Welsh hill farmers have responded to the demands of prime lamb producers and introduced strict selection procedures covering conformation, tight-skins, mouths and prolificacy as part of their quality-driven approach to producing Welsh Mule breeding ewes.

And according to Elfyn Owen - the newly elected president of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association – it's a message he'll be making loud and clear at this month's NSA Welsh Sheep event at Abergavenny on May 23rd .

“Never before has the profitability of sheep farmers depended so much on the efficiency of the commercial breeding ewe. The Single Farm Payment now means the ewe must do an even better job for the prime lamb producer and it's up to us as breeders of Mule ewes to ensure that she does that.

“But the strict breeding policies now underway in hill flocks – both in the way that hill ewes are being improved and selected and through the use of superior Bluefaced Leicester rams – will make sure prime lamb producers can rely on the performance and ease of management that the Welsh Mule has become renowned for,” says Elfyn Owen.

He farms with his wife Ruth and five children – Alaw, Dafydd, Ifan, Elis and Mari – at Ffritharw, Llanddoged, Llanrwst, Conwy. The farm carries 900 ewes – now a completely closed flock - comprising “improved” Welsh Mountain and Beulah Speckled-faced as well as a pedigree flock of 50 Bluefaced Leicesters .

The Bluefaced Leicester flock was established almost 30 years ago and is actively involved in the breed association's sire reference scheme to provide a bench-mark for continued improvement across a range of breed traits – all of which are being passed on to the Welsh Mule.

“We're weighing lambs at eight and 21-weeks and measuring them for back-fat. There's been significant improvements over the last 10 years, particularly in eye-muscle depth.”

“The conformation of our Bluefaced Leicesters has always been very important to us and over the years we've bred many rams that have achieved Elite status through the breed association's classification system. We select for good mouths too – a trait that's essential in the Mule.”

The flock, which has taken both male and female championships at the Royal Welsh Show, produces Bluefaced Leicester rams for sale each autumn at Builth Wells and Welshpool.

The farm sells around 180 yearling Mule ewes out of the Welsh Mountain and Beulah Speckled-faced ewes at official sales at Ruthin and Welshpool as well as some ewe lambs.

“The Welsh Mule is hard to beat as the most “tried and tested” commercial breeding ewe. But breeders haven't been complacent and we're now seeing ewes produced from flocks where conformation, tight skins, teeth and prolificacy are a priority in the selection of hill ewes put to the Bluefaced Leicester,” says Elfyn Owen.

With almost 60,000 Welsh Mules on offer at official sales this year, Elfyn Owen believes the sheer numbers available enables commercial buyers to get the best possible value for their money when buying-in ewe replacements for flocks looking for maximum profit from prime lamb production.

“ Farmer s are trying hard to pare costs of production but the profitability of prime lamb continues to hinge on the ewe - not only in terms of the number of lambs she produces and the conformation of those lambs, but also in the way she can be managed.

“Labour is a major drain on margins and farmers are looking to maximise their output while still containing labour costs.

“I don't think anyone would question the Mule's reputation when it comes to a ewe that's easy to manage – and that means big savings on costs. Everyone is looking for the perfect ewe; buyers are getting even more demanding in terms of what that ewe has to do.

“Mule breeders have responded to that challenge, not only to ensure lowland producers have an efficient breeding ewe but also to help them maintain an essential source of income into family-run hill farms.”

For further information contact: Elfyn Owen (01492) 641773