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DID YOU KNOW? Herds of British Friesians were first established in the 19th century
Changing climate brings countryside concerns, not least the decline in once-common livestock breeds, says Eryl Jones. Thank goodness for the heady products of Chateau Williams
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s a true countryman, it’s Changing livestock within my remit to be a Fifty summers have passed since my student days at Aberystwyth: hair down to my shoulders, sideburns like JPR and apparel consisting competent weather whinger, and this past spring provided plenty of flared Levi’s and a de rigueur tie-dye grandad shirt. The British Friesian made up 90 per cent of the national dairy herd and the large of material for a good moan. The late frosts kept soil white and landrace held sway in the pig sector. Border Leicester rams temperatures well below what is were much sought after, as well as the greyface. Shropshire saw huge sales of Kerry Hill and Clun Forest ewes, where fat lamb producers conducive to good growth and everything was at least three weeks would gather from far and wide to replenish their flocks. Row upon row of woolly topknots and speckled ears – it was a spectacular sight. behind. But helped by a pretty even balance of sunshine and rain So what do these breeds all have in common? They are all now since the early season chill, most listed in one category or another by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. things in the garden and polytunnel If I’d have stood up in the college common room back in the day and announced that 20 years into the new millennium there would be thrived. We are making thorough more longhorns in the country than British Friesians, pigs of ourselves Eryl Jones was brought a couple of men in white coats would have escorted on the bounty up on a small Welsh farm and studied agriculture in and there is me from the building. Let’s hope these breeds aren’t “No piece of Aberystwyth. He became consigned completely to history. Unlike my hair. still plenty of vegetation is farm manager on a large surplus to freeze estate and later farmed safe from his or put on our Finding the right culprit on his own account. fermentations” honesty stall. Only a simpleton or someone with a selfish selfEryl does voluntary interest would be in denial about climate change environmental work with Vintage brews – the evidence is there for all to see. I’m also in Denbighshire Council It’s an occasion of mixed blessings no doubt that fossil fuels are the biggest culprit. The human race and has a passion for the rural way of life. when a particular friend of mine (and the planet) would be far better off if oil and coal had never comes to call. He’s always grand existed. I also have a theory that climate change is not a moderncompany but he does fancy himself as a homemade wine buff and day phenomenon but started when large-scale use of coal and oil regards me as his prime guinea pig. No piece of vegetation – wild began churning their noxious byproducts into the atmosphere. or cultivated – is safe from his fermentations. The latest offering But a word in defence of farm livestock and their supposed role in from Chateau Williams was a 2020 elderberry, sharp of aroma and a the crisis. Turn back the clock 500 years and you’d find vast herds of bellicose puce in colour. It turned out to be a bumptious little vintage bison roaming over North America and Europe. In their pomp, over that travels rather well, especially through the alimentary canal. one billion of them. The numbers of all the wild ruminants on the Should you not wish to quaff it with your filet mignon, the ubiquitous planet were far greater than today. It’s true that domestic herds and brew will provide fuel for your car and it brings the brasses up a treat. flocks are severalfold larger than five centuries ago, but the number In fact, despite my rather irreverent remarks, his wines are of farmers has drastically decreased and back in the day, almost every eminently drinkable and are all made from ingredients harvested family outside the big towns had a cow, a pig and a goat or two. In from hedgerow or garden. It is not in the imagination that it others words, I submit that the number of methane-burping mammals tastes better if you’ve made, reared or grown it yourself. on the planet is far lower now than it was half a millennium ago.
86 SHIRE MAGAZINE | September/October 2021
Over the Farm Gate SeptOct 2021 FINAL.indd 1
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