Sunday 18 November 2007

Welsh Blacks shine at Carlisle sale

In-calf heifer, Waedog Alwen 28 th, led the way at the Welsh Black Cattle Society's annual Carlisle sale – the only sale to be held outside of Wales.

The 2 ½ year-old in-calf heifer sold for 1,500gns at the sale on Friday November 16 th at the Borderway Mart.

Bred and sold by Emyr Wyn Jones, Rhiw Waedog, Rhosygwalia, Bala, the heifer was named over all Breed Champion in the pre-sale show and winner of the Harrison & Hetherington Perpetual Cup.

Waedog Alwen 28 th was bought by a Scottish farming family who have bred Welsh Blacks for many years. The anonymous buyers purchased a total of five heifers at the sale.

The Reserve Champion female was another in-calf heifer, which sold for 1,000gns.

Nant-Ganol Gwenan 27 th 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 brought by Andrea Walker, Barnside, Abbey St Bathans, Duns in Berwickshire,

Andrea, who was the assistant judge at the pre-sale show, bought a total of seven in-calf-heifers of which six were from the Nant-Ganol herd.

They included Nant-Ganol Megan 17 th , Nant-Ganol Ruth 34 th and Nant-Ganol Collen 21 st which sold for 900gns a head.

The Champion Maiden heifer was 18 ½ month-old Waedog Catrin 62 nd , which was sold for 950gns. Bred and sold by Emyr Wyn Jones she was one of seven maiden heifers forwarded and sold at the sale.

The heifer was bought by Keney Tallech, Zenke, Port Henderson, Gairloch, Ross shire who bought his first Welsh Black at the sale. Mr Tallech also bought a second heifer from Emyr Wyn Jones namely Waedog Celynen 164 th for 620gns.

The Reserve Champion Maiden Heifer was Maesgwastad Fanny 2 nd . The 26 month-old sold for 700gns. She was bred and sold by Aled Wyn Thomas, Maesgwastad, Llanddeusant, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire.

The heifer was bought by new Welsh Black breeder, R Williams and Walling, Cliff Farm, Sowood, Halifax, West Yorkshire .

“The Carlisle sale is a very important sale in the Society's calendar and whilst we only sell a small number of cattle at the annual November sale the interest from potential pedigree and commercial breeders confirms the need to produce cattle for the Scottish and Borders areas,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

“A total of four farmers from Wales sold 24 pedigree Welsh Black heifers- 13 in-calf and 11 maiden heifers.

Seven buyers bought the 24 heifers – six from Scotland , and one from Northern England . Three of the buyers were new to the breed giving clear indication of the interest in buying hardy, native and healthy breeding stock.”

AVERAGES

13 in-calf heifers averaged       865gns/head

11 maiden heifers (1-2 years) averaged     585gns/head

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington Ltd

* The next Welsh Black Cattle Society sale will be on Saturday, November 24 th at Abergavenny.

Ends.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Photos are available on request from:

Wayne Hutchinson

Tel: 01539 623278 / 07855 416060

For further information contact:

Andrew James, Chief Executive Welsh Black Cattle Society

Tel: 01982 551111

Harrison and Hetherington Ltd

Tel: 01228 590490