Farming

Welsh sheep farmers to help Farming Connect create EBV for methane yield

Published

1 year ago

December 19, 2023

WELSH farmers could soon have the option to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint thanks to a new Farming Connect project with ambition to create an estimated breeding value (EBV) for methane yield.

Emissions from lambs in flocks involved in Farming Connect’s Welsh Sheep Genetics Project are being measured with portable accumulation chambers.

It is just one element of several linked to genetics that the programme will investigate over the next two years to help farmers strengthen flock performance, improve productivity and increase profitability, but an important one, says Heledd Dancer, Farming Connect’s Sheep Genetics Officer for Mid Wales, as it will give farmers the opportunity to select animals which genetically produce less methane.

This will help farmers assess and change their breeding programme and system to select sheep with lower methane emissions, enabling them to lower the carbon footprint of their flock and farm as well as contributing as an industry to reducing the overall environmental impact of methane emissions.

“We are giving farmers the unique opportunity to develop this EBV with us,’’ says Heledd.

“We know that sheep produce methane and we know there is a relationship between factors like gut size, so the intention is to figure out which animals in their flock can contribute to reducing methane emissions.’’

The chambers allow measurements to be taken from up to 12 sheep at a time – this will be done by Aberystwyth-based Innovis, who is working in conjunction with Farming Connect on this project; to allow for consistency, those sheep will be kept on the same grazing regime for the previous three weeks.

As methane yield is a heritable trait, measurements will be taken from lambs that have been produced by a variety of sires.

The project aims to take measurements from over 1000 lambs over a two-year period.

Gwawr Williams, Head of Sheep Genetics at Farming Connect, said this number is sufficient to develop a usable EBV for methane yield.

“It would also be sufficient to give us a good estimate of heritability within the population, for which we usually consider 900-1000 animals to be the minimum,’’ she says.

There is good evidence that sheep with lower methane yields have a lower reticulorumen volume therefore the project will also utilise CT scanning to obtain accurate measures of reticulorumen dimensions in the live animal.

“It is vital that we understand changes in reticulorumen volume that may be associated with breeding sheep with a lower methane yield so that we can ensure there are no unintended consequences in terms of the sheep’s ability to utilise low quality forages,’’ says Gwawr.

There are now over a hundred flocks involved in the Welsh Sheep Genetics Programme within two tiers, which also includes flocks which transitioned over from Hybu Cig Cymru’s Hill Ram Scheme.

Tier 1 is specific to hill and upland breeds while Tier 2 is for maternal breeds including the Blue Faced Leicester, Lleyn, Romney and Charmoise Hill.

Crime

Farmer cleared of restraining order breach at Haverfordwest court

Published

13 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been found not guilty of breaching a restraining order after being accused of referencing a protected individual in a Facebook post.

Philip Stoddart, 58, of Monkhill Farm, St Ishmaels, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 20) to face the charge. The prosecution, led by Ann Griffiths on behalf of the crown, alleged that between December 4 and December 13, 2023, Stoddart made a Facebook post that, by inference, referred to a person he was prohibited from contacting under a restraining order imposed by Swansea Crown Court on April 16, 2021.

The restraining order, issued under Section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, barred Stoddart from making any form of contact with her.

Prosecutors argued that the Facebook post constituted a breach of the order, contrary to Section 363 of the same act.

Stoddart denied the allegations and entered a not guilty plea during a prior hearing on October 1, 2024.

Magistrates Professor N. Negus, Mr. J. Steadman, and Mrs. J. Morris presided over the trial, which concluded on Monday.

After reviewing the evidence, the bench found Stoddart not guilty, dismissing the case.

The dismissal brings to a close legal proceedings that had been ongoing for over a year.

Farming

Get up to £5,000 for on-farm trials in Wales

Published

16 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

FARMERS in Wales are being called to apply for the next round of funding for on-farm trials.

The Farming Connect initiative, which has funded projects such as growing lucerne in Brecon, is inviting applications for the Try Out Fund.

The new application window opens on January 27, 2025, and will run until February 17.

Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help fund trials that experiment with new ideas on their farms.

The last round of funding supported several projects, including integrated pest management at a pick-your-own strawberry enterprise.

Menna Williams, the Farming Connect project lead, said: “Farming Connect has developed the Try Out Fund to address specific local problems or opportunities with the aim of improving efficiencies and profitability within agricultural businesses whilst protecting the environment.”

She added: “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.”

The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.

Ms Williams said: “Because these ideas are initiated by farmers themselves, they are really passionate about them, giving them 100 per cent effort right from the start.”

Projects should focus on enhancing production efficiencies and profitability while ensuring environmental protection through adherence to sustainable land management principles.

A guidance handbook is accessible on the Farming Connect website, providing support for farmers in outlining their projects and completing the application process.

To apply, individuals must be registered with Farming Connect and capable of finishing their projects by January 2026.

Ms Williams explained: “Funding can be used for technical assistance, sampling, testing and other reasonable expenses such as those relating to short-term hire of specialist equipment or facilities directly relating to the project.”

The findings will be shared with other producers in Wales by collaborating with a Farming Connect team member.

Interested parties can apply on the Farming Connect website.

To receive the link or get further information, contact [email protected].

Farming

Funding window to re-open for on-farm trials in Wales

Published

16 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WITH Farming Connect-funded trials ranging from growing lucerne in Brecon to establishing sunflowers as a companion crop with maize, farmers are being invited to apply for the next round of funding from the initiative that brought these projects to life.

The new application window for the Try Out Fund opens on 27January2025 and will run until 17 February. Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help fund on-farm trials that experiment with new ideas. The last round of funding saw farmers supported for several projects including integrated pest management at pick your own strawberry enterprise.

Project lead Menna Williams of Farming Connect said the aim is for farmers to compare different treatments or management systems – the project is not intended to fund new equipment she stressed.

“Farming Connect has developed the Try-Out Fund to address specific local problems or opportunities with the aim of improving efficiencies and profitability within agricultural businesses whilst protecting the environment,’’ she said. “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.’’

The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.

“Because these ideas are initiated by farmers themselves, they are really passionate about them, giving them 100% effort right from the start,’’ said Ms Williams.

Suitable projects must aim to improve production efficiencies and profitability whilst protecting the environment by aligning with sustainable land management outcomes. A guidance handbook is available on the Farming Connect website to help farmers scope their project and complete the application form.

Applicants must be registered with Farming Connect and be able to complete their projects by January 2026.