A Welsh Government minister visited a farm in Rhayader to see how Welsh lamb is progressing.

Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government’s Rural Affairs Minister, visited Rob Lewis’ sheep farm at Glanelan, in the Elan Valley, to hear about progress on the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project.

The project applies the latest science, along with recruiting a panel made from hundreds of consumers, to evaluate the behaviours that impact the flavour, tenderness and nutritional content of lamb.

Ms Griffiths said: “It was great to visit Rob Lewis’ farm in the stunning scenery of the Elan Valley, to discuss progress on HCC’s Red Meat Development Programme, which is funded by the EU and Welsh Government, and the innovative Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project.

“Our investment is designed to support people to produce top-quality and sustainably produced food.

“The early phases of the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project have already produced interesting results in terms of the nutritional benefits of lamb reared the Welsh Way in mainly grass-based farming systems.”

Mr Lewis has supplied lambs to the project, part of Hybu Cig Cymru’s Red Meat development Programme, and involves several partners across the supply chain from farmers and processors to consumers.

Mr Lewis said: “Welsh farming has to innovate to survive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

“I’ve been pleased to help Hybu Cig Cymru by supplying ewe lambs to the Meat Quality Project.

“I look forward to receiving feedback on what impacts the nutritional composition and eating quality of the meat, in terms of the animals’ production system.

“It’s been very useful to receive lamb performance data and soil analysis collected for the project.

“This will help make future business decisions and improve the efficiency of finishing lambs on a sustainable grass-based system.”

The Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project is one of three five-year projects in the Red Meat Development Programme which is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities’ Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

The programme is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.