A FAMILY of renowned grassland farmers will host an open day to mark the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies this month.

Rob Powell and his uncle, Cyril, who farm near Builth Wells, use the the latest grass varieties to suit the farm and aim to utilise as much of it as possible. A paddock grazing system enables them to finish lambs using very little acreage.

Cyril and Rob’s late father, Glyn, were three time winners of the All Wales Grassland Competition.

Rob says he had been brought up to believe in the value of good grassland management. “The knowledge I gained from my father and uncle has served me well for future management of the farm,’’ he says.

Rob and Cyril farm Blaenbwch, a 370-acre upland hill farm adjacent to Mynydd Epynt. They also own 320-acre Rhosferig Farm, near Builth Wells.

The land is stocked with 2,200 ewes and 500 hogs. The ewes are split into three flocks - 500 Aberdales, 800 Brecknock Hill Cheviots and 900 Speckled Face and Epynt Hardy Speckled Face ewes. “We are looking to breed another 500 Aberfield ewes over the next two to three years to increase our crossbred ewes to 1,000,’’ says Rob.

The farm’s ethos is to finish all stock off grass. This is achieved by growing good quality leys, which includes 20 acres of red clover with high sugar grasses and 20 acres of long term, late heading leys.

Forty acres of fodder beet, swedes and stubble turnips are grown to feed hill sheep and ewe lambs during the winter. “We are currently feeding 1,900 ewes and ewe lambs on the 40 acres. This enables us to keep our costs as low as possible,’’ says Rob.

The crossbred ewes are housed in mid-January and fed lucerne silage until four weeks before they lamb when straights – mainly oats, barley and maize - are introduced into their diet.

Crossbred ewes scanned at 194% this year. “Our aim is to get them out to grass as soon as possible after lambing. We try not to give any additional feed after they have lambed,’’ says Rob.

The FWGS open day on Wednesday, May 25th, which represents an opportunity to see many interesting trials, will begin at Rhosferig and continue at Blaenbwch later in the day.