Pennod 43 Ffermio

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-Happy New Year to you...

-..and a warm welcome

-to our first programme of 2016.

-I'm here at Ruthin Livestock Market.

-The theme of this programme

-is innovation in agriculture.

-Changes to the EID sheep tagging

-system in Wales will be discussed.

-Alun will be learning more about

-the system of breeding sheepdogs...

-..with the international expert,

-Aled Owen.

-But first, Meinir has been

-in the Clynderwen area...

-..talking to a keen young farmer

-who has been awarded a prize...

-..in entrepreneurship by the FUW.

-With agriculture

-changing every day...

-..the business

-has to be consistently re-evaluated.

-Matthew Williams and his family of

-Glynllewellyn Farm, Llanycefn...

-..decided to adapt their system

-and open up another income stream.

-They said goodbye to the old system

-of spending six hours a day...

-..in the milking parlour

-and installed a robot.

-This allowed them to focus

-on their contracting business...

-..and also, at the same time,

-improve the performance of the herd.

-How many changes have you made

-over the last 18 months?

-Many changes.

-We have a robot to milk the cows.

-The old parlour had had its day.

-It was either give up the dairy side

-or bring in a robot.

-We do a lot of contracting

-so having a robot suits us.

-We don't have to be at home

-to do the milking.

-We come and go as we please.

-The cows are yielding more milk

-and we now keep fewer of them.

-How much improvement has there been

-in the performance of the herd?

-Our milk yield has doubled.

-We've gone from 30 litres a day

-to 60 litres a day.

-We keep fewer cattle

-and produce more milk.

-How often are the cows milked?

-Some of them

-are milked four times a day.

-Four times!

-They have cake four times a day

-instead of twice a day.

-We don't have to give them

-so much protein in one go...

-..and they don't have to carry

-the milk all day.

-They're milked four times -

-four lots of fifteen litres.

-Carrying milk all day

-is stressful for them.

-You have Friesians at the moment.

-Will that change too?

-We keep Friesians because they walk

-better on the road than Holsteins.

-But now that we keep the cattle in

-all year, we may get some Holsteins.

-How much effect have milk prices

-had on your business?

-When we went to the bank

-to borrow money for the robot...

-..the price of milk was 26p, so they

-were prepared to lend us the money.

-But now it's down to 16p

-with First Milk.

-We wouldn't have made

-this decision...

-..if the price of milk

-had been that low at the time.

-I don't think the bank

-would have lent us the money.

-I'm glad we did it. I think we would

-have regretted it if we hadn't.

-But things are hard at the moment.

-Hopefully, things will improve soon.

-Owning the family contracting

-business allows Matthew...

-..the flexibility to increase

-or decrease his hours as needed.

-During the downturn

-in the milk industry...

-..he has turned his attention more

-to the contracting.

-What types of contracting work

-do you do?

-All kinds.

-Silage, slurry, hedge-trimming,

-liming and digging.

-We're a small firm

-trying to keep everyone happy.

-We get plenty of silage orders

-and we work it out with the farmers.

-How many workers

-and tractors do you have?

-I have two full-timers

-with others helping out sometimes.

-We run three big tractors

-of our own.

-Some boys bring their own tractors

-to help in the busy periods.

-It's an expensive business.

-How much does a new tractor cost?

-It's around 70,000

-for a new tractor.

-Fixing one is also very dear.

-They are all computerised

-so we can't do much ourselves.

-We have to pay specialists

-to fix them.

-The cost is in labour

-rather than parts.

-It's clear that entrepreneurship

-flows in Matthew's blood.

-He recently won the Pembrokeshire

-FUW Countryside Business award.

-It was for any individual under 40

-who has built a rural business...

-..offering services

-to the agricultural sector.

-Winning this award

-was quite an achievement.

-Winning any award is an achievement.

-It's been in the local papers

-and everyone saw it.

-Farmers have been ringing

-offering me more work.

-It showed people what I can do.

-You were nominated by a customer.

-A customer did put my name forward.

-So I have to thank him for this.

-It shows that the customers I have

-are pleased with what I do for them.

-Matthew is the third generation

-of the family to farm Glynllewellyn.

-His father John and his mother

-Eunice help out every day.

-They farm 150 acres...

-..keep 90 Friesians

-and about 100 fattened cattle.

-How does milking with the robot...

-..compare with the way you milked

-before with a breast pump?

-Because we'd used the pump...

-..the cattle got used

-to the robot more quickly.

-They had to stand

-in the same way for the pump...

-..as they do for the robot.

-And in addition,

-Matthew has won an award.

-Yes.

-All I can say

-is he's been well-schooled!

-He's been taught well.

-You must be very proud of him.

-Yes, I am.

-Until about four years ago...

-..Matthew was not at all interested

-in dairy cattle.

-Since we had the robot, he's taken

-more interest in the livestock.

-More than me, in some ways.

-I'm quite happy to go out

-contracting every day.

-Matthew and his wife

-have two children.

-Cadi is four and Guto is two.

-What future does Matthew

-see for them in the industry...

-..if they remain in agriculture?

-I'd like to put in a second robot

-if my son stays at home.

-But with the current milk prices,

-we'll stay as we are.

-I enjoy contracting,

-farming cattle, raise calves.

-Every day is different.

-Which do you prefer -

-four wheels or four legs?

-Three years ago,

-I'd have said the tractors.

-But these days, I enjoy working

-with the cattle and the robot.

-I get the best of both worlds.

-I have the tractor in the day

-and the cows morning and evening.

-Bovine TB has been a hot topic

-in Wales for many years.

-For four years now,

-they've been vaccinating badgers...

-..in a particular part

-of Pembrokeshire...

-..in an attempt

-to eradicate the disease.

-But because there is a shortage

-of the BCG vaccine...

-..the scheme is coming to

-a premature end for the time being.

-This is what the unions think.

-I'm surprised that it's coming

-to an end after four years.

-It was supposed to continue

-for five years.

-I think it's been a waste of money.

-Where is the evidence

-that the scheme has worked?

-Also, I've been amazed...

-..by how many vaccines

-are needed for one badger.

-I understand that 20 child vaccines

-go into one badger vaccine.

-That is such a waste...

-..when you think how this vaccine

-is needed across the world.

-It is disappointing, especially for

-the farmers who live in the area.

-They have done so much

-for more than four years really.

-At the start, they were talking

-about culling in the area.

-Then they decided to go down

-the vaccination route.

-You have to test it...

-..and they've completed 80% of the

-project or pilot as they call it.

-They've done enough to show

-whether or not it's going to work.

-What is your message to the Assembly

-at this moment in time?

-Not to mess about

-any more with this nonsense.

-They have to deal

-with the problem properly...

-..like they're doing in England

-and other countries.

-If there's a TB problem

-originating from badgers...

-..like there is

-in North Pembrokeshire...

-..and other areas in Wales,

-it should be dealt with locally.

-Then we can move on and reduce the

-number of cattle contracting TB.

-They don't have

-the vaccination option now.

-They have to look again

-at the policy.

-It isn't fair to farmers to have

-to do all the things we do today.

-We can't move our animals

-if we have the disease on the farm.

-We're doing everything we can.

-The government

-has to play its part too.

-Culling has to be part

-of the solution from now on.

-As farmers, we want to eradicate

-the disease from this area.

-We've had the disease here

-for over 20 years.

-It's time the government understood

-this and helped us to get rid of it.

-That's all for now.

-After the break, we'll find out

-how you go about training...

-..the best sheepdogs in the world.

-See you in a minute.

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-Welcome back.

-How does someone

-breed good sheepdogs?

-Is it in the blood, is it the

-training or a combination of both?

-Alun spent some time with Aled Owen

-Llangwm, an international champion.

-Aled Owen from Penyfed Farm,

-Ty-Nant, Corwen...

-..is one of the best

-sheepdog trainers in the world.

-He has won the World Sheepdog Trials

-twice with different dogs.

-Last year, he won the International

-Sheepdog Trials for the fourth time.

-Why is this sport so important to

-you? Last year was special for you.

-That's right.

-The International

-moves between the home nations...

-..Ireland, England,

-Wales and Scotland.

-I'd won in the three other countries

-during the last 15 years...

-..but Scotland is one of the

-hardest places to win the contest...

-..because of the different sheep

-- the Scottish Blackface and so on.

-Also, they have big courses.

-I felt that this year,

-Cap was at his best.

-I couldn't expect any more from him.

-That's why

-it was such a special year.

-When do you think

-a dog is at its best?

-They say it's four years old.

-One year under each leg.

-Or under each foot.

-I think that's true enough.

-Between the ages of four

-and eight or nine years old.

-This takes you all over the world.

-Yes.

-I've been to Japan.

-I'm going to Australia.

-I've been to South Africa

-and the United States.

-I've been invited to South America.

-It's a good life.

-Along with his success

-over the years...

-..Aled has developed

-a sheepdog training business.

-In addition to the business at home,

-he spends much of his time abroad...

-..teaching and adjudicating

-at sheepdog trials.

-I've been visiting various countries

-since 1992.

-I adjudicate

-at various competitions...

-..but I spend most of my time

-training sheepdogs and their owners.

-Does it matter

-which language you use?

-Will they learn English commands

-if they've been taught in Welsh?

-Yes.

-I speak to them in Welsh

-but the commands are in English.

-Is that standard?

-Is that standard?

-

-Yes.

-It doesn't matter where you are.

-I mentioned Japan earlier.

-They use "come by" and "away".

-One command you use

-is "tyrd mewn" (come in).

-When you're shedding sheep...

-..or if you're on the mountain

-and the dog goes out too wide...

-.."tyrd mewn"

-calls the dog in and helps him.

-It can be a very important command.

-You'll hear "tyrd mewn"

-in America and other countries...

-..if they're working

-with dogs from Penyfed.

-It must be a great feeling to

-visit America from time to time...

-..and see how the dogs

-have turned out.

-That's right.

-There is a lot of the breed there,

-a lot of the breed from Wales.

-Wales has overtaken Scotland

-over the last few years.

-For a long time, the Scottish lads

-were the main breeders...

-..and everyone went to Scotland.

-These days, things are different.

-The Scots, Americans and

-other nationalities come to Wales.

-Tell me

-about your latest development.

-I understand you sell semen

-from your best dogs.

-That's right.

-This has become quite popular.

-Rather than bitches coming here

-from Europe...

-..to be put to the dog...

-..we send the semen over to them.

-We put it in a cool box.

-It isn't frozen, it's chilled.

-That can last for up to a fortnight.

-It can be sent

-to America or anywhere else.

-They say in cattle, using semen

-this way is 60-70% effective.

-Is it something similar in dogs?

-It's improved now

-because of the chilled semen.

-It can be as effective

-as the natural method.

-Although the dogs take up much

-of his time, he is still a farmer.

-This may be a silly question.

-What is a good sheep to you?

-Do you make a living from them...

-..or are they just tools

-to train the dogs?

-They are both to us.

-We've increased our stock to 750

-over the last two years.

-My brother has retired at Glanrafon.

-I've taken over the land there.

-I have 750 sheep -

-300 Welsh and 450 crossbreed.

-I've kept the yearlings this year.

-I didn't think I was offered

-enough for them in the summer...

-..so I decided to keep them

-and put them to the ram.

-Do your own dogs

-have to be farm dogs...

-..in addition

-to competing in trials?

-Yes, they do.

-I can't handle soft dogs.

-My dogs have to have enough strength

-to move an entire flock.

-If they can do that...

-..when they're at international

-trials and handling 20 sheep...

-..you know they have

-that extra gear.

-These days, a lot more farmers

-don't have a good dog.

-They use a quad bike instead.

-What is your opinion on that?

-Yes, quad bikes.

-I've been on plenty of quad bikes

-and they can be dangerous.

-When you're trying to gather sheep

-with a quad bike...

-..especially on the hills...

-..people tend to lose

-their tempers and drive too fast.

-I know of farmers

-who have injured themselves...

-..not that they'd admit it.

-They'd be better off

-buying one of your dogs.

-Exactly!

-It's a busy and very full life

-for Aled.

-How does he go about

-maintaining his high standards?

-I've been breeding dogs

-for 40 years.

-I feel I almost have what I want.

-I've had good dogs over the years.

-From Cap,

-although he's only 4.5 years old...

-..there are good dogs

-coming through.

-This is what I like to see.

-I'm still trying

-to improve the breed...

-..and trying

-to improve my handling skills.

-Hundreds of lambs have gone

-under the hammer here at Ruthin.

-Since last Friday,

-changes have been brought in...

-..to the way Welsh lambs are tagged.

-Since January 1st, farmers

-are obliged to use electronic tags.

-There are two choices.

-Lambs that are sent

-to an abattoir to be slaughtered...

-..before reaching

-the age of 12 months...

-..must be tagged with either

-an electronic slaughter tag...

-..or a farmer

-may choose to use a full EID.

-A full EID is an electronic tag...

-..containing the flock number and

-the individual animal's number...

-..and also a conventional tag

-with the same information.

-What happens with lambs born

-and tagged before January 1st?

-There is no change for lambs

-tagged before January 1st.

-They can still be moved

-up to the age of 12 months.

-When a lamb

-reaches the age of 12 months...

-..they will have to be upgraded

-to a full EID.

-Farmers who bought store lambs

-last year...

-..with a non-electronic slaughter

-tag, a non-EID slaughter tag...

-..can move those animals

-after January 1st on that tag.

-They do not need to be retagged

-with an electronic tag.

-What about sheep born before 2010

-that were not electronically tagged?

-There is no change in the rule.

-Older sheep do not need to be given

-an electronic tag.

-We suggest farmers

-check with markets and abattoirs...

-..to ensure they still accept

-non-electronic tags.

-How much effect do you think

-this will have on the industry?

-Decreasing tagging options

-will simplify choices.

-The hope is that they can conform

-more fully with the regulations.

-It's also important to remember

-that a lot of sheep and lambs...

-..are exported from Wales

-to England and Scotland.

-These changes are more consistent

-with rules in those countries.

-Where can farmers

-find more information about this?

-All the information about the

-changes brought in on January 1st...

-..can be found

-on the Welsh Government website.

-In addition, a booklet of guidelines

-was sent out in December...

-..to all Welsh farmers

-keeping sheep and goats.

-It explains all the changes.

-Anyone is welcome to contact the

-office by telephone or by email...

-..or they can visit the website

-for further information.

-Ruthin Market

-is busy throughout the year.

-Glyn Owens, how many years

-have you been selling here?

-I started in Ruthin in 1986.

-It's been a very busy market.

-We have good support from locals

-and people in the surrounding areas.

-Your company expanded last year...

-..with the construction

-of the building behind us.

-We decided

-to construct a new building.

-It is a multi-purpose hall

-with new offices.

-It has worked very well.

-New visitors and people who have

-been coming to us for years...

-..have been praising the location

-and the new building.

-It's good for the staff

-and of course the customers.

-In short, what are your predictions

-for the coming year?

-Will it be a difficult year?

-I don't think the start of the year

-will be as good as last year.

-At the start of last year...

-..lambs were fetching

-an average of up to 2 per kilo.

-I don't believe prices

-will be at that level this year.

-It will not be easy.

-Some sectors suffered last year...

-..for instance the dairy sector

-and mountain lambs.

-It won't be easy for us

-as a company.

-We'll try our best

-for our customers...

-..and for farmers from Clwyd

-and beyond...

-..to get the prices they deserve

-for their produce.

-I have to say

-that their produce is excellent.

-We'll see what the year brings.

-Only time will tell.

-Thanks for your company. We'll

-see you at the same time next week.

-Goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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