Welsh sales of hill rams‘with figures’up 140%
WELSH sales of performance recorded hill rams climbed more than 140% in the two years to 2021, new figures have revealed.
Last year’s sales also saw a wider geographical spread in demand across Wales, from Snowdonia to the Brecon Beacons, according to meat body Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC).
One breeder who sold recorded Welsh rams for the first time in 2021 was Gwynedd producer Glyn Williams, who farms Cae Poeth in Llanuwchllyn.
A long-time vendor at Dolgellau market, he’s now begun selling rams with Estimated Breeding Values.
Glyn’s breeding programme focuses on the traits of muscle and fat depth.
He said: “These rams were sought after by both breeders and commercial producers alike.
“It is exciting to see readily available performance-recorded rams in regional sales throughout the country, giving buyers the opportunity to buy rams with figures.”
HCC’s Hill Ram Scheme is pushing the performance recording of hill flocks as a way
of increasing profitability on farms.
For breeders like Glyn, target customers are commercially focused farmers who are looking to produce prime lambs that hit market specification.
Last year saw a group of Hill Ram Scheme flocks produce performance-recorded yearlings that met “great demand throughout the country”, said HCC’s programme officer Sean Jeffreys.
Glyn added: “It can be difficult to predict what a new ram will bring to a flock.
“But by having the data behind these rams, it gives buyers reassurance that the animal should perform as expected.”