Richard Roderick, of Newton Farm near Talybont-on-Usk, is travelling to the USA this autumn as one of the winners of this year’s Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) scholarship.

Richard and his wife, Helen, keep suckler cows and over 1,000 breeding ewes, as well as growing cereals and fodder beet. They are considering how to improve their beef production systems at Newton Farm, with the aims of producing quality meat from a smaller, more efficient, forage-based suckler cow.

The main purpose of visit to America, therefore, is to investigate beef breeding and genetics. The three-week trip will take in seven states in the plains and mountains of the West – Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah, Nevada and Arizona. Richard will visit 14 cattle ranchers, including pedigree and composite breeders, to discuss cattle genetics and breeding systems.

“I will be visiting successful cattle businesses to examine how they achieve excellent eating quality,” said Richard. “We’re looking to move to a more forage-based system with our sucklers. This is the ethos in the parts of the USA where I will be visiting.”

As well as speaking to ranchers, Richard’s tour will also take in visits to the Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center at Colorado State University, and the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska.

“Genetic improvements have been a great success in the American beef industry,” added Richard. “They have spent years undertaking this research, and adapting breeds for different environments. I’m sure there’s a lot we can learn.”

The HCC scholarship is almost 20 years old. Successful applicants travel abroad to learn about best practice in the industry, and communicate their findings to their peers after returning through seminars and presentations to various industry groups.

There are two scholarship winners this year – Richard Roderick and young butcher Peter Rushforth, who is also travelling to north America.

“On behalf of all at HCC I wish Richard all the best for his trip to the USA,” said James Ruggeri, HCC’s Industry Development Executive. “I look forward very much to hearing what we can learn from American cattle systems, and to apply those lessons here in Wales.”