Mon, 26 Jun 2017 Ffermio

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-TB is an issue that causes concern

-for many Welsh farmers.

-The Welsh Government

-has published its latest plan...

-..to tackle the problem.

-What does it mean for farmers?

-I'll be asking the Cabinet Secretary

-for Environment and Rural Affairs...

-..Lesley Griffiths, about the plan.

-I'll also catch up with

-Christianne Glossop and the unions.

-Daloni will hear about

-a new enterprise for young farmers.

-Alun visits one family hoping to see

-a rise in popularity for goat meat.

-The Welsh Government published its

-TB eradication plan nine years ago.

-Since then,

-we've had numerous updates.

-How effective

-has the Government's efforts been?

-The disease continues

-to destroy lives and businesses.

-The level of TB in Wales

-has remained constant.

-There's been a reduction

-in the number of herds affected...

-..since 2012, but the number

-of cattle killed in the past year...

-..is 22% higher

-than the previous year.

-Following hours of debate

-in the National Assembly...

-..what are their plans

-to tackle the problem?

-We'll start those action plans and

-that will be part of the process.

-It's important we have

-an eradication programme.

-We want a TB-free Wales.

-I went out to consultation

-following a statement last October.

-One area we're taking forward

-is the regionalisation approach.

-Many people wanted that,

-some people didn't.

-I think it's the right approach.

-The low incidents area

-will be able to declare TB free...

-..in the short term.

-That will send out

-a positive message.

-There will be farmers who won't

-have had TB. Is it fair for them?

-That's something

-we would have to monitor.

-We looked at whether we should have

-an annual delivery plan.

-I think the delivery plan

-should be flexible...

-..and something

-we monitor carefully.

-If that is the case,

-we can react to it.

-Looking at the cap of 5,000

-in compensation per animal...

-..this will have a dramatic effect

-on pedigree herds.

-We looked at the difference it would

-have made on last year's figures.

-It would have affected 1%

-of the compensation.

-We have to do something

-to save funding.

-Some of our funding budget

-comes from the EU.

-We won't have that

-in a few years' time.

-If people are concerned

-about pedigree cattle...

-..they can insure them and

-I know it's at a very early stage...

-..but that's something

-they can look at.

-Following today's announcement...

-..what are the views of the unions

-about the Government's plans?

-They have listened

-to what we asked them to do.

-That's something we welcome.

-One of the main points

-they changed...

-..is stopping testing cattle

-every six months.

-They haven't moved the threshold

-for inconclusive reactors.

-They won't take more cattle -

-that was their original intention...

-..or part of their consultation.

-What changes will affect farmers?

-They will now be splitting Wales

-into five regional areas.

-Farmers in areas with

-very little TB, in North Wales...

-..must test animals

-after moving them in to the area.

-That will incur extra costs

-for them...

-..and they will be less inclined

-to buy those animals.

-It's going to create two markets

-in Wales...

-..and that'll be a concern not only

-for farmers buying animals in...

-..but also for farmers in areas

-where TB is present.

-Their prices are likely to fall

-and that will be a concern for them.

-We welcome the fact they will look

-at badgers on the worst farms...

-..the farms that have been affected

-for two years or more.

-It's a small step but a step

-in the right direction for us.

-They could have done more sooner but

-let's take it one step at a time.

-What's your response to the areas

-that have been created...

-..and the rules that come with them?

-On Anglesey and in nearby areas,

-they don't have a problem.

-They've tightened the rules

-in those areas.

-We welcome that.

-It's difficult. I live in an area

-where I milk cattle.

-I don't sell them

-so it's had little effect.

-Where there are store cattle...

-..the prices of those animals

-could be affected.

-That's the problem.

-I don't welcome that aspect

-but there is a way to make it work.

-We can't continue with high-affected

-and low-affected areas...

-..in the long term.

-I hope they can implement this plan

-fairly quickly...

-..to eradicate it quickly.

-That's what I'd like. We don't want

-these regulations forever.

-Christianne Glossop,

-Wales' chief veterinary officer...

-..played a key part

-in the consultation.

-With regards to our chronic

-TB breakdowns...

-..those that have been on the go

-for more than 18 months...

-..and we have between

-50 and 60 of those...

-..each of those

-will have an action plan...

-..developed between the

-Animal and Plant Health Agency...

-..Welsh Government

-and their own vets...

-..and on the farms where we

-can demonstrate badger activity...

-..we will cage trap badgers

-and test them for TB.

-Where we find

-test-positive badgers...

-..we will be humanely killing

-those badgers.

-Why don't you follow

-the Republic of Ireland...

-..who have done a badger cull

-on a wider scale...

-..and reduced TB incidents by 40%?

-That was in certain areas

-of the Republic of Ireland.

-They are regrouping

-to consider their next steps.

-We don't believe

-that's necessary in Wales.

-Our badger survey has shown us

-where we have infected badgers.

-The problem of TB

-and the connection with badgers...

-..is most significant

-in our chronic herd breakdowns.

-We want to adopt

-a different approach.

-There are big concerns

-about badgers.

-Are the steps they're taking

-with badgers going far enough?

-Are they taking it seriously

-or are they merely symbolic steps?

-Initially, only a handful of farms

-will receive this treatment...

-..in terms of testing the badgers.

-There is more work to do

-in recording the evidence...

-..to allow us

-to take the next steps.

-We regularly feature farms

-adopting milking systems...

-..similar to ones in New Zealand

-but what about their sheep systems?

-Coed Coch Farm near Abergele

-is experimenting.

-They've established a share farm

-with a large flock of Romneys.

-Daloni has more on this story.

-Last October,

-Coed Coch Farms Ltd was established.

-It's a share farming partnership

-between three farmers...

-..Rhys Williams, Harry

-Fetherstonhaugh and Emyr Jones.

-Harry owns the land - 900 acres.

-He has 50% of the company's shares.

-Emyr is the shepherd

-and he has 5% of the shares.

-Administrator Rhys owns

-the remainder of the shares, 45%.

-The enterprise was his idea.

-I had a relatively small business

-at home on the Llyn Peninsula.

-I was looking for a way

-to expand the sheep business.

-One of the possibilities

-I researched was share farms.

-Why Romney sheep?

-We're very aware of the challenges

-facing the industry.

-New Zealand faced

-the same situation in the 1980s.

-The subsidies disappeared

-practically overnight.

-They developed a breed

-which was sustainable.

-Rhys is also the Head of Farming

-at Coleg Glynllifon.

-He's eager to encourage and invest

-in the future of young farmers.

-If you can get farmers

-to buy into the system...

-..they will be more enthusiastic

-and businesses will succeed better.

-Having young blood also helps.

-Our aim is not only to grow a

-business but to help young farmers.

-Initially, we've brought Emyr in.

-As the company grows and develops...

-..Emyr will have the opportunity

-to increase his share in the farm.

-How's it going so far, Emyr?

-How's it going so far, Emyr?

-

-It's going well.

-We've faced a few challenges

-in the first few months...

-..but things are starting

-to settle down now.

-We've had a very good season.

-I hope they'll hit the targets.

-What kind of sheep is the Romney?

-It's a different sheep to the ones

-I'm used to handling.

-It's not dissimilar

-to a Welsh sheep.

-It's larger and looks after itself.

-And eats less.

-I don't know about eating less...

-..but it makes better use

-of what's in front of it.

-It eats everything

-that's on its plate.

-Yes, I'd like to think so,

-and turn that into milk.

-The system as it is now

-is very tight.

-Lambing in early April

-and weaning by August 1.

-It's hoped that the lambs

-will reach 40kgs...

-..before heading to the abattoir

-with about 20kgs used as meat.

-Everything heading to market has

-to be sold by the end of September.

-That is when

-the farm's financial year ends.

-We're trying to control costs...

-..and concentrates

-is one of the main costs.

-We have a tight budget

-for concentrates this year.

-We budgeted 2 per sheep and

-only spent 1.80 on concentrates.

-How has the lambing season been?

-The weather for lambing season

-couldn't have been better.

-The weather was fantastic...

-..but it will be difficult for us to

-show a profit to reinvest this year.

-Our scanning wasn't as good as

-we wanted, it was under our target.

-From 2,300 sheep,

-how many lambs did you have?

-We were fortunate enough

-to sell 2,800.

-That's quite low.

-We'd budgeted to sell 125%.

-We scanned at 141%...

-..and from the research work I did

-with the New Zealand systems...

-..you should expect a fall between

-scanning and selling of 30%.

-We've docked the sheep's tails

-recently to get the tailing count.

-We're down about 24%.

-The company received

-a 3,000 Farming Connect grant...

-..to help draw up the contract

-between the partners.

-They also organised for

-Murray Rohloff from New Zealand...

-..to visit Coed Coch

-to offer advice to the farmers.

-When we went through

-our big economic revolution...

-..in New Zealand, where 40% of

-our government money disappeared...

-..and then we realised that we had

-to have money in the bank to use...

-..it's not just looking

-at overall wealth accumulation.

-We had to be generating cash

-because no-one owed us a living.

-It all came back down to profit.

-Some wise guy said

-income is vanity, profit is sanity.

-I still say

-that's the wisest thing I've heard.

-With such

-an uncertain future ahead...

-..will a system like this

-survive and pay its way?

-The existing farm

-wasn't making any money.

-It couldn't go on. I was looking

-for a vehicle to go forward.

-I'm in my 60s

-and we need younger blood.

-It's turned out to be

-an absolutely fantastic recipe.

-It's great to see two young people

-involved in the business.

-The system's working well

-and I'm absolutely thrilled with it.

-With the sheep market

-as it is right now...

-..it's difficult knowing how

-successful this enterprise will be.

-They don't have any control

-over the price of lambs.

-They have to accept

-what they're offered.

-Dairy farmers receive a cheque

-once a month...

-..but here,

-they receive payment annually.

-However, they have tight controls.

-Their costs are low

-and they do that without a subsidy.

-Maybe this is the way forward.

-Best of luck to them.

-It's time for a break.

-Later, Alun joins a young couple

-who make a living from goat meat.

-We'll see you in two minutes.

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-Goat meat is very popular

-across the world.

-Having said that, only a small

-proportion is eaten in Wales.

-A Pembrokeshire family has realised

-there is a profitable market for it.

-As a result, they've decided

-to expand their business.

-Alun went to meet them.

-Back in November 2015, Megan and

-Damian McNamara bought two goats...

-..to keep as pets.

-They now have 200 goats.

-Former nurse Megan

-has left her profession...

-..to concentrate

-on rearing the goats.

-This is their first year

-selling the meat...

-..and business

-is exceptionally good.

-It's been so good, they've struggled

-to cope with the demand.

-They keep Boer goats at

-Moat Village Farm near Maenclochog.

-They are the best

-for producing high quality meat.

-Megan, it's your mother's farm...

-..but why did you decide

-to keep goats on the farm?

-I've wanted goats here since I was

-so high but Mam doesn't like them.

-She kept saying, "No, I don't

-want them on the farm"...

-..so it's been almost a rebellion

-to get them here.

-When we bought the first two...

-..Damian said the plan was for him

-to go in a see Jude, Mam...

-..and say he was buying the first

-two for me as Christmas gifts.

-She agreed. That's when

-Myrtle and Olive came here.

-Mam helps out a lot,

-there's a lot of support here...

-..but it's our business.

-What challenges do you face?

-Is it the same as keeping sheep?

-Worms is the greatest problem.

-When they graze out here,

-we have to do rotational grazing.

-I regularly do faecal egg counts.

-Listeria is also a problem.

-To try and overcome that,

-we do all the haylage here.

-We triple rap it and add additives

-and we trap moles...

-..just to try and get it top notch.

-I didn't realise

-they were such sensitive animals.

-They are very sensitive.

-How do you keep them?

-They're grazing right now.

-Are they mostly out in the fields

-or do you have to keep them indoors?

-We have to keep them in.

-They don't like rain

-so they need 24/7 shelter.

-That's difficult

-with this number of goats.

-We do keep them in

-during the winter.

-They just came back out last week.

-With sheep,

-the males are sent to be eaten...

-..whilst growing the numbers

-of ewes.

-At the moment, all the females

-are kept here to build the flock.

-The males are sent away for meat.

-We regularly weigh them

-and then send the males.

-How old are they when they go away?

-It depends. We send them away

-when they're 40kgs.

-That's from five months

-but before twelve months.

-Interesting, Megan.

-What happens here?

-These are the meat boys.

-These are all up to weight.

-They're all 40kgs.

-This side,

-these are slightly younger.

-They're about 25-30kgs, maybe more.

-40kgs is the target.

-How much meat is produced?

-About 48%. The carcass is 18-20kgs.

-What is the value of a kilo for you?

-About 9 a kilo, just chopped up,

-all the carcass.

-It costs more to buy cutlets

-or a joint...

-..up to about 20 a kilo.

-One goat is quite valuable

-when you sell it from home.

-We can get up to 200 per goat,

-each and every goat.

-I'll have to move the bag - they're

-about to mug me for the cake!

-There we go, thank you, lads!

-Give me some room

-to feed the goats next door.

-They need it more than you.

-You've grown enough.

-So, the next question is

-what about the billy goats?

-How many do you keep

-for the 70 nanny goats?

-We have four billy goats

-for the 100 nanny goats.

-Those are the companions.

-These are the animals

-we invest the most in...

-..to get the genetics.

-Where do you get that genetic? Is

-it easy finding something different?

-There can't be many

-throughout Britain.

-It's quite difficult. Basil

-came from Australia as an embryo.

-Here's Prince. He came from Suffolk.

-I think Prince is a first

-generation embryo from Australia.

-For us, here, we choose a billy goat

-with a short backside and body.

-That's what sells well for us.

-Here's Prince.

-When you buy an animal like Prince

-how much money do you need?

-About 600.

-Doing everything as locally

-as possible is important to Megan.

-The abattoir is Maddocks in Maesteg.

-Cig Lodor in Rosebush

-cuts the carcass.

-The meat is sold directly

-from the farm.

-While the meat cooks on the barbie,

-I'll have a quick word with you...

-..as the partner in crime

-in this development.

-You're foodies as much as anything.

-Food is very important to you,

-I can sense that.

-Yes, I was brought up on a farm

-and I always want fresh meat.

-It's something we decided,

-that's where we want to go.

-Megan, you used to work as a nurse.

-This is more than just a trade.

-This is my life now.

-It all comes from the heart.

-You've seen the goats,

-they're full of mischief.

-The only thing left to do for me,

-who's never eaten goat meat...

-..is to see what it tastes like.

-Chef, are you serving?

-Just about ready.

-Wow. Let's taste it.

-Cheers, folks.

-It doesn't smell

-anything like I thought it would.

-We have an idea about the smell of

-goat meat and it's nothing like it.

-You told me before

-that it was sweet.

-It's very similar to a mountain ewe.

-That's my favourite meat.

-There's something

-very healthy about it. Lovely.

-Congratulations.

-You've found something unique.

-The market is sure to grow

-in the future.

-I hope so. Thank you.

-That's it for this week,

-from Cardiff Bay.

-Thanks for your company. Cheerio.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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