Harri Parri of Bodnithoedd farm in Mid Gwynedd, has been announced as the winner of the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Welsh Livestock Champion of the Year Award 2016/17 during yesterday’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair.
The competition, now in its third year, recognises the key role a good livestock manager can make to a livestock farm and to the Welsh livestock industry as a whole.
This year’s winner Harri Parri, is a fourth generation beef and sheep farmer from Pwllheli. He is a partner in the family farm and runs the 725 acre business with his parents. They keep 210 Stabiliser cows, 320 Lleyn ewes and 550 New Zealand Suffolk x Lleyn ewes. Harri also grows 120 acres of crops including, barley, swedes, red clover and oats. Recently the farm has invested in a wind turbine and will also be investing in a poultry unit in the near future.
Harri’s farming philosophy is based on three factors; health, nutrition and genetics and he continually strives to produce beef and lamb that meets consumer demands at a minimal cost of production.
'Quality of stockmanship'
Presenting Harri with the prize of £300 and a Royal Welsh Engraved Crystal Trophy, Wyn Evans, Chairman of NFU Cymru’s Livestock Board said: “One of the key factors we were looking for in determining the winner of this award was the the quality of the stockmanship, as this is a major factor in determining the success of any livestock business. The commitment and confidence shown by Harri towards the industry as a whole is reassuring for the future and heartening to see.
“Our award criteria had particular emphasis on how the farmer incorporates health and safety into their day-to-day activities. Harri has developed a good cattle and sheep handling system which makes working with livestock far safer. Each of the two full-time employees have also completed the relevant health and safety courses and attend a number of health and safety open days throughout the year.”
Dai Davies OBE, Chairman of NFU Mutual’s Advisory Board for Wales said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Harri, a very worthy winner of this award. The standard of entries were exceptionally high and NFU Mutual is delighted to be involved in helping to recognise and champion good stockmen who incorporate health and safety on-farm. Farm safety is something that NFU Cymru and NFU Mutual are working on together to promote within the industry.”
