Friday 11 April 2008

Gwenfair's Welsh Blacks Scoop Herd of the Year Trophy

 Next month (May) one of Wales' best known herds of Welsh Black Cattle – Hafodesgob – and the farming family behind its success will be awarded the title of Welsh Black Cattle Society Herd of the Year 2007.

Established in 1972 by Mrs Gwenfair Jones and her sons, the pedigree Hafodesgob herd has achieved extraordinary success in the show and sale rings alike, with this latest honour being awarded at the Welsh Black Cattle Society's (WBCS) AGM on May 10.

Mrs Jones, who was WBCS President in the run-up to the Society's centenary year in 2004, farms with her sons Meredith and Gwilym

at Hafod-yr-Esgob Isaf, Bala in Merionethshire.

The Hafodesgob herd took the Herd of the Year title with a total of 297 points with runners-up Mr D William Jenkins of the Neuadd Herd (214 points) and Robert John Evans of the Gwern-Cynyddion Herd (206 points).

The Hafodesgob herd is no stranger to success having won the Herd of the Year title in 2004 and also the breed championship at the 2004 Royal Welsh Winter Fair with Esgob Ior 4 th which won the family the Castell Challenge Cup.

This time around four animals in particular contributed to the title win:

Hafodesgob Cawr, champion bull at the Society's January 2007 sale in Dolgellau and was the highest priced bull sold at a Society sale in 2007, winning the Ty'n-y-Bryn Challenge Cup for the highest priced bull at the sale.

Hafodesgob Agnes 53 rd which won the Champion Female title at the same sale , selling for 2,900gns and making it the highest priced female of 2007 and winner of the Caerberllan perpetual trophy. Indeed the win gave the Jones family the title for the second consecutive year, having won in 2006 with Hafodesgob Mynachwen 59 th .

At the October 2007 sale in Dolgellau, Hafodesgob Mai 15 th was the Champion Female selling for 2,100gns.

While also at the sale Hafodesgob Molly 93 rd was the Champion Maiden heifer selling for 1,950gns.

Investing in quality, healthy cattle has been the family's  priority at all times and their herd has been certified monitored free of Johne's disease since December 2005, confirming confidence to cattle buyers when buying from such recognised and respected herds.

The beginning of 2008 saw Mrs Jones and her sons further investing in their herd, with the purchase at Dolgellau in January of the Champion Bull, Graig Goch Berwyn 59 th for 12,200gns.

In the Small Herd of the Year competition the 2007 winner is WBCS Deputy Young Ambassador, Jessica Evans of Gerddi Bluog, Harlech, Merionethshire who by winning the title is following in her father's footsteps.

Established in 2001 the Gerddi Bluog herd consists of three breeding cows and took the title with a total of 76 points.

Jessica who works for Gwynedd County Council will be awarded the Small Herd of the Year trophy and also the Andrew James Young Member Ambassador Perpetual Trophy at the Society's AGM.

Presenting the awards at the AGM at the Manor Hotel, Crickhowell will be outgoing President, John Pratt of the The Hillis Farm, Llanfilo, Talgarth near Brecon.

Ends.

Notes to Editors

Herd of the Year

Points are accumulated in three ways and collectively determine the winner.

• The number of cattle sold at Society Sales during the year
• Its placing of 1 st ,2 nd ,3 rd in the pre-sale show ring including extra points for championship awards
• The price at which the animal is sold. 

Photos

Photos of the four Hafodesgob animals which contributed to the Herd of the Year Trophy are available on request from:

Sheila Coleman

Tel: 01792 817532

Additional photos of Mrs Gwenfair Jones & family are available on request from:

Arvid Parry Jones

Tel: 01970 832423

For further information contact:

Andrew James, Chief Executive Welsh Black Cattle Society

Tel: 01982 551111