Chris Davies
Farmer No: 4396196
Farm: Llanfechan
Location: Wales
Breed: Welsh Hill Speckled Faced
Flock Size: 3,552
Farming Roots: A Family Affair in the Heart of Wales
Nestled in the valleys of the Welsh countryside lies Llanfechan, the heart of a multi-generational family farming operation. It’s where Chris Davies and his family run their businesses, split between two farms—one at Llanfechan and another about 15 miles away. "I’m back and forth between the two all the time, helping out wherever I’m needed,” Chris explains.
The farm is very much a family affair. Chris, his brother Kevin, and their parents all trade collectively under the name G Davies & Co. "It’s a proper family business,” Chris says. It’s a business rooted in history, with farming through their veins. “My great-grandfather started farming here back in the 1940s. Then my father took over in the 1970s after marrying my mother, and we’ve carried it forward ever since.”
Chris himself has been farming full-time for the past three years,, a role that expanded when the family decided to purchase their second farm. His brother Kevin, however, has been working on the farm since leaving school. Together, they’re continuing a legacy started over 80 years ago.
Breeds that Build a Legacy
When asked how many sheep they have, Chris’s answer comes with laugh. “Too many!” The family currently tends to an impressive 2,500 ewes, mostly Beulah Speckled Face—a hardy, traditional Welsh breed. Of these, about 680 are crossed with Bluefaced Leicester rams to produce Welsh Mules.
But the diversity of their flock doesn’t stop there. "We also have some Brecknock Cheviot ewes that we keep purebred, and smaller flocks of Suffolks and Bluefaced Leicester’s, which we breed specifically to produce rams.” Each breed plays a unique role in their operation, whether for producing lambs, breeding stock, or contributing to the wool trade.
Chris speaks particularly fondly of the Bluefaced Leicester. “Their wool is fairly fine and dense, with an ideal staple length. It’s perfect for adding to mattresses,” he says, describing the balance of crimp and spring that makes this breed’s wool such a valuable asset.
Hard Work and Togetherness
For Chris and his family, farming is more than a livelihood—it’s a way of life. From Llanfechan to the second farm, they work side by side, navigating the unpredictable challenges of Welsh weather and the unrelenting pace of the farming calendar.
Whether tending to their diverse flocks, managing the land, or preparing their wool for market, one thing remains constant: the deep-rooted pride they take in being part of a farming tradition that spans generations.