The guest speaker was Gwion Parry, who shared findings from his Nuffield Farming Scholarship and international study tour, examining how different countries assess and reward beef eating quality, as well as studying the diverse beef producing and finishing systems used in the nations he visited.
During his presentation, Gwion highlighted how the UK grading system compares with those used overseas, particularly in Australia, where a far greater number of traits linked to eating quality are measured to determine producer returns. He raised questions about whether the current UK approach fully reflects the quality of beef produced for farmers.
Practical observations
Drawing on visits to South America, Australia and New Zealand, Gwion also shared practical observations on breeding systems, feeding regimes and consistency of production, stressing the importance of reliable, reputable eating quality to meet changing consumer and market expectations.
The conference also included an address from outgoing NFU Cymru President Aled Jones, who reflected on his term in office and the extensive work undertaken to shape the Sustainable Farming Scheme. He also highlighted the strength of feeling across the industry following recent announcements on inheritance tax and reiterated the need for continued, constructive engagement with politicians on behalf of family farms.
Speaking after the conference, Meirionnydd NFU Cymru County Chair Aled Jones said: “Gwion Parry delivered an extremely thought-provoking presentation, offering valuable international perspective on how eating quality is measured and rewarded in other parts of the world. The evening provided members with an excellent opportunity to reflect on how future markets may develop and what that could mean for beef producers here in Meirionnydd.”