A series of on-farm meeting across Wales will focus on producing beef from grass in the most “efficient and sustainable way possible”.
The ‘Maximizing Beef Output From Grass’ events, organised by Farming Connect, will visit Cardigan, Welshpool, Usk and Ruthin between May 22 and June 6.
The meetings will allow farmers to hear more about the ‘BeefQ Project’ – a three-year cross-industry initiative that incorporates “world leading methods” of grading beef by eating quality into the beef supply chain.
The BeefQ Project is led by Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), which earlier this year arranged several days of “intensive training” for people in the sector by personal from the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system.
It is hoped that some of those who were trained at these events might now be in a position to impart their knowledge to farmers at the upcoming meetings.
The overall aim of the project – which is supported by the Welsh Government – is to increase the eating quality and value of Welsh beef production, as well as improving returns for farmers and processors.
“This is the first real opportunity ‘BeefQ’ has had to engage with farmers, outline what we are doing and hear from them how they would like to see the Welsh industry moving forward in terms of beef eating quality,” said Dr Pip Nicholas Davies, project coordinator at IBERS.
The first meeting will feature a speech from Dr. Eleri Price, from Hybu Cig Cymrus -Meat Promotion Wales (HCC).
In advance of the meeting, she said: “These meetings across Wales are a chance to bring farmers up to date on the progress of the BeefQ Project. The first samples have been collected for analysis, which will help us to understand the wide range of factors which impact on eating quality.
“I’m really looking forward to discussing this with farmers, and explore ways in which the whole supply chain can work together to make Welsh beef a brand which is renowned for consistently high eating quality,” she added.
