Mon, 15 May 2017 Ffermio

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-Trees are a natural part

-of the countryside.

-For some farmers,

-they are a way of generating income.

-That's precisely

-what's happened at this farm.

-How? Find out later.

-Also tonight, with a continued need

-to improve efficiency...

-..Alun visits a farm which has

-adapted over the past decade.

-We'll also find out

-why Christianne Glossop...

-..has decided to walk across Wales

-from Anchor to Aberystwyth.

-A month ago,

-I visited a farm in Porthmadog...

-..where dogs

-had been attacking sheep.

-Since then, we've heard

-of numerous other cases.

-Meinir has more on the story.

-Charles Lamb from Dolwen Farm

-near Fishguard...

-..is one farmer who's been affected.

-This is where it all happened?

-I was sat in the house,

-at the kitchen table.

-I saw the sheep passing by heading

-up to the top of the field.

-I couldn't see the dogs

-but I heard them down in the valley.

-I ran down and that's where they

-were pulling some lambs apart.

-It must have been

-a frightening sight.

-It played on my mind

-for a while afterwards...

-..seeing an animal

-killed in front of me.

-I was very angry to see

-something like that happening.

-You recognised the dogs.

-Afterwards, I discovered that

-the dogs had come from next door.

-What happened then?

-It was a long process

-involving the police.

-She instructed a solicitor

-to fight her case.

-The police were on my side

-and it continued for six months.

-As long as that?

-What was the outcome?

-There's a restraining order

-on the dogs.

-If the dogs are seen

-outside the farm boundaries...

-..she'll be summoned to court.

-I was also awarded compensation

-of 500.

-Almost 20 miles west,

-on Maesyfelin Farm, Llanglydwen...

-..Paul and Eirlys Williams have also

-suffered as a result of dog attacks.

-I came home lunchtime

-after visiting another farm.

-I checked the sheep because

-we were in the middle of lambing.

-I noticed one dead lamb

-in the field.

-Then another and another.

-I looked across the field and

-I could see two dogs running around.

-I chased them but they were faster

-than me and I lost sight of them.

-I drove off to search for the owner,

-he was searching for the dogs...

-..so I was fortunate enough

-to find him.

-He came back with me to see

-the damage the dogs had done.

-We walked around the field

-and found 27 lambs...

-..and three sheep dead.

-Every farmer has a thick skin

-but that was hard to take.

-How much of an impact

-did it have on you as a family?

-It wasn't nice to see.

-Paul went out

-to collect the dead animals.

-I didn't see all that.

-To see the lambs in one pile

-wasn't nice at all.

-I was in tears.

-Thinking back to all the work

-that had gone into everything...

-..it wasn't nice at all.

-Often,

-dog attacks on cattle happen...

-..when walkers

-let their dogs off the lead.

-One man who often walks in the

-countryside is Arwel Michael...

-..from the Edward Llwyd Society.

-As a society...

-..do you allow dogs

-to join your walks?

-No, only guide dogs

-for the blind and partially sighted.

-No other dogs are allowed to walk

-with members of Edward Llwyd.

-Why have you taken that decision?

-Why have you taken that decision?

-

-It's an inconvenience.

-You have to pick up dog mess when

-you should concentrate on the walk.

-You shouldn't be concentrating

-on what your dog is doing...

-..and you don't want them

-damaging the land.

-It is your responsibility

-to make sure your dog is safe.

-You have to give the dog

-your full focus...

-..when you're surrounded

-by sheep, cattle and other animals.

-Do you see examples

-of irresponsible dog walkers...

-..on your walks?

-All the time

-but they are in a minority.

-You see sheep running by

-and then some dogs chasing them.

-The individual can get into trouble

-if they leave their dogs loose.

-Cattle can turn on dogs

-and injure them.

-It's a danger to them.

-There are many repercussions for

-walking dogs in the countryside.

-There are almost 600,000 dogs

-in Wales.

-With an increase in dog attacks

-on livestock...

-..is there enough advice available

-to dog owners?

-Someone who deals with rural crimes

-for Dyfed Powys Police...

-..is Acting Inspector

-Matthew Howells.

-We have around 12-20 calls

-every month.

-That can vary from sheep just

-being chased with no injuries...

-..to around 4-6

-being injured or killed.

-What's your advice to anyone

-seeing dogs killing sheep?

-First, try and call the dog or dogs

-away from the sheep.

-Report it to the police...

-..and if the dog owner is present...

-..allow the owner to recall the dog

-and put it on a lead.

-If the owner isn't present

-and you can't recall the dog...

-..the farmer has a right

-to shoot the dog.

-They must report it to the police

-within 48 hours.

-Have you learnt any lessons

-as a result of this?

-Yes, to stand firm.

-I went through the proper procedures

-with the police.

-My neighbour has had to install

-a high fence...

-..and she has to keep them

-under control on her own farm.

-We work so hard during lambing.

-There are enough problems

-with lambing as it is...

-..without having to face

-something like this.

-It's the worst experience I've had.

-In 2014, Ffermio visited Huw Owen

-at Garthmyn Isaf near Llanrwst.

-At the time, he had sheep

-and a new biomass system here.

-Since then,

-there have been many changes.

-The sheep

-have been replaced with trees.

-Today, Farming Connect

-have organised an open day...

-..to show the developments

-on the farm...

-..including three new burners

-and a plantation of 900 trees.

-We've moved on.

-We've spent a lot.

-Recently, we installed CHP -

-combined heat and power.

-That's taken up a lot of work

-in the business...

-..but in terms

-of the biomass business...

-..which we started a while ago...

-..it all happened so quickly...

-..and there was such a demand

-for woodchip...

-..and a quality of woodchip

-that we could sell...

-..it helped the business develop

-to where it is today.

-When we started, we didn't have

-any customers wanting woodchip.

-We had an open day

-over three years ago.

-From that day,

-we now have 60 customers.

-You dry the woodchips and

-you're supplying the National Grid.

-It's a win-win situation.

-Yes. We have the Mus-Max chipper.

-We can provide a good quality chip

-to run the system...

-..and the system

-is quite technical to run...

-..but when it works,

-it's very effective.

-We have a lot of heat

-to dry the woodchip...

-..down to 10%.

-During that process,

-we generate the electricity to sell.

-When we completed the research...

-..someone visited the farm...

-..to determine

-the traceability of the wood...

-..to make sure we were heading

-in the right direction.

-He said that 90% of what he saw

-around here was trees.

-He said we were in a good position

-to get trees...

-..either through

-Natural Resources Wales...

-..or from farms

-that had woodlands on their farms.

-By doing that, we've added value

-to the wood we've been given.

-There is a plentiful local supply...

-..and we can employ

-a lot of local workers.

-How much money have you invested?

-How much money have you invested?

-

-It's getting close to 2m.

-Are you sweating?

-Are you sweating?

-

-There's no point.

-Whoever installs

-these heating systems...

-..the Government will give them

-a payment for the next 20 years.

-That's one of the things

-we researched.

-As long as we supply the correct

-fuel to them, the woodchip...

-..we have a customer for 20 years.

-We're looking at the business

-in terms of Carwyn.

-He's 18 years old. He has a future.

-This is quite unique - very few

-people do this in North Wales.

-Geraint Jones from Farming Connect

-organised today's event.

-Today's event shows how Huw Owen

-has developed the business.

-It's grown to where it is today...

-..with all the processes that have

-happened in light of that...

-..in terms of buying the wood,

-processing it...

-..and selling the wood at the end.

-Huw has diversified

-into the fuel and energy industry...

-..with his power and energy units.

-We're looking at what comes in

-locally in terms of fuel.

-We can use local wood

-which helps the local economy.

-It improves the business

-in terms of its own economy.

-It's important to look ahead

-and plan ahead.

-These are areas Farming Connect

-are investigating...

-..by giving businesses

-the correct advice...

-..and getting suitable people in

-to give the correct advice...

-..to allow the business

-to survive and grow.

-It's been very exciting watching Huw

-develop over the past few years...

-..and seeing where he'll go

-in the future.

-After a day of listening and seeing,

-what are people's impressions?

-We learnt that you can do something

-else apart from farming the land.

-You can sell wood

-and do other things with it.

-It's been a real eye opener

-seeing something new...

-..and farm diversification.

-It's been well worth seeing.

-He's spent his money very wisely.

-I hope he's very successful.

-That's all for now.

-Join us after the break...

-..when Alun joins a different breed

-of cattle in Ponterwyd.

-See you soon.

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-Traditionally, the Welsh Black

-is seen grazing on Welsh uplands.

-In the mountains around Ponterwyd

-near Aberystwyth...

-..Alun's discovered

-a different breed of cattle.

-Almost ten years ago,

-I visited Lle'r-neuaddau Farm...

-..to see an unique experiment.

-Crossing a Scottish Highland cow

-with a Shorthorn...

-..to create a hardy animal...

-..which can turn poor moorland

-into good quality meat.

-Has the experiment succeeded?

-Christopher Evans

-is the 1,500-acre farm's tenant.

-Day by day, Rheinallt Jones

-is the manager of the holding.

-When I last visited the farm,

-your father managed the herd.

-It was a new venture, an experiment.

-Have things turned out

-as you expected?

-Back, many years ago, Christopher

-Evans kept a herd of Welsh Blacks.

-We wanted a breed that could live

-out here in the winter...

-..so we chose the Highland cattle.

-It was a gamble right at the outset.

-Of course. No-one had kept them

-in this area before.

-If we'd taken them to Dolgellau

-mart, no-one would have wanted them!

-They've worked out well for us.

-How are they different,

-or better, than other breeds?

-The emphasis for us

-was finding an animal...

-..that could live here

-during the winter without silage...

-..by grazing on the moorland,

-the rubbish on this pasture!

-By doing so, they provided

-better pasture for the sheep.

-It's a very special breed.

-What do you do in terms of selling?

-From what I've seen, the females are

-good animals to sell for breeding.

-What about the males?

-Where's your target?

-We're very lucky

-with the British Shorthorn.

-Morrisons are heavily promoting the

-breed and there's a market for them.

-We're carrying on breeding them,

-we receive a fair price per kilo.

-We manage to produce male calves

-weighing 400kgs within 12 months.

-On the whole,

-the cattle are a quiet breed.

-I don't regard them

-as wild cattle...

-..unless they've just

-produced a calf.

-They're very maternal

-for about a week.

-That maternal instinct

-is very important.

-Since joining the Glastir scheme

-three years ago...

-..the farm's stocking levels

-have fallen by 45%...

-..to conform with the

-scheme's strict grazing conditions.

-How have these changes

-affected the cattle?

-Why are these cattle so suitable

-to the Glastir scheme?

-It started when we joined the

-Tir Gofal scheme about 10 years ago.

-Once we started grazing this land,

-the curlew returned.

-It had become very rare

-in this area.

-We returned to organic farming

-after keeping cattle...

-..and the curlew numbers

-started to fall.

-Once we started keeping cattle here

-again, the curlew returned.

-That's what we're doing

-with the Glastir scheme...

-..especially in this area.

-We topped up about a quarter

-of that field...

-..and they believe that helps

-the curlew return stronger.

-There's a variety - green patches,

-patches with strong growth...

-..and patches where the cattle's

-hoof prints are visible.

-That helps with the drainage.

-You'll also notice that around the

-cowpats, the grass is even greener.

-Sheep and insects

-are attracted to those areas.

-The sheep enjoy grazing

-where cattle have been.

-When we look into the distance...

-..we can only see one colour

-in some areas.

-It's molinia grass.

-That happens

-when no grazing takes place.

-No cattle or sheep graze

-on that land right now.

-Over the years,

-the molinia grows higher...

-..until you can't walk through it.

-That's very significant.

-People who enjoy this landscape

-won't be able to enjoy it.

-You can see the summit of Pumlumon

-in front of us.

-Walkers trying to reach the top

-can't walk through this landscape.

-This is what attracts them

-to this area.

-Something has to be done about it

-right now.

-As a result of Glastir's conditions

-to reduce stock numbers...

-..Christopher Evans established

-a pedigree Shorthorn herd.

-We have eight pure-bred cows.

-Christopher has joined the society.

-He likes the breed

-and the people who keep them.

-That's why he chose them.

-We keep the bull

-to cross with the Highlands.

-They all fit in together.

-It's a huge bull.

-I think the world of it. It'll be

-sold at Stoneleigh on Saturday.

-I'll miss it when it goes.

-I don't think we'll see one

-like it for years.

-You could breed one yourself.

-We've kept one from it this year.

-It's about eight months old.

-In terms of efficiency...

-..I take it

-you can maximise your income.

-They're cheap to keep

-but they can command good prices.

-They don't go without when they're

-in the shed during the winter.

-They are pushed well but they've

-done the hard work over the summer.

-They achieve a certain quality.

-On the pasture,

-they become good animals.

-We just try and improve that

-and push them.

-That's what the market demands.

-There's no point just selling

-anything - quality is crucial.

-That works for us

-with the Highland Shorthorn cross.

-Over the past two years,

-detailed records have been kept...

-..about the herd's efficiency which

-is now pivotal to the business.

-I do like to keep the figures

-because I'm not here all the time.

-It's a measurement system, really.

-I like to see what weight they

-put on over a six-month period.

-You can monitor them that way.

-Rheinallt will monitor them

-by looking at them!

-He's here all the time

-but that's the way I like to do it.

-How important is Rheinallt in

-the process of making this job work?

-Before Rheinallt was his father.

-He was here for 20 years.

-Without those two, we wouldn't have

-the success that we've got.

-A good staff, a good shepherd is

-important - you can't do without it.

-They understand the animals and

-get the best out of the animals.

-This was an experiment 10 years ago.

-The experiment has worked.

-I think it's worked.

-On a hill farm like this, animals

-need rough grassland to graze.

-On land such as this,

-the Highland breed is well suited.

-Of course, if you're not here,

-the cattle aren't here.

-The Government needs to find a way

-to keep us on these mountains.

-Whatever schemes exist after Brexit,

-whatever comes...

-..there must be a future

-on the mountains.

-Finally, Wales' chief veterinary

-officer, Christianne Glossop...

-..recently walked with some

-of her friends and colleagues...

-..on a special journey.

-The British Cattle

-Veterinary Association...

-..is celebrating 50 years this year.

-There is a huge fundraising effort

-going on for the charity Send A Cow.

-We wanted to think

-of what we could do here in Wales...

-..that was special and unique

-and would bring everyone together.

-We decided to walk across the

-country from Anchor to Aberystwyth.

-We've been walking for two days,

-each day around 25 miles or so.

-The money that we're raising is

-going to produce a herd of cattle...

-..for Africa.

-We've had a great day.

-We walked from the Severn river

-across the Cambrian mountains.

-We started at 7.00am.

-We had poor weather

-until we reached Pumlumon.

-We walked down

-to Nant-y-Moch reservoir.

-We had a wonderful walk

-past Craig-y-Pistyll.

-I just felt that as we started

-in England...

-..we needed to show

-we'd really crossed Wales.

-I don't know where the edge is

-but it's got to be out there.

-To stop at the water's edge

-wasn't completing the job!

-We made it. What a winning team.

-The most amazing people

-and I'm in tears.

-We did it. We've walked across

-the beautiful country of Wales.

-A great effort

-by Christianne Glossop and the gang.

-That's all for this week.

-Until next time, cheerio.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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