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Farming Today: Sheep Industry

Farming Today This Week

04/02/2017

Sheep Industry

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Sheep Industry

A look at the health of the UK sheep industry, from a farm in the Brecon Beacons.

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside. Charlotte Smith is on a farm at the edge of the Brecon Beacons to assess the health of the UK's sheep industry.

Charlotte Smith is on a sheep farm on the edge of the Brecon Beacons to assess the health of the UK sheep industry. She meets farmers Kate and Jim Beavan who are currently lambing 1400 ewes on their land just outside Abergavenny. It's the busiest time of year for sheep farmers, and keeping the ewes and lambs healthy is a top priority. 
We hear from the marketing manager at the levy organisation Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales), Rhys Llewellyn, who talks about the potential difficulties of achieving a good trade deal for Welsh Lamb post Brexit. 
The Beavans' vet Vicky Fisher is also on the farm to talk about the recent threat from the midge-born disease Schmallenberg. It's not been seen in the UK for several years but there are fears that it's taking hold again. Schmallenberg causes lambs either to abort, or to be born with terrible deformities. 
Charlotte also has a go on Kate Beavan's lambing simulator - and finds it's not as easy as it looks!
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

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