Mon, 13 Nov 2017 Ffermio

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-A warning for farmers

-to be vigilant for diseases.

-If these sheep had MV, I couldn't

-sell them or take them to shows.

-The sheep would lose so much value.

-Also on the programme,

-how much of a challenge is it...

-..to round up sheep on the Carneddau

-for Gareth Wyn Jones.

-We're shouting at each other.

-We don't have any walkie-talkies.

-There's plenty of whistling and

-shouting. That's rounding up sheep.

-Valuable experiences

-for pig breeders of the future.

-A crew of London-based chefs will

-visit me at the end of the month...

-..to improve the link between people

-like me and restaurants in London.

-Over the years, thousands of cattle

-have been imported to Britain...

-..with 37,000 cattle imported

-in 2014.

-This is a way

-to develop new breeds...

-..and introduce new blood

-to the country.

-It also brings its own problems,

-including diseases.

-One disease which struck the UK

-for the first time in 2007...

-..was bluetongue disease.

-It's a disease

-which affects ruminants.

-It doesn't affects

-horses, pigs or people.

-Recently,

-cattle imported from France...

-..have been found with the disease

-in England and Scotland.

-One who's very aware of

-the consequences of bluetongue...

-..is vet and farmer

-Rhys Beynon-Thomas.

-The main symptoms, as the name

-of the disease would suggest...

-..especially with sheep,

-the heads are swollen...

-..there are ulcers

-around the mouth...

-..saliva secretes from the mouth...

-..and there are ulcers

-around the coronary bands.

-The tongue can swell up

-with a little infection.

-With cattle, the symptoms won't be

-as visual in the early stages.

-There can be swelling

-in the udders.

-Often, the only symptom

-is a high temperature.

-The animals will look ill and tired.

-It can have a serious effect

-on fertility in cattle...

-..and milk production,

-especially in the dairy herd.

-What's the most dangerous time

-for the animals to be infected?

-It's a virus

-which is transferred by insects.

-An gnat will sting

-an infected animal...

-..and move on to sting

-a healthy animal.

-The worst time is when

-the weather is relatively mild...

-..when gnats and midges

-are prevalent.

-That time is usually over

-by October...

-..but it's rather mild today

-and it's the first week of November.

-The insects are still around.

-It's not possible for the disease

-to spread directly...

-..from cow to cow or sheep to sheep.

-Not directly, no, but when we import

-animals that have the disease...

-..our own animals can be infected

-through insects.

-The infected animals in England

-and Scotland have been destroyed.

-There's a strong sense

-of frustration.

-We're quite safe in Wales

-at the moment.

-As a vet,

-what's your advice to farmers?

-It's a known disease.

-If farmers suspect that their

-animals have been infected...

-..they should contact

-their local vet.

-Useful advice from Rhys and he

-will be back with us in Part 2...

-..to discuss another virus which

-is a cause for concern on farms.

-Next, let's join Gareth Wyn Jones.

-He's rounding up sheep

-on the Carneddau.

-We're looking down at Llyn Anafon.

-We're getting ready to round up.

-I hope the boys of Abergwyngregyn

-are on their way up.

-I can't do this on my own.

-The weather's changed.

-The mist's coming in,

-as is the rain.

-I hope we can start right away.

-It's a miserable old morning.

-This is one of the last round-ups

-this year. We need them in today.

-When we're rounding up

-other sheep...

-..we gather up as many as we can.

-This time, we need to get

-every single sheep off the mountain.

-The wind's picked up considerably

-but the sun's out.

-There's no mist.

-I'm waiting for the lads to come up

-and then we can head down.

-This group of lads

-come from the Falls area.

-John Glyn, Wil Pen Llyn.

-They're going over

-in that direction.

-We're heading down to Nant Yr Afon.

-Gareth, Hefin, Arwyn and Dad

-are on their way behind them.

-I hope we can start

-in two minutes' time.

-Here are the lads!

-It's clear enough - we can set off.

-Let's go then.

-I hope the mist doesn't fall

-or we'll get lost!

-Away we go.

-Away we go.

-

-We'll see you later.

-Wil's off. He's forgotten something.

-He's shifting his backside

-to catch up with the others!

-Our crew has arrived.

-We're about to leave. Gareth's

-at the top, Arwyn's in the middle.

-Hefin's at the bottom.

-I'll be below him.

-We'd best get on with it now.

-My family have rounded up sheep

-on these mountains for centuries.

-I feel very fortunate

-to be part of this world.

-My father taught me about

-Cerrig Pryfaid, Blaen y Ddalfa...

-..and Cors Lladron.

-You can't find these names

-on maps...

-..but local farmers know

-where all these locations are.

-It's important

-to keep the names alive.

-I've reached Clogwyn Llyn before

-they've come all the way around.

-That's important. If there's a touch

-of mist, the sheep could slip back.

-It's important that everyone

-keeps their line.

-We're shouting at each other.

-We don't have any walkie-talkies.

-There's plenty

-of whistling and shouting.

-That's rounding up sheep.

-It's gone well up to now.

-There aren't as many sheep today

-as there were.

-The weather was rough on Friday

-so we got some of them down then.

-I'll stay on the track.

-I can tell them

-if they've missed some of the sheep.

-I used to go all the way to the top

-but I have two new knees now!

-We found a lamb that's been up here

-all winter. It was quite weak.

-When a dog appears,

-sheep tend to become suicidal.

-It went head over heels.

-It found itself stuck on a ledge

-and the dog chased it.

-It was perfectly fine in the end.

-It's not one of ours

-but we weren't going to leave it.

-After a few hours, it was nice

-to see the sheep pen and home.

-Well, that's a job well done.

-This is the ideal time

-to round up sheep.

-There are few lambs

-and the ewes are ready to come down.

-The weather was on our side today.

-The wind was at our backs

-and the sheep came down quickly.

-We'll have to sort out these sheep.

-We'll take out those

-that belong to others.

-Some belong to College,

-some belong to Wyn.

-Ours will head down to Plas Newydd

-where we'll separate them twice.

-We'll separate them

-into three groups on the road now.

-We'll have to do it quickly,

-I can hear horns beeping!

-Square it up, come straight back.

-He's changing his mind!

-He's changing his mind!

-

-Square it up!

-We found three sheep,

-that's how it goes sometimes.

-We round up for everyone.

-It's important

-to clear the mountain.

-The sheep split up in the mist.

-The lads at the top weren't happy!

-We'd better go.

-That's what happens when you round

-up sheep, three sheep came down.

-This is the smallest number

-we've ever had.

-No-one will believe me.

-It's a good sign that we

-rounded up most of them earlier.

-Most of the sheep

-came down before them.

-They're all here,

-ready to take a ram...

-..at the end of the week.

-The final round-up is done.

-To think we only found three sheep,

-there are far more below us.

-These were collected

-when we rounded up before.

-It's a good time -

-the hard work is done.

-It's time for the ram now.

-That's when our year begins,

-when the rams run with the sheep.

-That's when the lambs are created.

-That'll become our profit

-at the end of the year.

-It starts here. We're hoping

-for another great year.

-A successful day for Gareth.

-After the break, we'll hear

-more veterinary advice...

-..and we'll meet some pig farmers.

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-Welcome back.

-In Part 1, we heard about

-bluetongue disease.

-Another virus detected in

-the United Kingdom is Maedi Visna.

-The disease is on the increase...

-..and it was found in 20%

-of the commercial flocks...

-..tested between May 2016

-and May 2017.

-What is Maedi Visna?

-It's a disease that was imported

-to the country originally.

-It's an infectious disease

-caused by a virus.

-It can be transferred from sheep

-to sheep, from sheep to lamb...

-..and in the semen.

-We often forget about that transfer.

-In terms of the symptoms,

-there are chronic characteristics.

-Someone might buy an infected sheep

-today with no symptoms present.

-She can be in the flock for

-many years without showing symptoms.

-In that time, she can infect

-a large proportion of the flock.

-There are two types of symptoms

-for Maedi Visna.

-There's chronic pneumonia

-without any rise in temperature.

-The sheep will show signs

-of a dry cough.

-It will show signs of deterioration

-in its weight and shape.

-There are neurological symptoms.

-A seemingly healthy sheep

-will lose its balance and fall over.

-There's no treatment

-for the disease.

-Destroying it and selling it

-for meat is the only answer...

-..when Maedi Visna

-is detected in the flock.

-If Maedi Visna was detected in

-your flock, it could be disastrous.

-We have a Berrichon flock,

-there are requirements...

-..to test the flock for MV.

-If MV was found in this flock,

-I couldn't show, sell in shows...

-..or show in the Royal Welsh.

-To be honest, the sheep would lose

-a great amount of value.

-Some sheep societies

-have very strict regulations...

-..regarding Maedi Visna.

-All the monitoring schemes

-are voluntary.

-The cost is placed

-on the pedigree herd.

-The flock's blood

-is tested annually...

-..depending

-on the flock's condition...

-..to permit farmers

-to show and sell the sheep.

-There are two rings

-in the Royal Welsh...

-..one for MV-monitored sheep

-and one for non-monitored sheep.

-Would it be a good idea if the

-government supported this scheme...

-..to safeguard the country's flocks.

-That's possible.

-It would be good if more research

-was done into cases in this country.

-Farmers can make decisions

-when they know...

-..where the disease is at its worst.

-If farmers suspect their

-commercial flock has the disease...

-..we can do spot checks

-if you contact your local vet.

-We can test the sheep to determine

-if the flock is healthy.

-There's a strong demand for bacon.

-We import 95% of what we eat

-in Wales every year.

-In other words, only 5% of bacon

-we eat in Wales comes from Wales.

-There are plans

-to change the situation.

-There are around 25,000 pigs

-in Wales...

-..producing 3,200 tonnes of bacon

-every year.

-The intention is to increase the

-national herd to develop the sector.

-Melanie Cargill is responsible

-for the Menter Moch project.

-It's funded by the Welsh Government.

-We're trying to develop

-the pig sector.

-We're trying to make it more

-profitable, efficient and robust.

-Four young farmers

-were chosen over the summer...

-..and the project

-has given them five pigs each.

-It will kick-start them

-into the sector...

-..and give them the opportunity

-to start a new enterprise.

-We'll train them to ensure

-they know what they're doing...

-..and make sure they're happy

-to rear the pigs.

-We're looking forward

-to the Winter Fair.

-Our final competition of the year

-is the carcass competition.

-Each one of the four

-will have an opportunity...

-..to enter a carcass

-in that competition.

-Menter Moch Cymru works

-with Welsh young farmers' clubs...

-..to offer practical experience

-of rearing pigs to their members...

-..to help build a profitable

-and sustainable enterprise.

-Naomi Nicholas from Pont Hywel,

-Efailwen, is part of the scheme.

-All of a sudden,

-they're all interested, Naomi.

-Indeed they are.

-That's all they need.

-Tell me more about the background.

-How did you become interested

-in keeping pigs?

-I started farming Tamworths

-about two or three years ago.

-I enjoyed the experience,

-we had some lovely meat.

-I read on Facebook

-about this enterprise...

-..between the YFC

-and Menter Cig Moch Cymru.

-I went for it.

-These are a special breed of pigs.

-You've worked hard

-researching and choosing the pigs.

-We went up to Harper Adams College.

-We visited the department and

-saw some wonderful hybrid pigs...

-..but I knew I wanted a hardier pig

-for clearing this patch of land.

-I'd say that they've done

-a good job of it.

-There are 15 acres of heathland...

-..and that adds

-to their experience of life.

-We can tell

-that they have a great life here.

-I hope that shows in the meat.

-What is this breed?

-How difficult is it to rear this

-breed, if it's a rare, native breed?

-Large black. They were my choice.

-We had to go up to Newport

-to buy them.

-Will this be

-a profitable enterprise?

-We were hoping to keep

-a traditional breed...

-..because there was a potential

-to sell the meat for more.

-We can charge 8/kilo.

-When you think about half a pig,

-there's profit in that.

-They live out in the open air.

-We don't incur any costs.

-The pigsty has already been built.

-The fence has been built,

-everything we need is here.

-In terms of support,

-what has Menter Moch offered you?

-Initially, they checked

-that I had suitable resources.

-They taught us about bio-security.

-Marketing is also a consideration.

-A group of London-based chefs

-will visit the farm this month...

-..before the pigs are taken away.

-That will bolster the link

-between people like me...

-..people producing bacon

-on a small scale...

-..and linking us

-to restaurants in London.

-That will be interesting.

-Cennydd Jones is a dairy farmer...

-..but he also sees the potential

-in rearing Welsh pigs...

-..side by side with his Friesian

-herd on Rhydowen Farm, Pontsian.

-In my original application,

-I wanted to keep Welsh pigs...

-..and I'd then market them

-as high quality Welsh produce.

-I didn't expect the Welsh pigs to

-perform as well as they have done.

-They've performed like hybrid pigs.

-I've been measuring

-their daily averages.

-At best,

-they grow about 1.1kgs a day.

-I've had to cut back the level

-of protein in the food...

-..to ensure I have a carcass

-for the Winter Fair.

-It's been a pleasant surprise.

-The Welsh pigs can compete

-with the best.

-What about the future?

-You've had a taste.

-Would you be confident in developing

-this business on the farm?

-It's a great option to have

-on Welsh farms.

-I've been selling the meat

-straight to the customer.

-I've sold it as a luxurious product.

-I'd like to keep another ten

-when spring comes around...

-..and I want to find a market

-for them.

-I'll keep selling them on locally.

-Cennydd only has two pigs

-at the moment.

-The others have been fattened.

-He shows great pride

-in cooking his own product.

-Well, Cennydd, the end product.

-It makes it all worth it

-when you can cook something...

-..you've reared on the farm.

-You can come back to the kitchen

-and cook it.

-Do you remember the first time you

-did this? Did it feel different?

-Was there a different taste

-to what you were used to?

-Yes. We used to buy our bacon

-from supermarkets.

-It was bacon with less fat.

-Fat is important to add flavour.

-The fat also makes it easier

-for bacon to absorb more salt.

-It makes such a difference

-in terms of taste.

-We could sell the story behind the

-meat, especially with Welsh pork.

-Welsh lamb has done a great job...

-..selling the story

-behind the product.

-That appeals to the customer.

-We can go out and tell people

-the story behind this.

-That's what I do with my bacon.

-It does work. I've not had

-any problems marketing it.

-I haven't made a big fuss,

-there's no Facebook page.

-All I did

-was update my status on Facebook...

-..and within half an hour,

-I'd sold all my bacon.

-Can I taste some?

-Can I taste some?

-

-Tuck in, it smells lovely.

-It's special.

-None of this will go to waste.

-Good. I'm glad to hear that.

-Thank you.

-It's good to see

-the younger generation...

-..seeing value in the old order

-of keeping pigs.

-Until next week, cheerio.

-Thanks for joining us.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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