Taking Stock

It is a case of ‘like father like son’ as Dancoed Cymro 13th follows in his sire’s footsteps to take the title Welsh Black Cattle Society Bull of the Year 2007.
Accompanying him in the honours is Crymlyn June 3rd, the WBCS Female of the Year 2007.

The annual competition was cut short because of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Surrey, but the Society’s Council decided the competition’s outcome could be decided based on the six shows which had already taken place.

“The six shows did include the two Royal shows, both of which carry double points,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

“Therefore front runners have been identified and rewarded for their loyalty and eagerness to compete in the early shows which started in North Wales with Nefyn on the May Day Bank Holiday.”

Twenty-seven month-old Dancoed Cymro 13th (born 2/04/05) is no stranger to awards having won the bull championships in the breed’s classes at this summer’s Royal and Royal Welsh Shows.

His show ring prowess also earned him maximum points at the Cothi Bridge and Aberystwyth Shows, which gave him an overall show season total of 54 points. He also receives the NatWest bronze bull for the animal with the highest overall points.

Sired by Seisiog Cymro 61st – who won the Bull of the Year title in 2003 and 2004 – the young bull was bred and exhibited by Gwynfryn and Marian Phillips, Dancoed, Cwm Gwaen, Fishguard who established their Dancoed herd of pedigree Welsh Blacks in 1992.

But Dancoed Cymro 13th won’t be staying at home for long as he is to be sold at the WBCS sale at Llandovery on October 11th. He is being sold as his siblings in the herd are due for breeding.

The in-calf heifer, Waedog Alwen 28, led the way at the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s annual Carlisle sale selling for 1500gns to Wigtownshire buyer J N McColm.

Exhibited by Emyr Wyn Jones, Bala, Alwen also took the overall champion in the pre-sale show. Standing reserve to her was another in-calf heifer, which sold for 1000gns. Nant-Ganol Gwenan 27th was bred and sold by Messrs Thomas Bros, Nant-Ganol, Rhiwlas, Oswestry, Shropshire.

The heifer was one of seven from the Nant-Ganol herd and was bought by Andrea Walker, Duns, Berwickshire, who bought a total of seven in-calf-heifers of which six were from the Nant-Ganol herd. They included Nant-Ganol Megan 17th, Nant-Ganol Ruth 34th and Nant-Ganol Collen 21st which sold for 900gns.

An average up more than £150/head on last year at its final sale of the season has capped a succesful year for the Welsh Black Cattle Society.

Leading the trade at Abervagenny was the female championat the pre-sale show, Radnor Myfi 16, a three year-old in-calf heifer which sold for 1250gns to Helen Fairclough, Aberithon, Newbridge in Wye, Powys. She was bred and sold by Messes R and L Edwards, Foesidoes, Cascob, Presteigne, Powys.

Next best at 1050gns was the champion maiden heifer, Frongaled Lilwen 2, sold by Emily Evans, Tynshettin, Llanwddyn, Oswestry. The heifer was bought by Darren Woodfall, Cilwrgi Farm, Pontypool, Gwent.

Selling at 1000gns was Garth Uchaf Alma 59, a 2 ½ year-old in-calf heifer from Messers G E and S M Williams, Garth Uchaf Farm, Pentyrch, Cardiff. Alma 59 headed home with Ronnie Griffiths, Nanty, Pantmawr, Llanidloes, Powys. In total Messrs Williams sold four in-calf heifers to average 863gns/head.

The highest priced cow with calf at foot was Dyfnant Menna which sold for 980gns. The 5½ year-old cow with her heifer calf – Dyfnant Menna 7th - was bred and sold by D Glyn Thomas, Aberdyfnant, Llanddeusant, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. Menna was sold having been served recently and the potential package of three was bought by Messrs H J M and B Price, Bailey Gwern, Crai, Sennybridge, Brecon.

Taking a 970gns call was Alltgoch Ruth, bought by Messrs A B Stinchcomb, Graig y Cwm, Llanellyn, Abergavenny. The 2½ year-old in-calf heifer was one of four forward from David Morgan, Alltgoch, Talybont, Ceredigion.

The Reserve Champion Maiden Heifer was Crymlyn Agnes, from Christine Carberry, Maple Crest, New Inn, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. The prize winning heifer was bought for 820gns by Helen Fairclough.

“It was a great sale on which to end the 2007 pedigree sale season and again confirms the demand the Society is experiencing with enquiries for hardy, native beef cattle,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

AVERAGE
24 Females averaged £771.75/head (J Straker, Chadwick & Sons, Abergavenny)

The New Year got off to a good start for the Welsh Black Cattle Society at Tuesday’s Dolgellau sale, which saw a top bid of 12,200gns.

Farmers travelled to North Wales from as far as Dumfriesshire in Scotland, Pickering in North Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall for the sale which saw 79 Welsh Blacks entered for sale.

Leading the trade at 12,200gns was the pre-sale show champion bull, Graig Goch Berwyn 59. The 800kg 19 month-old bull from Emyr Jones, Gwynedd knocked down to Mrs Gwenfair Jones and Sons, Bala.

The reserve champion was sold for the second highest bid of 9500gns. The 22 month-old Brysgaga Seraff 35 from Rowland Rees, Ceredigion was bought by Islwyn Owen, Bala.

Selling for 6800gns was Machreth Cai 15 from Rhys Williams, Dolgellau, which went to G Jones, Hendre, Dolwyddelan, near Betws y Coed in Gwynedd.

An extra sale for the Welsh Blacks Cattle Society has been added to the diary for the 12th April at Llandovery market. The additional sale will benefit young bulls which qualify for the Welsh Beef Quality Improvement Project funded by Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC). Six bulls that are eligible for HCC funding are entered into the sale.

Some 27 heifers will go under the hammer including two in-calf heifers, 11 maiden heifers and 14 yearling heifers.

Leading breeders from across Wales will be selling at the sale says Andrew James, society chief executive. “The choice is excellent with nine organic animals, three naturally polled bulls and 27 of the animals being certified free of Johne’s disease. Eights animals for sale are also from an elite health status herd, certified free of Johne’s disease, BVD, IBR and leptospirosis”.

A reduction sale of Mr and Mrs Bateman Orielton herd, Pembrokshire will go under the hammer. This comprises of 48 in-calf cows, due to calf between May and July.

Llandovery saw an end of an era last week as the last breeding animal from the Pengelli herd went under the hammer at the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s sale of pedigree cattle.

The two year-old home bred bull Pengelli Cassius was sold by 81 year-old Mrs Jean Edwards of Dolau Ganol, Ffarmers, Llanwrda in Carmarthenshire for 3500gns to her neighbour J A Jones.

Taking the overall male championship was Rhuddel Kracker, a 19 month old polled bull from Colin and Rhian Evans Nant– y –Moch Gwynfe, and was bought by David Sands, Pencader for 2000gns.

The Welsh Black Cattle Society enjoyed a buoyant store sale at Llandovery on Friday where entries and prices exceeded the 2007 sale.

Some 94 pedigree Welsh Black steers and heifers were sold as part of the Society’s spring store sale sponsored by Blue Merle Ltd.

Of the consignment 74 animals were of strong and mature cattle with the highest price pence per kg recorded at £1.27kg for two separate lots.

The Welsh Black Cattle Society’s Spring Sale at Dolgellau was characterised by brisk trade and good prices.

Nearly 200 pedigree store steers and heifers went under the hammer and saw prices exceed those previously recorded at the sale.

The highest priced pen of four or more steers were bred and sold by Messrs I I Hughes, Pentre Piod, Llanuwchlyn near Bala. The seven steers aged 25-26 months weighed 596kg and were sold for £775 a head.

The highest priced pair of steers went to a pair of steers aged 22 and 24 months which were bred and sold by Messrs G Roberts, Llwynbeuno, Efailnewydd. Weighing 680kg the steers were sold for £818 a head.

It was ladies day through and through at Llandovery this week for Welsh Blacks when trade topped at 2500gns for the champion maiden heifer.

Sale leader was Castell Meg 217 from Gareth and Jane Davies, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. The 25-month old by Penryhn-Newydd Glyndwr, out of a homebred cow sold to L G Roberts, Abergele, Denbighshire.

Mr Roberts also bought the female champion Castell Fanny 153, by the same sire, but in calf to Castell Deionol 24. She sold for 1400gns.

Organic heifers topped at 1600gns for the 24-month old Gellideg Gwenllian 2 from J W lewis, Boncath, Pembrokeshire. By Waunlwyd Siencyn and out of a homebred cow she was bought by Mr Roberts.  

At 1500gns , Neuadd Caran Ddu 321 from William Jenkins, Machynlleth, sold to Glyn Thomas, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire.