10 bold targets for Welsh beef and sheep farmers

Welsh beef and sheep farmers should boost production by 7% by end of the decade, according to bold new targets.

The Twenty Twenty Vision (PDF), created by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales – sets out ambitious goals for on-farm and industry performance.

It includes concrete aims such as raising the stock numbers hitting spec, ramping up lambing percentages and cutting calving intervals.

See also: Welsh farmers target red meat sales surge

Welsh deputy minister for farming and food Rebecca Evans, who launched the plan, said the changes would benefit the whole of Wales.

“Successful delivery of the action plan is vital to the wider vision of prosperity and resilience which I share with the industry for the whole of agriculture,” she said.

The top 10 targets for 2020 were:

• Raise on-farm red meat output 7% to £31.5m
• Boost sales of Welsh red meat 34% to £776m
• Make sure 10% more lambs meet standard market spec, leading to £900,000 extra value
• Get 3% more prime cattle hitting spec, which could deliver a £210,000 boost
• Cut the number of lambs marketed as superlight or light by 17%
• Raise the number of lambs reared per ewe by 6% and the average weight of lambs by 10% to 56kg
• Drop calving intervals by 4% and boost the average weight of weaned beef per cow by 8%
• Increase Welsh red meat exports 41% to £314m
• Up Welsh red meat sales in restaurants, hotels and cafes 17% to £42m
• Help raise the turnover of Welsh food and farming 14% to £6.5bn.