2014

THE SOCIETY’S OPEN DAY FOR 2014

The society’s Open Day for 2014 will be held under the auspices of the Meirioneth branch at Maesypandy, Abergynolwyn, Gwynedd LL36 9AQ at 1.00pm on Saturday 27th September 2014 with the kind permission of the owner,Ruth Tudor and the farm manager, Dylan Davies and family, his wife Alison and children Bedwyr and Erin.

Maesypandy lies on the B4405 between Bryncrug and the junction on the A487 in Tal-y-Llyn, near the Minffordd Hotel. The farm extends to over 2,000 acres as well as a further 70 acres in Bryncrug and another 160 acres in Dolgellau. Some 200 acres of the land is found around the farm buildings on the floor of the Dysynni Valley with the rest rising steeply up the slopes of the narrow valley to the top of Graig Goch, Corris behind the farmhouse and Mynydd Bwlch in front. The farmhouse itself is very old with an inscription 1637 carved into one of stones used to build it and a further one indicating that it used to be part of Nanau Estates at one time.

The flock of Welsh Mountain ewes numbers 1,300 including some 300 ewe lambs. Nearly 1,000 ewes are turned to the rams at the end of October annually and in 2014, a scanning average of 169% was achieved with 600 ewes carrying twins. Only a small number of ewes are crossed with other breeds. Lambs are born outside from 25th March onwards.

Finished lambs are sold teither through Farmers’ Marts in Dolgellau or directly to Dunbia’s abattoir. 30 ram lambs are retained annually with 5 kept as replacements with the other replacements being bought in as the need arises and the supply is available. Rams are normally bought from the same sources at the society’s sales in Dolgellau.A herd of 20 Welsh Black suckler cows are also kept with the offspring sold as stores. The farm is also part of the Glastir scheme.

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