CHAMPION
WELSH WINNER: Feithy herd, Wyn Jones Wyn Jones is the third generation to milk cows at Cilfeithy Uchaf near Carmarthen. Farming together with parents Eifi on and Mary, the family’s Feithy herd has had great success in recent years. Over the past eight years they have won Wales Premier Herd fi ve times fi nishing reserve UK Premier herd in 2008 and honourable mention in 2012.
The family has a passion for breeding and are fi rm believers in breeding for type and feeding for milk. Cows are managed on a grazing paddock system with cow tracks and during the summer are kept in at night to maintain condition, fertility and yield.
The 350-acre farm lies up to 250ft above sea level with 53 acres of maize grown to feed in a TMR of blend, grass and maize silage. Investment in a cubicle shed for 140 cows in 2004 which was extended to house 200 in 2011 includes a feed passage and sand bed cubicles allowing better cow comfort. The herd is milked through a 32:32 herringbone parlour, which was installed in 2008 when they moved from an abrest parlour.
A second income is also made through the sale of up to 15 bulls each year privately off the farm. Bulls are reared out of the best families and cows with high fat and protein. Alongside this market, fresh cows and heifers are also sold at Carmarthen Market. Wyn believes that showing is the ultimate shop window enabling promotion of the herd to potential buyers. “We are all proud to win this year’s Premier Herd competition. Along with the Gold Cup it is the most prestigious award that can be won in the British dairy industry. The success of our herd is due to a combination of good farming, quality feed, animal comfort and husbandry along with years of hard work. My next goal is to breed a Royal Welsh Show champion.”
Number of cows: 190 Milk yield: 10,410kgs at 4.32%bf and 3.13%p Number of staff: Three, Wyn, Eifi on and Mary Breeding goals: Type, type and more type! Breeding has always been focussed on good udders, longevity and feet and legs, with the belief that milk can be fed for. The overall aim is to have a balanced, functional and profi table herd. Families: Lilac, Lavender, Margaret, Tilly and Portis have been in the herd for more than 40 years. Great cow families are essential. The best family is the Lilacs with 34 currently milking in the herd. Best cow currently on the farm: Feithy ER Ruth, classifi ed EX95 with an EX97 mammary she is fi rst in the parlour, an aggressive eater and loves going to a show. She has just calved a Gibbs Claynook Dude heifer and has a heifer calf by Goldwyn. Sire which has worked best in the herd: Ecstasy Rodney, a stock bull by Canyon Breeze Allen and out of the EX93 Ecstasy Journalist Roxie. His progeny have won numerous competitions including interbreed bull progeny group at the Welsh Dairy Show 2013 and 2014. He has 14 daughters averaging 90 points. Stock bulls have done well in the herd with senior cows by Ecstasy Rodney, intermediate cows by Feithy Megaman, who is also by Allen and out of the EX94 Loford Stormy Meg. In the junior cows the best sires have been Sandy Valley Bolton and Feithy Aur, the latter being a Goldwyn son out of the EX94 Feithy Storm Adona who goes back to Starbuck Ada. Emmark Mammoth and Atwood look to be breeding the best heifers in the herd. Sire selection: General type, but must have good feet and legs combined with good udders. Current AI Sires: Explode, Alexander, Altaiota, Seaver, Doorman, Mincio (sexed) and Atwood (sexed). Achievements: Both Wyn and brother Rhys have done well in YFC and HYB with Rhys winning junior stockjudging at the Dairy Event 1996. In 1997 Rhys won junior stockjudging at the Royal Show 1997 and together with Wyn won the team stockjudging that year. Wyn won champion handler at the HYB Calf Show in 1998 and the same year won All Wales junior stockman. Number of times the herd has been a regional winner: Five times fi nishing reserve in 2008 and honourable mention 2012. Herd classifi cation: 72 EX, 95 VG and 20 GP two year olds, 39% of the herd is EX.
THE JOURNAL DECEMBER 2014 21
TOP Feithy ER Ruth EX95 is regarded as the herd’s best cow.
BELOW Feithy ER Lavender EX94, a daughter of Ecstasy Rodney.
BOTTOM Feithy Talent Desire VG89 3yr
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