Female trade lifts at Dolgellau Welsh Black sale

Strong demand for Welsh Black females strengthened averages at Dolgellau last week (9 January), although headlines were taken by Hafodesgob bulls at 11,800gns and 9,000gns.

Yearling heifers were 379gns dearer and 10 maiden heifers were up 92gns. Bulls, however, were a more mixed picture, with yearling bulls up 961gns and older bulls back around 1,800gns.

Hitting 11,800gns from Mrs Gwenfair Jones and Sons, Bala, was November-2016-born Hafodesgob Edward 19, which was knocked down to Enzo Sauro, Pontyberem. By Ysguboriau Bleddyn, Edward is out of homebred cow Mynachwenn.

See also: Welsh Blacks top trade at 16,000gns

At 9,000gns was another lot from the Jones family, Hafodesgob Hari 16. He was born in the same month as Edward and sold to LR Williams & Co, Tyddyn Bach, Dolgellau.

The Hafodesgob herd topped bull trade with a 11,800gns bid from LR Williams & Co

He is also by Ysguboriau Bleddyn and out of the renowned Hafadesgob Molly line. He goes back to Machreth Banner 7 and Graig Goch Berwyn 59.

Two then followed at 5,400gns. The first was champion bull Graig Goch Banner 14 from Emyr and Gerwyn Gones, Graig-Goch, Llanrwst, going to DG Jenkins, Tanyrallt, Talybont.

He is by Ysguboriau Brenin 75 and out of a dam called Ceinlys, a Berwyn 57 daughter.

The other 5,400gns call saw R Williams back in the action, this time selling Machreth Nathan 23. This March-2016-born sire was sold to WR Jones & Co, Ysguboriau, Tywyn.

Nathan is by Ynysfor William 6 and out of Machreth Nant, going back to Caerynwch Ebrillwr 14.

Females to 2, 450gns

Topping female trade was Caran Molly 16 from Dilwyn Jenkins, Caran herd, Talybont, with a winning bid from Enzo Sauro, Pontyberem. She is by Penwernhir Rhos 2 and out of a Caran Addewid daughter.

Caran Molly 16 from Dillwyn Jenkins made 2,450gns

Close behind was Caran Molly 17 at 2,400gns, also from Mr Jenkins. She caught the eye of Mr D Morgan, Alltgoch, Talybont.  

Claiming the female championship and a price of 2,150gns was Tryfil Ethel 9 from IG Roberts, Tryfil, Anglesey, which went home with Osian Williams, Carreg-y-ffordd, Talybont, to join his newly established herd.

Champion female Tryfil Ethel 9 made 2,150gns, going home with Osian Williams, Talybont

Ethel is another by Ysguboriau Bleddyn 79 and out of Tryfil Ethel 5 and was served by Llechwedd Twm 35 in June 2017.

Averages: 19 bulls over 18 months, 3,222gns (-1,897gns); five bulls aged 12-18 months, 6,080gns (+961gns); 10 maiden heifers, 684gns (+92gns); 34 yearling females, 1,362gns (+379gns); six two-year-old females, 1,900gns (+453gns) (Farmers Marts, Dolgellau).