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Wales Farmer September 2013 ROYAL WELSH SHOW


Campaign to change carcassrule


By Debbie James


ACAMPAIGN to raise the age limit for the removal of spinal columns from sheep carcasses is being led by aWelsh farming


union. The Farmers’ Union of Wales


says the current EU requirement forsheep carcasses over 12 months old to be split is a‘signif- icant and unacceptable’ burden on the Welsh sheep industry. The rule also applies to sheep


with one or morepermanent incisor teeth. FUW livestock committee


chairman Dafydd Roberts, speaking at the RoyalWelsh Show, said the current regulation devalued these animals and he described the regulation as out- dated.


New authenticity scheme


ASCHEME designed to reassureconsumers on the authenticity of Welsh beef and lamb products has been launched. Redmeatbody, HybuCig Cymru, which unveiled the initiative


at the RoyalWelsh Show, said it wasdeveloped in response to the horsemeatcrisis. Authentic Curries and WorldFoods,which is based in Hirwaun, wasthe first to sign up.


The FUW is calling forthe


regulation to be linked to the eruption of the second pair of permanent incisors. “The fact thatfirst permanent


incisors can erupt well beforean animal is 12 months of agealso means thatalarge number of animals aredevalued unnecessar- ily,”said Mr Roberts. “The precautionary approach


which underpins the requirement is nowcompletelyoutdated and


it is clear thatthe risks of moving to amoreproportionate approach arevanishinglysmall.” Mr Roberts said the FUW


wants a‘modest’ increase in the agelimit. “Second permanent incisors


erupt at between 18 and 26 months,sosuch achange would be very minor,but would never- theless represent asignificant reduction in costs forthe indus- try,” he said.


Unique initiative aiming to get communities growing


LANDOWNERSand communi- ty growers arenow be able to get expert support and advice through aunique initiative launched at the RoyalWelsh Show. The Community


Land


Advisory Service in Wales (CLAS Cymru) will support and encouragelandowners and com- munity groups to create food growing opportunities forthou- sands of people.Itaims to tackle the on-going shortage of land for community growing in Wales and give aboost to the health and environmental benefits of locally-grownfood. CLAS Cymru, funded by a


five-year £600,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund’sClimate Change Programme,will encour- agelandowners to let or sell land


to community-managed growing groups. Katie Jones,manager of the


CLAS Cymru service,said: “Community growing is flourish- ing in Wales,but finding land can be amajor hurdle.CLAS Cymru will support willing landowners, from local authorities to private individuals,tomakemoreland availablefor cultivation by com- munity groups.Itwill also help both landowners and land users navigate challenges such as plan- ning laworlease arrangements. “Wewant CLAS Cymru to be


acatalyst forlocal action. We want our work to encourage morepeople to produce high quality,local produce in Wales through community growing, which in turn will reduce our impact on the climate and con-


tribute to the creation of more sustainableand resilient commu- nities.” John Rose,Wales director for


the Big Lottery Fund, added: “Projects likethis form part of the wider jigsawtoimprove Wales and the wider worldfor futuregenerations,helping to deliverour mission of helping communities most in need.” The service wasofficially launched by AM John Griffiths, whosaid: “Getting communities gardening and growing helps improvequality of life,soit’s important thatasmanypeople as possible have the opportunity, and have access to the right land and the right skills.” The service has been set up by


the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.


Hardship grant payouts double


HARDSHIP grants deliveredby arural welfarecharity have dou- bled in asingle year. Families across Wales have received£220,000 from The


RoyalAgricultural Benevolent Institution so far this year.RABI has helped 241 families in Wales since January,figures released at the RoyalWelsh Showrevealed.


Last year’swet summer and


heavy snowthis spring, which claimed the livesofthousands of lambs,wereblamed forthe steep increase in payouts.


SWEPT THE BOARD: The supreme pig champion was saddleback sow from David Perkins and Mike and Lucy Georgiou, of Gwyndy, Llanddewi Velfrey.


PICTURES: Wales Farmer Family affair in pig lines


PEMBROKESHIRE did itself proud at the Royal Welsh Show, with champi- onships galore from the livestock classes heading


back to west Wales. Therewas aclean sweep in the pig competition, with David


Perkins and his daughter Lucy Georgiou, of Gwyndy, Llanddewi Velfrey,bringing home atrio of championships. The interbreed male champi-


onship went to their Saddleback boar GwyndyStockbroker 9, while the interbreed female and supreme championship was


awarded to PantysgawenRosette 14.


Youngsters Catherine and Lilly Nicholas,aged just sevenand one, from Tregare, Raglan, took the reservechampionship with British Lop boar Catrin Prince 4 7007, whowas shown by their mother.


15


THOROUGH CHECK: Supreme champion judge Mr P. Churchyard, from Norfolk carrying out his task.


PIGS


Interbreed male championship: Saddleback -David &Lucy Perkins & Georgiou, GWYNDY STOCKBROKER 9 Interbreed female championship: Saddleback -David &Lucy Perkins & Georgiou, PANTYSGAWEN ROSETTE 14 Supreme championship: Saddleback - David &Lucy Perkins &Georgiou, PANTYSGAWEN ROSETTE 14 Best pair of pigs: Miss C&LNicholas CATRIN PRINCE and CATRIN LULU 10 Best first time pig exhibit: David &Lucy Perkins &Georgiou, GWYNDY STOCK-


BROKER 9 Welsh Pigs: Mr &Mrs Teifi Evans &Son, GOLDFOOT VULCAN 21 Any other modern breed: Aeron &Iwan Owens, CEIRIOS MARILYN British Saddleback: David &Lucy Perkins &Georgiou, PANTYSGAWEN ROSETTE 14 Tamworth: Miss LShankland, SHUTEVALE PRINCESS 810 Any other traditional breed: Miss C&L Nicholas, CATRIN PRINCE 4 Gloucestershire Old Spot: Sue Howe, MINFIELD PRINCESS MARY Middle White: Greenmeadow Community Farm, GREENMEADOW MISCHIEF Berkshire: Mr. Chris Impey, FAIROAKS EXCELSA


STEPPING OUT: The pigs and exhibitors make their way into the ring.


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


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