The event at Beili Ficer, Llansawel, Llandeilo, brought together cutting edge innovation, a platform for discussion and dissemination, an inspirational young farming family and all the ingredients for a great day out - and so 9,000 and more farmers travelled to the show, keen for refreshment and reinvigoration after the worst 12 months most can remember. They put aside the worries over the rain-soaked summer, bitter unseasonal spring, disease and rising costs.
Helen Davies, NSA Welsh Sheep 2013 Organiser, says: ”It was the best ever Welsh Sheep, and shows the event is going from strength to strength. There was a real community spirit and the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. Everyone pulled together and was ready for a great day out. NSA Welsh Sheep has established itself as a must for anyone to do with the sheep industry.”
Opening NSA Welsh Sheep 2013, Professor Wynne Jones praised the ‘bravery’ of hosts Sion and Claire Williams who had opened up their farm after such a testing lambing season. He urged processors and retailers to work with the sheep industry to encourage innovation and take the industry forward.
He said:”There is no silver bullet solution to take the industry forward. We have a strong industry but the way we will move forward is by making little gains over a lot of things, to concentrate on managing what we can manage.
“We can’t manage the politicians, we can’t manage the weather, we can’t manage the prices to a greater extent, but we can manage a lot of other things. If we all do 10 little things well, they all add up to increasing the top line by about 10-15%.
“Animal health is a very, very, big issue and we were delighted to hear that the Schmallenberg vaccine has been licensed. That is tremendously good news for the industry."
Prof Jones urged farmers to use the opportunity to look at ways of improving their performance. The best farmers needed to be taken forward and the gap closed between the very good and the less good.
One of the highlights of the day was the Ready Steady Cook competition. TV personality Dai Llanilar beat the engaging Meinir Jones of Ffermio in the last heat with his lamb-based dish.
The Young Shepherd of the Year competition was won by Rhydian Thomas of Cothi Shears.
