putting them through

-a foot rot bath today.

-You have to keep an eye on the feet.

-Yes, definitely.

-It can become a problem

-if you don't keep an eye on things.

-What proportion of twins do you get?

-Scans usually work out at about 180.

-That's not bad.

-We're happy with that.

-We don't want too many.

-Excellent.

-Sioned, the sheep look well.

-They're fat, Dei.

-Are you here to check

-that things are done properly?

-Yes!

-Do you like working

-with cattle and sheep?

-Yes, it's better

-than being in the house.

-I hate being indoors -

-I prefer to be outside.

-It's better than preparing food.

-You'll be very busy

-when lambing comes around.

-I'm not looking forward to it.

-It's hard going and stressful.

-You should focus

-on selling those lambs in Welshpool.

-That's right!

-That's right!

-

-That should raise a smile!

-I should say!

-How are you settling down?

-Very well.

-It's a gradual process.

-It isn't easy to move to

-a different area and start afresh.

-We've taken over a farm,

-moved to a different area...

-..and we're getting to know people.

-Are there many Welsh-speakers

-locally?

-Not many.

-Gwyneth, our neighbour,

-speaks Welsh.

-But there aren't many

-Welsh-speakers.

-Your parents can come and visit.

-It's not so bad for me...

-..because I lived in Machynlleth

-before we got married.

-Then I lived in Tywyn for 18 years.

-I've now returned

-to Montgomeryshire.

-That's right.

-That's right.

-

-To "the gentleness of Montgomery".

-You have the accent.

-Your mother came from Llanilar.

-Your mother came from Llanilar.

-

-Yes, she was a Cardi!

-She was a Cardi!

-I think it was more difficult

-for Huw to move.

-I had already moved once.

-Huw had never left Tywyn.

-I think he found it more difficult

-than I did.

-What concerned me most

-was the fact that Dafydd was 16...

-..and he was taking his GCSEs.

-It was best not to change schools

-in his final year...

-..so we stayed in Tywyn

-until he'd done his exams.

-Before we bought the place, I told

-him he'd have to make new friends.

-How would he settle?

-And he said, "Mam, you can worry

-about making your own new friends.

-"Let me worry

-about making my own friends."

-And that's how it was.

-He has settled down very well.

-He has settled down very well.

-

-He's just like his mother!

-I wouldn't know about that!

-I wouldn't know about that!

-

-Or just like his father?

-Yes, he's just like his father!

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Red House Farm is in the village

-of Aberhafesp, outside Newtown.

-Huw and Sioned Owen

-moved here two years ago.

-It's a superb farm.

-Almost every inch of the farm

-is suitable for ploughing.

-WHISTLING

-The farm occupies 450 acres

-of fertile land...

-..stretching from the rolling hills

-and down the Severn Valley.

-The river is up to its banks.

-We had some flooding last winter.

-It's a mighty river.

-Do you have land on the other side?

-Yes, we have nine acres there.

-Luckily, in summer,

-we can ford the river at this spot.

-But in winter,

-we have to travel four miles...

-..up through Caersws

-and along the main road.

-How many acres of land

-do you have in the valley?

-We have about 150 acres,

-including this part.

-Really?

-You have lots of lambs.

-Did you buy these lambs?

-Yes, most of them.

-Store lambs.

-That's right.

-Do you buy lambs in Bakewell?

-Yes, that's where we go.

-You remain faithful to an old habit.

-It has worked

-for the past two years...

-..though I don't know

-about this year.

-We'll keep trying.

-There must be over 1,000 sheep

-in this area.

-Probably about 1,500.

-Really?

-It's unbelievable!

-Huw!

-Hello, where are you?

-Where are you?

-I'm here.

-This crop of rape is incredible!

-Will the lambs graze all of it?

-Will the lambs graze all of it?

-

-I hope so, that's the idea.

-When did you sow the crop?

-The week after the Royal Welsh Show.

-In July.

-July is the best month

-for sowing rape.

-It grows well.

-We've been fortunate this year -

-rain came when it was needed.

-You can say what you like

-about cake...

-..just give lambs plenty of rape

-and enough time to eat it.

-It's the best way.

-But you must have plenty of land.

-It's worked out well.

-The field needed ploughing.

-This is giving us a crop

-that will fatten the lambs.

-Do you have a map

-showing the way out?!

-Follow me, Dai bach!

-Follow me, Dai bach!

-

-I'll follow you!

-This way.

-Sheep and beef cattle now graze

-the green acres of Red House Farm.

-It used to be a dairy farm...

-..and the home of a great local

-character, the late Arthur Davies.

-Gareth, a farm worker,

-has worked for both owners.

-He knows the land

-better than anyone.

-He has helped the family

-to settle at their new home.

-These cows are in calf, are they?

-Yes, they're due to calve

-any day, now.

-They're in good condition.

-You'll soon be bringing

-all the cattle inside.

-Yes, for the winter.

-These were brought inside...

-..because we don't want the calves

-to grow too big.

-They're getting good food.

-They're getting good food.

-

-Silage is all they get.

-Of course, you worked here

-with Arthur.

-Yes, for about 14 years.

-Really?

-Ever since I left school.

-And now you work for this family.

-Yes, Huw and Sioned and Dafydd.

-Yes, Huw and Sioned and Dafydd.

-

-Things are looking good.

-It must be interesting.

-Things have changed -

-it used to be a dairy farm.

-Yes, the change was substantial.

-It's nice that the family took over,

-with no need to split the farm.

-Dafydd Robart

-is Huw and Sioned's son.

-He's certainly

-a chip off the old block.

-This young man is determined to

-follow in his father's footsteps.

-Farming is in his blood.

-You've started your own flock

-and it's increasing nicely.

-Yes, it numbers about 23, now.

-It's a flock of pure-breds, is it?

-Yes, that's the intention.

-It's a bit of an experiment, really.

-Are you breeding

-for the fatstock trade?

-Yes.

-Conformation is the important thing.

-I'm looking at their hindquarters.

-Sheep from places like New Zealand

-have poor hindquarters...

-..compared with these.

-As a breed,

-their legs aren't the best.

-But they're good for the plate.

-But they're good for the plate.

-

-Yes, they're good for the plate.

-You're at college, aren't you?

-You're at college, aren't you?

-

-Yes.

-And where is that?

-And where is that?

-

-Llysfasi.

-I've also spent a year at

-Glynllifon, but I'm at Llysfasi now.

-This farm is closer to Llysfasi

-than Glynllifon.

-Yes.

-Are you enjoying the course?

-Well, it's quite good.

-Yes, it's quite good.

-I should imagine you're very keen

-to come home to work.

-Yes, I am.

-That's what I hope to do.

-If Taid will allow it.

-Your father could delegate a lot

-of the work, when you come home.

-You and your father

-are very similar.

-Excellent.

-Come on, girls!

-Alright?

-You're in your seventh heaven,

-Sioned.

-That's right, Dai.

-You're not breeding from these

-at the moment?

-They're having a year off.

-The way the market is at the moment,

-there's not much point in breeding.

-Only the very best horses

-are selling.

-Maybe next year.

-You've been keeping horses

-ever since you got married.

-When I was a child,

-I had a riding horse.

-Then boys came into the picture, of

-course, and horses were forgotten.

-I sold my horse.

-Then when Dafydd started school,

-I was keen to buy a pony...

-..to give me something to do.

-I bought that mare -

-the old mare, she's 27 years old.

-Her name is Morlena Ivy.

-What about this one?

-She's a useful mare.

-She's her daughter.

-Gwynfaes Culhwch is her sire.

-She's won a medal.

-I've been showing her,

-and she's done quite well.

-She can move, too.

-She can move, too.

-

-I'm sure.

-Huw told me to bring you this bag.

-Is that right?

-No, Dai - you must be confused!

-You must be confused!

-I didn't ask for any bag!

-He said, "Take this bag."

-I was hoping I'd got that right!

-There's nothing I can do

-with this bag.

-Let's see.

-Shall I hold the bucket?

-No, it's alright.

-Come on, then, girls.

-Hoy!

-The mares are on a diet patch -

-that's why they're here.

-They tend to put on weight.

-You won't find many diet patches

-here.

-When they're not breeding,

-they tend to grow fat.

-But as you said, there's no point

-in breeding if you won't make money.

-I'm thinking

-about starting to sell again.

-When you start breeding,

-if a nice foal comes along...

-..you want to keep it,

-but the numbers increase quickly.

-The cobs give Sioned

-a lot of pleasure.

-Increasing quality and numbers

-among the beef stock...

-..is a far more serious matter.

-Here's the bull

-that drives the business.

-That's an impressive bull.

-This is our old stock bull.

-Cowin Geronimo.

-From Carmarthenshire?

-Yes, bred by Dyfan Mawr.

-How old is he?

-He's five or six years old -

-almost six, probably.

-How many stock bulls do you have,

-between you?

-We have this one next door.

-We also use artificial insemination,

-to a certain degree, with heifers.

-We don't want too many bulls

-on the farm - they can be a problem.

-They break fences and so on.

-This one has a tendency.

-Do you like cattle, Dafydd?

-Yes, if they're in decent shape.

-Interest is an important thing.

-Do you cross-breed with British

-Blues for commercial cattle?

-Yes, we've done so in the past.

-We may as well face facts...

-..it's become a very popular

-form of cross-breeding nowadays.

-Blue on Lim, or Lim on Blue.

-Yes, they're popular with butchers.

-Crossing Belgian Blue with Lim

-produces quality meat.

-Butchers like them.

-It's almost as good

-as the meat from Welsh Blacks.

-Almost!

-Not quite!

-Two against one -

-I'd better leave it!

-That's dangerous talk!

-No, I shan't argue with them!

-It's so good to see a father

-and son, and a young family...

-..bringing new energy

-to Arthur Davies's old farm.

-The future is full of hope

-at Red House Farm.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

-.