Geraint Thomas Cefn Gwlad

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-There's nowhere like Wales

-when the weather is fine.

-Today, it's glorious.

-I'm in the Llangennech area,

-not far from Llanelli.

-This is Ty'r Eglwys Farm...

-..the home of Geraint and Sheryl

-Thomas and their children.

-Geraint's parents,

-Rhys and Margaret...

-..don't do much on the farm,

-these days.

-They live in a lovely cottage

-nearby...

-..that looks out over this paradise.

-The farm specialises in Ayrshire

-and Holstein dairy cattle.

-These excellent cows

-produce milk of the highest quality.

-I look forward to spending some time

-with the family.

-June 2016

-Rhys Thomas has transferred

-the management...

-..of Ty'r Eglwys Farm,

-Llangennech...

-..to his son, Geraint.

-But the joy of seeing the cattle,

-and the show cattle in particular...

-..remains strong.

-This is the group I'm preparing

-for this summer's shows.

-A group of eight or nine.

-It's a case of slow cooking.

-By the time they reach boiling

-point, they'll be ready for showing.

-Ayrshire cattle have become a very

-popular class in recent years.

-Yes, they have a strong presence

-at many shows.

-I hope to take

-two of these Ayrshires...

-..to the show

-in Birmingham next week.

-You prepare cattle for shows.

-I know that Holsteins

-are fairly quiet, as a breed.

-What are Ayrshires like -

-are they nice?

-Yes, they're just as quiet.

-Perhaps they're not quite as easy

-to clip.

-Some of them can be obstinate.

-A man comes in to clip them.

-Professionals

-know what they're doing.

-Nowadays, at the shows...

-..cows' udders

-are closer to perfection...

-..than they've ever been.

-Yes, that's a crucial feature -

-udders full of milk.

-When you go to the big shows...

-..it's important

-that you get them right.

-It's not so important

-at one-day shows.

-You have to get the timing right.

-You aim for a little too much milk -

-you can always draw some of it off.

-It's better than having too little

-milk with no time to produce more.

-When you face the judge at 11.00am,

-that's that.

-To make it clear to viewers at home

-who aren't farmers...

-..you exhibit on the Tuesday

-at the Royal Welsh Show...

-..and your day begins at 4.00am.

-Our work starts at 6.00am

-on the Monday, really.

-Are they good enough for the show?

-Yes, I think so.

-You've had years of experience.

-I've never had

-the same skills as Geraint.

-He's been exhibiting for many years.

-I was a late starter.

-But it's amazing how your support

-makes the job easier for Geraint.

-Yes, of course.

-It's a pleasure to see these cows -

-you've put a lot of work into them.

-Leading in the ring is a tiring job.

-Leading in the ring is a tiring job.

-

-Yes, it is.

-Sometimes, a cow won't cooperate

-and doesn't want to be there.

-But it's an amazing feeling

-when you're holding that halter.

-Yes, it's great.

-You'll put up with a lot.

-Yes - if you're in the running

-to win, you put up with it.

-I've had a few wins at the shows.

-Hard work paid dividends

-in front of a large audience...

-..at this year's Royal Welsh Show.

-This was a class

-for a group of three dairy cows.

-They came very close to winning.

-It's not just a matter of hard work

-on the day of the show.

-This is where it begins.

-We have three different groups...

-..low yielders, high yielders

-and show cattle.

-The mix I've just prepared is

-for high yielders and show cattle.

-You feed them once a day, do you?

-Yes, and it's the same

-throughout the year.

-It makes things easier for everyone.

-It means we have more spare time

-in the evening.

-You use a pit for storing silage.

-Yes - we don't make many bales...

-..though we do make some haylage

-and some fourth cut bales...

-..where baling is cheaper.

-Judging by the smell of this silage,

-I'd say the quality is pretty high.

-We try to achieve three good cuts.

-We aim to make the first cut

-on 1 May.

-This year, cutting took place

-on 8 and 9 May.

-We're ready to cut again

-but the weather has been against us.

-You feed the cattle

-in the evening, do you?

-Yes - we keep high yielders and show

-cattle inside throughout the year.

-Milk prices aren't so good

-at the moment...

-..but it's still important

-to feed cattle...

-..in order to maintain yields

-and produce healthy calves.

-Cows must produce a calf every year.

-There's light at the end of the

-tunnel, where milk is concerned.

-Prices are rising a little.

-But we've been in the tunnel

-for a long time.

-I think they're putting bulbs

-in there!

-Yes, it's starting to shine!

-The past two years have been tough.

-But what can you do?

-This is in my blood.

-We don't give up

-when things aren't going well.

-Cattle may not care

-about such things...

-..but there are magnificent views

-of the River Loughor...

-..from their home in Ty'r Eglwys,

-above the other farm buildings.

-This is a wholesome place

-for calves.

-Yes, that's important.

-We built this shed ten years ago.

-Young stock need fresh air.

-We have two yards.

-This is what we call the top yard.

-After weaning, when the calves

-are three months old...

-..we move them up here.

-It's healthier for them.

-The other shed is huge, too.

-We can keep 100 cattle up here.

-They're in loose housing.

-When they're older, the in-calvers

-are kept in cubicles.

-You use both AI

-and dairy breed bulls.

-But I've noticed a few Herefords -

-is the sweeper a Hereford bull?

-That's right.

-Cows must produce calves.

-We usually sell Herefords as calves.

-We've had TB problems, but now

-that we've passed the test...

-..I hope to sell them.

-Where do you sell store cattle?

-Where do you sell store cattle?

-

-In Carmarthen.

-Carmarthen is only

-20 to 25 minutes away.

-We're very close to Llanelli.

-Is there music in your blood?

-Do your children take an interest?

-No, I have rugby in my blood.

-I used to play rugby

-for Llangennech, for several years.

-Now, I'm giving something back

-to the village.

-I coach the under-eights

-at the rugby club.

-My son will play

-with the under-eights this year.

-Shouting at children makes a change

-from shouting at cattle!

-It's nice to have a break from work.

-A farmer works day and night.

-A farmer works day and night.

-

-It's nice to do something different.

-Rhys, Geraint's father, has the task

-of keeping an eye on the hens.

-How many hens are there?

-About 30.

-Enough to keep you supplied?

-That's right.

-That's why we keep them.

-That's why we keep them.

-

-Of course.

-I'm the only one

-who looks after them.

-It's nice to hear the sound of hens.

-Go on.

-Go on.

-

-You don't have a cockerel?

-No nonsense!

-Get back.

-I can go through,

-but I'm not sure about Dai!

-Dai is smaller than he was!

-You can never have

-too much of a good thing.

-They like mixed corn.

-I'm sure.

-It's like cawl - cawl is great,

-it has everything in it!

-They prefer mixed corn to pellets.

-I see.

-The hens are in good condition.

-Foxes can't get into this enclosure.

-I hope not.

-What's this - an old hat?!

-It's huge!

-It keeps the rain off.

-Yes, that's the idea.

-Of course, you can remember Llanelli

-in its prime.

-You took produce into town

-to sell every week.

-That's right.

-We grew vegetables.

-It was a big part of the job.

-Crops were transported by lorry

-to shops in Llanelli.

-Did you have your own lorry?

-Did you have your own lorry?

-

-Yes.

-Was this in your father's day,

-when you were young?

-I wasn't involved so much.

-We also used the lorry

-for harvesting hay.

-Loose hay, of course.

-And a loader...

-What are they called?

-What are they called?

-

-An elevator?

-Yes, pulled behind.

-I remember them.

-Have you always been a dairy farmer?

-Is this where you were born?

-Yes - my grandfather bought

-the farm, Ty'r Eglwys, in 1904.

-Then there was another place,

-lower down.

-It was called Wern y Cwm.

-My father bought that farm...

-..when he married.

-He sold all kinds of things.

-There was some waste, of course.

-Shall we move on, Rhys?

-We'd better collect some eggs first.

-We'd better collect some eggs first.

-

-You need some eggs?

-You need to collect the profits!

-Quite a few eggs in here.

-Are there lots of eggs?

-I have about two dozen.

-The hens lay their share, I'm sure.

-Rhys and his wife, Margaret...

-..are able to enjoy

-their retirement...

-..in a new house located

-a stone's throw from their old home.

-Throughout my life, I'd wanted

-to build a bungalow on the farm.

-My husband said I'd never

-get planning permission.

-But we got it,

-and we've done what I wanted.

-It's a lovely place.

-It's just like a farmhouse -

-it's quite substantial.

-At the back of the house...

-..we can look down on the farm

-and see what's going on.

-When we were farming,

-I couldn't do much else...

-..because I helped with milking.

-You were outside all the time.

-You were outside all the time.

-

-Yes, with the children behind me.

-When both of us were milking

-in the old cowshed...

-..the children would sit

-in the cake trolley...

-..playing with a bucket!

-You couldn't do that today -

-health and safety would step in !

-Yes!

-Years ago, there'd be someone

-like you at every other farm.

-I'm sure you would agree, Rhys...

-..as they say in English, "A wife

-is the life and soul of a business."

-Yes, that's true.

-My husband has been diabetic,

-you see, for 49 years.

-Really?

-I've told him often, it's lucky

-we sleep in a double bed...

-..because hypos

-tend to happen at night.

-Hypos - when he's low on sugar.

-He starts shaking

-and making a noise.

-I sleep like a log,

-but I wake up at once.

-He's lucky I'm by his side,

-otherwise he'd be dead by morning!

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-Geraint Thomas's

-Holsteins and Ayrshires...

-..at Ty'r Eglwys Farm, Llangennech,

-are wonderful to behold.

-He uses a method of gender selection

-for breeding calves.

-We use sexed semen.

-We use the best cows

-for breeding female calves...

-..which are used

-for further breeding.

-The next generation

-is coming through.

-That's how it works.

-You have equal numbers

-of Ayrshires and Holsteins.

-The Ayrshires

-have increased very quickly.

-Have there always been Ayrshires

-on the farm?

-No, I was the one who started

-keeping Ayrshires, in 2001.

-At the Royal Welsh Show,

-I'd always admired Ayrshires.

-They have good udders.

-I didn't want to start

-another prefix with Holsteins.

-Dad established the Gwynnog

-Holstein herd in 1982.

-I decided to keep Ayrshires.

-I saw an advert

-in the Farmers Guardian...

-..for three Ayrshires in Derbyshire,

-and we bought them.

-One of the three died

-just last year, aged 16 years.

-Ayrshires have changed.

-Yes, they're a lot stronger,

-these days.

-They're sturdy animals.

-We find that the Holsteins

-have greater yields...

-..but the Ayrshires

-have better components.

-What about temperament and calving?

-Many years ago,

-we had a few Ayrshires.

-They were a bit sharp.

-That's right -

-they're not as quiet as Holsteins.

-They take greater care

-of their calves than Holsteins...

-..but you must watch your back.

-Their colours vary.

-Some are darker,

-some are predominantly white.

-The darker cows tend to come

-from Canadian bloodlines.

-Canadian cattle are darker.

-It's nice to see a bunch of them

-outside in summer.

-It's a pleasure to see

-what kind of job you're doing.

-Sheryl, Geraint's wife,

-is a local woman from Llanelli.

-When she isn't

-looking after the family...

-..or working at home

-or in a local cafe...

-..she likes to spend time

-with her dogs.

-Feeding time at the zoo!

-Yes, isn't it!

-These are pets, now?

-Pets - I love them!

-This is Gwen -

-she's four months old.

-This one?

-She's a retriever, is she?

-A golden retriever.

-And Lady is five years old.

-Good girl!

-Are they like guard dogs as well?

-You know when somebody's

-coming down the road

-That's important, when you're

-living in a place like this.

-Of course, you have two children.

-Your son is mad on farming.

-Your son is mad on farming.

-

-He loves the farm and tractors.

-Not so much about the cows, yet.

-I suppose it'll come.

-It's anything with a motor,

-at the moment.

-At this time of year...

-..keeping growth under control...

-..is a constant task

-for Eurig Thomas at Ty'r Eglwys.

-I think this year, dock leaves,

-indeed, all kinds of plants...

-..seem to have leapt up.

-It's good growing weather.

-It's good growing weather.

-

-That's right, Dai.

-Grass has been growing

-very quickly recently.

-Grass is growing strongly.

-Plenty of grass.

-After cutting, you can bring

-sheep in for a few days.

-They'll eat the fine chaff.

-But the dock leaves

-are like rhubarb!

-The fields I cut last week

-are starting to grow again.

-There's fresh grass.

-Are you a local man?

-Are you a local man?

-

-Yes, from just behind those trees.

-Mam and Dad still live there,

-but I live with my fiancee.

-I'm getting married next year.

-That's the fashion, nowadays.

-We never took anyone home until we

-were sure they were the right one!

-I'd better make it clear

-that I've found the right one!

-What's her name?

-What's her name?

-

-Angharad.

-A Welsh speaker?

-Well done!

-She's a teaching assistant

-at Ysgol y Dderwen in Carmarthen.

-What about you -

-were you in the Young Farmers' Club?

-I joined the club in Llannon

-when I was 11 or 12 years old.

-I've worked in New Zealand,

-Canada and Australia.

-Have you really?

-Have you really?

-

-I've seen a little of the world.

-Now, I'm back in Wales -

-no more travelling!

-No, that's right!

-You're stuck where you are -

-we may never see you again!

-Unless my wife comes with me!

-The lower fields at Ty'r Eglwys

-look across to Llangennech.

-A field of corn

-is almost ready to harvest.

-Let's take a look at this field.

-What do you think?

-What do you think?

-

-Where is it?

-It's spring corn.

-Can we see it from here?

-The stile is rather high.

-You can see the whole field

-from here.

-Maybe I'd climb the stile

-if there was 50 on the other side!

-How big is the field?

-How big is the field?

-

-It's 12 acres.

-We were late in sowing this year,

-because of the weather.

-It must have been

-the beginning of April.

-That's early enough.

-It's a nice, even field.

-Yes, it's consistent.

-It's come along nicely.

-Is that the village of Llangennech?

-It's larger

-than I thought it would be.

-Llangennech has grown,

-because it's close to the M4.

-People can commute to Cardiff.

-So we grow this and use it

-for feeding young stock.

-We combine it...

-..and we buy concentrates -

-some cake...

-..and mix it with meal.

-Every pound counts.

-It helps to save on money and straw.

-It all helps.

-There's plenty of work for all

-at the farm, including the children.

-Awen, the youngest,

-prepares feed for calves.

-Her brother, Gethin...

-..is helping his father

-bring the cows in for milking.

-He loves anything with wheels,

-especially tractors.

-The place is full of them.

-There are tractors everywhere.

-There are tractors everywhere.

-

-They're all neatly parked!

-He hasn't just thrown them.

-He hasn't just thrown them.

-

-No, he parks them in a line.

-Like parked cars in a car park.

-So what lies ahead for you?

-We're hoping to go away.

-I'm taking cattle to the All Breeds

-Show in Birmingham next week.

-We need to make silage

-but the weather is holding us back.

-After that, Sheryl and I will be

-going to the Great Yorkshire Show...

-..where I'll be judging.

-We're lucky to have

-a good team of staff.

-Eurig has worked here for years,

-and he's now employed full-time.

-A woman was doing the milking

-yesterday evening.

-She had asked her stepmother if she

-could start learning to milk cows.

-She wanted to learn.

-One evening, I told her,

-"You're on your own tonight."

-She gave me a funny look...

-..but I told her I wouldn't be far

-away, if there were any problems.

-Since then, she's done

-the evening milking.

-It means I have more time

-with the family.

-Have you ever been in the parlour?

-Have you ever been in the parlour?

-

-Yes, I've milked a few times.

-I'm a bit short, though.

-Kicking height is just here!

-More often than not,

-he'll get me to wash up.

-Washing the parlour takes time.

-If I'm on my own,

-it takes half an hour.

-I'm particular about washing up -

-cleanliness is important.

-We produce high-quality food,

-after all.

-If Sheryl washes the parlour for me,

-I can get on with the calves.

-The past 18 months or more

-have been tough for dairy farmers.

-But there is light

-at the end of the tunnel.

-Yes.

-The past 18 months to two years

-have been very tough.

-Prices started falling two years ago

-and they fell quickly.

-They're a third

-of what they should be.

-It's taken years of expenditure

-to make the farm what it is.

-Yes, many years.

-It doesn't happen overnight.

-If we want the business to grow,

-and to make it work for Gethin...

-..we have to invest in it now...

-..to make sure the business

-will be there for him.

-He's just a young boy now,

-but the years fly by.

-What will he be - the fourth

-or fifth generation?

-He'll be the fifth generation.

-My great-grandfather

-bought the farm in 1904.

-He didn't farm it much -

-he passed it on to my grandfather.

-If Gethin wants to stay at home...

-..the outlook is good -

-he's certainly interested.

-He'll be the fifth generation.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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