AS GLOBAL demand for sustainable textiles continues to grow, wool is presenting farmers with a renewed opportunity to increase revenue by improving flock quality.

Competition shearer and sheep farmer Matt Smith has been working for several years to enhance the value of wool from his Romney flock. However, he believes it could take another decade before he achieves the level of fleece quality needed to deliver a significant uplift in returns.

“We have invested heavily in genetics, particularly to improve micron density within the flock,” he said. “High-quality wool is in demand for premium, sustainable clothing, and better micron density combined with a higher comfort factor will always attract stronger prices.”

While his flock already produces wool that commands a good return, Smith believes there is further potential—particularly with the introduction of new technology that allows more precise measurement of wool quality.

“I have been fortunate to trial a new handheld device from Woven Optics, which measures micron and comfort factor in real time,” he explained. “It has allowed me to clearly see how breeding decisions are influencing wool quality.”

Developed in Australia, the Woven Optics device is designed for use in a range of conditions and has proven to be an accurate on-farm testing tool. In the UK, the company has partnered with Heiniger to bring the technology to farmers.

“I have been working with Hefin Rowlands from Heiniger to monitor our Romneys using the device,” Smith added. “While it represents a significant investment, it is small compared to what we already spend on genetics.”

He believes the technology offers farmers a practical way to track improvements and better understand how breeding choices impact wool value.

“It is an enabler,” he said. “Having the ability to test wool on farm in seconds could help shift the industry back towards prioritising wool as a key genetic trait.”

Smith argues that this shift is not just about profitability, but also about animal health and long-term sustainability.

“In recent years, breeding has focused heavily on carcass weight to meet market demand for larger cuts of meat, and wool quality has been overlooked,” he said. “That has had unintended consequences.”

Drawing on his experience as a contract shearer across the UK, Smith has observed a decline in fleece quality in many flocks.

“I am seeing more yellowing in fleeces and a stronger odour, which can increase susceptibility to fly problems,” he said.

He warns that neglecting wool quality may also be contributing to a growing reliance on chemicals, antibiotics and anthelmintics—raising concerns about resistance and animal welfare.

“As a sheep breeding nation, we risk forgetting how important wool quality is to overall sheep health,” he added. “Changes in fleece condition, combined with warmer temperatures, can increase flystrike risk. By breeding for better wool, we can reduce these issues and cut reliance on pharmaceuticals.”

Smith believes that embracing technology such as the Woven Optics device could help reverse current trends.

“Breeding in the wrong direction is not sustainable,” he said. “By improving wool quality, farmers can produce healthier, more valuable sheep. The tools are now available, and the opportunity is there to restore wool as a priority within UK sheep farming.”

SAMUEL KURTZ MS has renewed calls for stronger action to tackle water pollution in Pembrokeshire after joining local open water swimmers in Saundersfoot.

The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member attended a morning sea swim with groups including the Numb Nuts and the Blue Tits on Friday (Mar 13), where concerns were raised about sewage discharges into Welsh waterways.

He said public frustration over water quality was continuing to grow.

“Pembrokeshire is blessed with some of the most beautiful coastline and waterways in the UK, and they should be protected for everyone who lives here and enjoys them,” said Mr Kurtz.

“However, I regularly hear from residents, swimmers, surfers and local businesses who are deeply frustrated by repeated reports of sewage discharges into our rivers and seas, while water company executives continue to receive large bonuses or hide behind a not-for-profit status.”

Mr Kurtz welcomed enforcement action taken against Welsh Water following pollution incidents, but warned that fines alone were not enough.

“Penalties must lead to meaningful improvements,” he said. “The money should be reinvested directly into upgrading sewage infrastructure so these incidents become far less frequent.

“Customers should not be left paying higher water bills to fix failures that should have been addressed years ago.”

He also stressed that responsibility for water quality lies with the Welsh Government.

“Water quality in Wales is fully devolved, meaning decisions about regulation, environmental standards and oversight are made here in Wales, not in Westminster,” he said.

Mr Kurtz has repeatedly raised concerns in the Senedd about pollution affecting Pembrokeshire’s rivers and coastline, including the River Cleddau and designated bathing waters.

In a previous debate, he called for a statutory duty on water companies to take all reasonable steps to prevent sewage discharges into rivers, lakes and the sea—similar to measures introduced in England. The proposal was rejected by Welsh Labour ministers.

He said the response reflected a wider reluctance to adopt stronger measures.

“Time and again I have raised concerns about sewage discharges and their impact on our environment, only to see sensible proposals dismissed,” he said.

“This isn’t about politics—it’s about protecting our environment and restoring public confidence in the safety of our waterways.”

Mr Kurtz also highlighted the role of community groups and local initiatives, including the Cleddau Project, which aims to improve the ecological health of the river catchment.

“There is some excellent work happening locally,” he said. “But we need a joined-up, Wales-wide approach rather than piecemeal action.

“That means tackling sewage infrastructure, agricultural run-off, environmental monitoring and enforcement together. I will continue to press this issue in the Senedd.”

CABINET SECRETARY for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles MS, has outlined further steps to improve accountability, openness and transparency across NHS Wales.

In an update following his October statement, Mr Miles said new measures are already making health services more accountable to the public, while improving access to meaningful performance data.

For the first time, Welsh Government has held a full round of public accountability meetings with all NHS organisations. The sessions were live streamed, allowing the public to see health boards, trusts and special authorities being questioned on their plans, finances, performance, quality and safety. Recordings and follow-up correspondence have been published online, with supporting evidence packs set to follow.

Over the past year, more NHS performance data has been released than ever before. This includes the introduction of a new Emergency Ambulance Performance Framework, which moves beyond simple response times to provide a fuller picture of patient care — from the initial call through to clinical outcomes.

The broader dataset is designed to give both the public and clinicians clearer insight into how services are performing. For example, publishing survival rates following cardiac arrest is expected to help improve outcomes by turning previously hidden processes into measurable areas for improvement.

However, a review by the Ministerial Advisory Group on NHS Performance and Productivity found the current accountability system to be overly complex, data-heavy and lacking transparency, with limited impact on driving improvement.

In response, the Welsh Government will introduce a simplified operating and accountability framework from April. The new system will focus on outcomes rather than processes, with a stronger emphasis on clinical leadership, earlier intervention and clearer consequences where performance falls short.

The reforms will include a more streamlined, risk-based oversight model and a single, shared dataset for performance reporting. Contact with Welsh Government will vary depending on an organisation’s level of escalation, with greater autonomy for those performing well.

As part of the changes, escalation frameworks for all health boards have now been published online, setting out expectations for improvement and criteria for de-escalation. Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Hywel Dda university health boards were de-escalated in February after meeting cancer performance targets.

Mr Miles also highlighted ongoing work to improve NHS productivity, including plans to develop a more comprehensive measure of system-wide performance.

He said the Welsh Government remains committed to improving transparency and accountability, using better data and oversight to drive improvements in patient care.