A FORMER chairman of McCartneys has warned the sheep industry to prepare for unknown times.

NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales chairman Richard Gwilliam addressed the committee, founder members and invited guests at the International Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground at a lunch held to mark the 40th anniversary of the first sale.

He said there is now little government support for the industry.

He said: "Farmers have been looking after the environment for many years. If support for the sheep industry is taken away, not only will the environment suffer, but sheep numbers will reduce, farmers will disappear from the uplands and communities which revolve around farmers will suffer.”