Mon, 26 Sep 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio.

-I'm at the NSA's Wales and Border

-Main Ram Sale...

-..here on the showground

-in Llanelwedd.

-This is one of Europe's

-biggest ram sales.

-Over 5,000 animals

-will go under the hammer.

-It's all about trading.

-Hopefully, both buyers and sellers

-will go home happy.

-Coming up, I'll be visiting

-Ferryside in Carmarthenshire...

-..to meet a family

-who are not just farmers.

-They also offer a particular service

-to the local community.

-Twenty breeds are on sale here...

-..from continental ones

-to native breeds like these.

-Meinir's been to meet a family...

-..with a large number

-of continental breeds on sale today.

-Ifan Beynon-Thomas

-and his parents farm here...

-..at Goitre Fach farm near Hendy.

-They milk 250 pedigree Holsteins,

-but over the last few weeks...

-..their Berrichon du Cher sheep

-have had all the attention.

-Berrichon du Cher - what are

-the qualities of this breed?

-They are primarily a terminal sire.

-Lambing is easy

-due to their long necks.

-The neck

-sits on the front of the legs...

-..instead of the head and shoulders

-coming out at the same time.

-That makes a big difference.

-It's a great help.

-At the end of the day,

-you need a live lamb.

-It's the most important thing.

-You want easy lambing

-so the ewes aren't stressed...

-..because they have to feed

-the lambs.

-If a birth goes badly, the ewe can't

-produce the milk to feed her lamb.

-It's a great, easy breed. They are

-everything you want from a sheep.

-What is your pattern for producing

-the rams and the lambs?

-They have to fit in

-with the running of the dairy herd.

-Goitre Fach

-is principally a dairy farm.

-The flock is run commercially.

-They need to look after themselves

-a lot of the time.

-Over the first winter, both female

-and male lambs are left outside.

-We keep whatever comes in

-in the spring.

-That's a natural way

-of culling the worst of the flock.

-Yes, it's mainly natural selection.

-Using this method, we hope that

-when we come to sell the rams...

-..they're hardy

-and ready to go to work.

-The family have been very successful

-with their Berrichon du Cher...

-..at the Royal Welsh Show.

-They have won the breed championship

-several times...

-..and took reserve supreme champion

-in the sheep section in 2014.

-This year, Ifan was named

-best shepherd at the Show.

-There are 28 pure Berrichons

-and two Beltex cross.

-They're going to the upcoming

-NSA sale at Builth Wells.

-How much preparation

-have you done with these?

-Preparation begins

-as soon as they're born.

-We check growth rates...

-..and if they don't hit

-their targets, we don't keep them.

-If they hit their targets,

-we try to keep 60 rams each year.

-In the month

-leading up to the sale...

-..we feed them up

-and give them more attention.

-A week before, we prepare

-and trim them ready for the show.

-Colouring them

-makes a big difference.

-It's like girls getting ready

-for a night out.

-They like a bit of fake tan.

-Because their heads and legs

-are so white...

-..if the wool is white too

-they look anaemic.

-This way, people can see their size

-and they stand out more.

-Another craft you've mastered

-is trimming.

-That makes a huge difference.

-Yes, it does.

-Trimming a ram

-makes its back look flatter...

-..so it's easier to see

-their size and power.

-It all helps.

-All you want is for the ram

-to catch one person's eye...

-..for an extra bid.

-The framework must be there

-from the start.

-Yes, you can't make something bad

-look good.

-You must have something good to

-start with to make them look better.

-What's more important to you?

-The Royal Welsh or the sales?

-They go hand in hand really.

-We have to do well in the big shows

-for people to see.

-It's the shop window effect.

-People see us there and then see

-our rams in the sale in Builth.

-They remember us from the Royal

-Welsh and know of our high standard.

-Gareth and Monica introduced the

-breed to their farm back in 2001.

-Today, with 250 sheep, they have the

-largest Berrichon flock in Britain.

-I saw a ram

-at the Royal Show in England.

-I liked the look of him.

-I decided, if I was going to get one

-ram, I may as well get some ewes.

-My youngest daughter was nine at the

-time and showed a lot of interest.

-What works best for you - the dairy

-cows or the Berrichon du Chers?

-That's a good question.

-Years ago, you'd have

-a bit of everything on the farm.

-These days, we tend to focus more

-on either dairy cows or sheep.

-We like sheep. They're more

-interesting than everything else.

-But we're pushed for time because

-we have so many dairy cows too.

-How popular is the breed?

-They're more popular now

-than when we first got them.

-More people in Wales especially

-keep them now...

-..and cross them with other breeds.

-They don't just keep them

-as pure-breeds.

-People cross them with Texels,

-Lleyns, and other breeds.

-It's a family business.

-You're busy making a name

-for yourselves.

-Yes, we have the largest flock

-in Britain.

-We see it as part of the business

-and has to pay its way.

-It's obviously a busy time here

-at Goitre Fach...

-..with the labour-intensive work

-of preparing the sheep for sale.

-But it's clearly an important day

-for the family and the breed.

-It's important to ensure every hair

-is in place ready for the big day.

-The sale is approaching.

-What are you hopes?

-I just hope they sell well

-and that the customers are happy...

-..so that they return

-year after year to buy from us.

-How important is the NSA sale

-for you?

-It's very important to us.

-It's the largest in Europe.

-People from every corner of Wales

-and the UK will be there.

-Hopefully,

-there'll be something for everyone.

-At the sale,

-there's a bit of excitement...

-..about Ifan's rams

-entering the sales ring.

-He was very successful in the show

-preceding the sale...

-..winning the championship.

-Ifan, it's been a successful day.

-How are you feeling?

-The price was up and down.

-I was disappointed with some of them

-but they've all gone now.

-I can't complain.

-And my following question is

-how did the champion do in the sale?

-I was very pleased with the price.

-It was the highest price of the day

-for the Berrichons.

-He went to Bryan Evans,

-another large breeder.

-How do this year's prices

-compare with last year's?

-It's fairly similar.

-I didn't expect anything different.

-Lamb prices are the same

-this year as they were last year.

-Is the breed still developing

-in buyers' eyes?

-The breed improves every year.

-I think we need to advertise them

-better and push the breed more.

-In terms of working with these rams

-or playing rugby, which is better?

-I don't know!

-There are ups and downs to both.

-That's all for now.

-Come back after the break

-when I'll be visiting Ferryside...

-..and meeting a very multi-talented

-and hard-working family.

-See you in two minutes.

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-Welcome back.

-While the sale continues

-in Llanelwedd...

-..there's a chance for us

-to step off the field.

-Although it hasn't been

-an ideal summer...

-..for appreciating

-our coastal villages...

-..I recently visited

-a Ferryside family...

-..whose business

-is a focal point to the village.

-After farming for years,

-at the turn of the century...

-..Paul and Jean Griffiths

-had to face many of the crises...

-..that beset the industry,

-and decided to diversify...

-..by buying the Ferry Cabin

-chip shop in Ferryside.

-When we started off,

-Paul was farming.

-Foot and mouth was about,

-and he was fed up.

-One day, Paul said

-he'd had enough of farming.

-He asked what we should do.

-I was managing a restaurant

-and he said, "You can do it".

-I wasn't sure

-I wanted to run my own business.

-When the Ferry Cabin was put up

-for sale, we went to look at it.

-It was in the village

-where Paul was born.

-He said, "Right, let's go for it."

-He said, "Right, let's go for it."

-

-I'm lucky.

-When I married Jean, Mam and Dad

-gave us a plot on the farm.

-I built a nice bungalow.

-We used the collateral on it

-to buy this.

-It was a difficult time

-to earn money from farming.

-You couldn't sell anything.

-No, because of foot and mouth.

-We had a contracting business.

-Myself, Dad and my brother

-were working as contractors.

-We couldn't get any money coming in,

-and the marts were on shutdown.

-I just got completely fed up.

-When I was farming...

-..I'd come into the house at night

-and relax by cooking.

-Now, that's all I do all day...

-..so I come home and farm.

-Farming feels different now,

-almost like therapy.

-Relaxing.

-Relaxing.

-

-Yes, for him.

-This business has developed

-a great deal since you bought it.

-The previous owners only had it open

-for six months in the summer.

-We opened and decided to go for it.

-The children were young.

-We gave it our all.

-As well as running the restaurant,

-the family still farm.

-Paul's father, David, works

-day-to-day at Penrhiwgoch...

-..which is about a mile

-from the shop.

-But Paul and Jean still help out,

-growing crops and rearing stock...

-..including potatoes and the meat

-which supplies the restaurant.

-You have enough staff!

-You have enough staff!

-

-We do today.

-The children are helping.

-The children are helping.

-

-You can carry the big one.

-The one that's really full.

-The one that's really full.

-

-I see.

-A sack each?

-Later?

-Later?

-

-Yes, later. We'll fill them.

-I'll pick up behind you.

-Does it matter how big they are?

-No, just put them in the bucket.

-No, just put them in the bucket.

-

-OK, boss.

-The machine works well.

-You don't need to pick too many

-at this time of year.

-No, they don't keep well.

-The skin isn't hard.

-We just pick what we need.

-We just pick what we need.

-

-Yes, of course.

-About 12 or 15 bags

-to keep us going for the week.

-If we run out,

-we have to pick more after work.

-Oh, dear.

-How many acres of potatoes

-are there?

-Three acres.

-Three acres.

-

-There we are.

-Is that enough to last the year?

-We try, but if not, we buy more in

-at the end of the year.

-What type of potatoes?

-I suppose you need a variety.

-There are two types here.

-Cara are used for boiling

-and Maris Piper for the chips.

-There were bigger ones

-but we've picked them.

-The small ones are fine.

-We don't waste them.

-Was it a good summer for potatoes?

-Was it a good summer for potatoes?

-

-Not too good.

-The rain came and it was a bit wet,

-but the crop's quite good this side.

-It's nice to be able

-to tell your customers...

-..that these came from your farm,

-a mile up the road.

-Did you grow potatoes

-before buying the shop?

-Paul's father, David,

-did a bit of market gardening.

-When we bought the restaurant...

-..David said

-we'd grow our own potatoes.

-We've done so for 14 years.

-Almost ten years ago, Paul and Jean

-bought a Hereford cow and calf...

-..as a Christmas present

-for their sons, William and Thomas.

-The herd has grown substantially.

-They now have 215 pedigree cattle...

-..and the meat

-is served in the restaurant.

-We've heard about you

-getting a heifer as a gift.

-What were you hoping for?

-I opened the shed door...

-..expecting a nice new tractor

-as a way of saying well done.

-But I turned round

-and saw a cow and a calf.

-It came as a bit of a shock.

-I still asked for a tractor!

-But I was happy after seeing them.

-They were quiet,

-so I got on well with them.

-Tell me a bit about the farm.

-How many acres do you have?

-The pasture is exceptional

-in this field, even now.

-The grass grows well here.

-Red soil, you see.

-The cattle only feed on grass.

-Nothing extra, no bales or anything.

-Through the summer.

-Bales and hay in winter.

-We do give them minerals.

-They get minerals.

-But the heifers, steers and bulls

-get barley on the farm as well.

-I see, I see.

-I understand you now sell meat

-in boxes from the farm.

-When did that start?

-I started

-when Thomas and I bought a heifer.

-We turned it to the bull.

-A year passes, and no calf.

-The vet checked it. Freemartin.

-I wanted to sell it at the mart,

-but a friend told me not to.

-Do it yourself.

-I took it to a slaughterhouse

-on the Gower.

-That's what I used

-to start doing the Sunday lunches.

-People ate it and said

-that it was wonderful meat.

-They asked if I sold it,

-so that's where it started.

-What do people have to say

-after tasting Hereford meat?

-Why do they come back

-time after time?

-They need two years

-out on the pasture.

-I think that's what gives the meat

-its flavour.

-That's why they come back.

-They can't buy my meat

-in the supermarket.

-Diversifying has meant

-that Paul, Jean and the family...

-..have been able to enjoy farming

-once again.

-The farm and the restaurant

-now go hand in hand.

-Both elements support each other.

-The hard work over the years

-has borne fruit...

-..and the businesses are booming.

-Here we are,

-sitting out in the sunshine.

-Life is good now, isn't it?

-You took difficult decisions

-when life seemed to be going wrong.

-But I now get the impression

-that farming is a pleasure.

-Yes, it's nice to get some fresh air

-after a day in the kitchen.

-It's nice to see the cattle

-and to give Paul a hand.

-It makes a difference.

-You now control the chain

-from the gate to the plate.

-Not many people do that.

-No, not many places do that.

-But I'm lucky to have two sons

-and my father helping on the farm.

-They're there to help, OK.

-Jean does the cooking

-in the kitchen.

-It's nice that she cooks

-what we've grown on the farm.

-As well as being a chance to sell,

-this location attracts people...

-..to meet and discuss the latest

-developments in the sheep industry.

-Meat Promotion Wales is currently

-running an interesting scheme.

-It's a survey

-comparing rams across Britain.

-The research could benefit buyers

-and sellers alike.

-The RamCompare project

-has been running for a year or so.

-It's a three-year project

-involving five terminal breeds...

-..comparing their figures

-and how the lambs perform...

-..from the time of lambing

-to when they are slaughtered...

-..when the carcasses are compared.

-It will show if there's a way

-to get a crossbreed EBV.

-When it comes

-to selecting terminal rams...

-..we'll have compared

-Suffolks, Hampshire Downs...

-..Texel, Charollais

-and Meatlinc rams.

-Six farms across Britain

-are involved in the comparisons...

-..to show how different rams

-perform in different areas.

-It will enable us to assess

-if we can produce a crossbreed EBV.

-Do you then hope

-to take the next step...

-..towards producing more meat

-from the land available?

-Exactly.

-The aim of the whole project

-is to see how the rams perform...

-..and to assess growth, to see if

-we can fatten lambs more quickly...

-..while at the same time ensuring

-we produce what the market demands.

-That's vital.

-If we can do that

-and compare across breeds...

-..people will come

-to sales like this...

-..and compare EBVs across breeds

-rather than within a single breed...

-..towards a terminal purpose

-of producing lambs for the public.

-The day's top price

-in the selling rings...

-..went to Llion Pughe Jones

-for his Texel ram...

-..which sold for 18,000 guineas.

-But how were the prices generally?

-Llion Richard Pughe Jones,

-congratulations, first of all.

-What were your expectations

-as you came here today?

-I had hoped for a good price.

-There was a lot of talk

-last night and this morning.

-But I never dreamt

-about such a price.

-But I'm very, very pleased!

-How long have you bred Texels?

-I started 15 years ago today.

-I bought my first ewes

-at this very sale.

-Eventually, it's come to this.

-Things have improved over the years.

-Can I ask where the ram is going?

-Sportsman bought it back,

-to be honest.

-They've seen something.

-They saw that the ewe

-came from them, so...

-It's nice to say that the money

-is going to Meirionnydd.

-It rarely happens with a Texel.

-There aren't many of us in

-the county, so it's quite an event.

-Llion, there'll be more after today!

-Llion, there'll be more after today!

-

-Thank you!

-I wish you the best for the future.

-Where do you go from here?

-It's difficult.

-I've hit the pinnacle!

-The dream

-was to hit the top in Builth.

-Now, it's trying to stay there!

-It's been a bit mixed, maybe.

-But I think everyone

-is going home fairly happy, anyway.

-I know we've had big prices,

-a lot over 5,000 guineas and so on.

-Some have been lower as well.

-But if you have quality animals

-and buyers pick them out...

-..it only takes two

-for prices to flourish.

-There were some bargains,

-I must admit.

-But on the whole,

-the committee can be very happy.

-It's been a very good day.

-We've had a lot of people here,

-and over 5,000 rams.

-They all need a home.

-Of course, we're all nervous about

-what will happen in the industry.

-At the moment, lambs are selling

-better than they did last year...

-..but maybe not as well

-as the previous year.

-The pound makes a difference.

-The next two or three years...

-..will be critical for the industry.

-I think the NSA has a part to play,

-as well as the unions.

-We must work to ensure...

-..that the agricultural industry

-has its say...

-..and that they listen to us.

-That's all for this week.

-It has been a successful day

-for many buyers and sellers here.

-But the high point for me...

-..was the record price for a Texel

-here at Llanelwedd, 18,000 guineas.

-It went to Llion Jones,

-Pant, near Tywyn, Meirionnydd.

-Congratulations to him.

-For now, from myself

-and the Ffermio team...

-..thank you for your company

-and goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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