BATTLE IS ON TO
BATTLE IS ON TO
CUT FARM COSTS
Producers know they have to
be flexible to meet market
demands. But sometimes
even that is not enough…
AT the end of a year of disastrously-low livestock prices many farmers will trawl breed society and support agencies stands looking for ways of improving efficiency and cutting costs.
A recent Farmers Union of Wales visit to Bodheulog, a 73ha (180-acre) less favoured area holding at Cynwyd in Merionethshire, demonstrated the need to find answers. Cledwyn and Mair Davies told union leaders and Welsh assembly member Karen Sinclair that their income from sheep had crashed by £13,000 over two years.
"We have done everything would could to try to improve the quality of our lambs and to produce them more efficiently," said Mr Davies. "When demand for pure Welsh Mountain lambs fell, we changed to using Suffolk rams on half-bred ewes. Because buyers complained that some of our Suffolk cross lambs were too fat, we switched to using Charollais rams. The lambs were less hardy and we were forced to put up a lambing shed. Now buyers say lambs are showing too many Welsh traits."
This years poor lamb prices mean that the 526 ewe flock cannot generate enough income to let the partners employ their son Dylan. He is so desperate to farm that he now works for pocket money, but even that is getting harder to find.
An improved return for finished cattle from 21 suckler cows has helped but does not compensate for the investment made in breeding to improve product quality.
So will the host of advisory agencies with stands at the Fair be able to help farmers like Cledwyn Davies? The message most will put over is that efficiency can only be improved if producers know the current state of their businesses and have realistic improvement targets.
Once again consultants will use the event to urge producers to improve their record keeping, and to compare the physical and financial performance of their farms with results from similar units.
Technology transfer
Technology transfer has become the buzz phrase. ADAS, MLC and the Welsh Assemblys Food Strategy Group now have closely monitored commercial focus farms where best practice can be demonstrated. Fair visitors will be encouraged to benefit by joining local discussion groups linked to these farms.
Three farms involved in an ADAS beef project are also part of a national assessment of suckler dam types being run by Signet.
"There are clear signs of valuable co-operation between different agencies that are in competition for customers, which must be good for farming," said senior ADAS consultant Margaret Griffiths.
All the initiatives emphasise the need to meet market specifications as efficiently as possible, possibly by changing breeds, and certainly by investing in the best quality stock. MLC will feature the progress of the EU – funded Welsh Sheep Strategy, which is already having a significant impact on flock quality through performance testing and sire referencing.
It is a sign of the times that MLCs multi-agency Welsh Council will use the Fair to launch new initiatives to improve meat sales. Gwyn Howells, the commissions industry development manager for Wales, says the aim will be to enhance training in the abattoir and retail sectors to ensure that consumers get a range of products they want to buy.
"We also plan to persuade local authorities to source meat for schools within Wales. We also want to work with the National Assembly to make the importance of eating red meat and learning to cook it part of the national curriculum in schools.
NEW EXHIBITION CENTRE WILL GIVE MORE SPACE
The 10th Welsh Winter Fair will be different because much of it will be staged in an impressive new £2.2m exhibition centre.
This will provide more ringside space for enthusiasts to watch the climax of pig, sheep and cattle judging and increase the number and diversity of trade stands. Organisers claim that the new facilities represent a leap forward for the already successful event.
Livestock exhibitors clearly regard the Fair as the place to show their animals. Despite the farming crisis, entries are up in every section except pork carcasses. A total of 218 cattle will parade including 85 cross bred steers and 97 crossbred heifers, and there will be 25 Welsh Black compared with 19 last year.
Live sheep classes have attracted 320 pairs of lambs and 146 lamb carcasses will be exhibited on the hook.
Though there are relatively few pig producers in Wales, 55 animals will be shown live and finishers have entered 16 pork carcasses.
Once again organisers have tried to widen the appeal of the event, especially for women. The produce and handicraft sections have been expanded and there is the usual strong entry of poultry.