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Society
History
Ancient
Breed
Centenary
Year 2004
It is 100 years since a landmark meeting took place
which changed the Welsh Black’s fortunes and created
one of the most respected breed organisations in the world
– the Welsh Black Cattle Society (WBCS)
The WBCS has a world-wide reputation with members and cattle
spread across the globe, and members of the royal family among
its admirers.
It was at that meeting at the Boars Head Hotel in Carmarthen
on August 24, 1904, that the North Wales and South Wales Welsh
Black Cattle Breeders Society, which had existed separately
since the 1870s, came together to create a Wales-wide organisation.
“I’m sure the 25 breeders who were present at
that mile stone meeting would be very pleased with the way
the Society and the breed have grown. We now have 870 active
members, 20 of whom are overseas,” said Andrew James
current WBCS chief executive.
The first President was Mr R.M.Greaves of Wern, Porthmadoc,
with James Thomas of Haverfordwest the first Secretary. The
following year saw the publication of volume one of the new
amalgamated herd book, which contained 211 bulls and 698 females.
The Society is now on its 93rd volume.
Anglesey was the venue on March 26, 1915 for the Society’s
first organised sale which was held at Menai Bridge. That
day some 46 animals were catalogued with the highest priced
bull selling for 50 guineas and the highest female for 25
guineas.
While nearly 90 years later, in January 2004, Hafodesgob
Hari, a homebred bull from Mrs Gwenfair Jones of Bala sold
for 22,000 guineas (£23,100) to Enzo Sauro of the Berem
Herd, Carmarthen, making the bull the highest ever priced
Welsh Black animal.
However the agricultural depression during the 1920s and
30s hampered attempts to hold regular markets, but in 1957
a successful sale was held at Dolgellau, establishing the
town as the main gathering point for Welsh Black breeders.
There are now seven annual official pedigree breeding sales
at Dolgellau, Llandovery and Abergavenny, while the only Society
sale outside Wales at Carlisle in Cumbria was reinstated in
2003.
The Society has been determined to move with the times, and
breed development and herd health have received a boost in
recent years with Objective 5b European funding for such improvements
as a testing programme for Johne’s disease. As of April
2005 some 215 members have registered for herd testing.
Over the decades Welsh Blacks have received numerous awards
and plaudits, but one year stands out from the rest.
In the Chinese calendar 2000 was the Year of the Dragon,
but in cattle showing circles it was definitely the Year of
the Welsh Black, when the breed scooped virtually every major
prize around.
Among the numerous honours received were the Burke Trophy
for the best pair of beef cattle at the Royal Show in Warwickshire,
the Royal Welsh Show equivalent - the Fitzhugh Trophy, and
the Queens Cup for British Native breeds at the Royal Smithfield
Show.
Much of the breed's success in the show ring that year was
down to an outstanding pair of home-bred animals - Mynydd
William II and Mynydd Marigold II (pictured below), owned
by Martin Stewart and his family from Colwyn Bay.
Society & Show officials and the
Stewart family of Colwyn Bay whose pair of home-bred animals
- Mynydd William II and Mynydd Marigold II, swept the board
at shows during 2000 including the Royal Welsh Show.
“If we could pick a year which encapsulated all that
is good about the breed and has been achieved by the Society
and its members then 2000 has to be the year,” said
Andrew James.
“It was a tremendous start to the new millennium and
a wonderful boost for the Society.”
In line with the desire to keep the breed at the cutting
edge of agricultural developments 2001 Royal Welsh Winter
Fair saw the launch of the WBCS Organic Club, at the instigation
of Brian Thomas, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey. The club aims to
promote organic beef production among members and create more
market awareness, with a 70 strong – and growing –
membership. In March 2003 Organic Welsh Black Fillet Beef
was judged to be the best out of nine other breed entries
in a competition run by Fine France UK.
In recent years the breed and Society have continued to progress,
2003 was the best ever financial year for the registered charity
with the Society reporting a profit of £19,400.
Registrations are on the increase too, with 2003 recording
some 2,499 breeding bulls and females, the highest registration
since 1989.
“Welsh Black Cattle have been around for centuries,
and although the Society has only been in place a fraction
of that time we have always strived to make sure the Welsh
Black maintains its rightful place as Wales’ native
breed,” said Andrew James.
“We are determined not to rest on our laurels but to
continue the drive to make the breed and its beef among the
best in the world. To that end marketing Welsh Black Beef
is currently the single challenge on our agenda.
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