Sunday 20 April 2008

Yearling Steers Top Welsh Black Trade at Llandovery

The Welsh Black Cattle Society enjoyed a buoyant store sale at Llandovery (April 18) 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.

However, it was the 20 yearling cattle which were the stars at the sale with one 12 month-old steer weighing 255 kgs and selling for £390 (£1.53/kg). The steer's vendor, Mr Alan Watson, Cwmbargoed, Cynghordy, Llandovery went on to sell a total of nine store cattle.

In the Highest Priced Single Steer competition, two steers shared the top price of £690.

One, a 22 month-old - from Glyn and Bethan Thomas, Aberdyfnant, Llanddeusant, near Llangadog in Carmarthenshire weighed 580kgs; while the other from Mr Alun Davies, Brynyreglwys, Llanfynnydd, Carmarthenshire, was 24 months-old and weighed 550kgs.

The Highest Priced Pair of Steers award again saw two lots share the top price of £670.

Mr Timothy Evans, Beili, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire whose pair of steers weighing 545kgs at 22 months of age matched the price tag with a pair of steers aged 24 months weighing 537kgs from Mr Alun Davies, Brynyreglwys, Llanfynnydd.

Weighing 535kgs and aged 21-24 months, a pen of four steers from Mr Walter Evans Gelli, Farmers, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire were sold for £675, making them the Highest Priced Pen of Four or More Steers.

A strong well grown 20 month old heifer weighing 570kgs from Mr Stuart Morris, Wernoog, Clyro near Hereford was sold for £615, making it the Highest Priced Heifer.

While four steers aged 9, 10 and 12 months were sold as a group for £518.00/head – the Highest Priced Steers under 12 months. Weighing 375kgs the group which had been out wintered were bred and sold by Mr Mansel Charles,  Fferm Penlan Fach, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire.

“The sale was a great success with three times more Welsh Black cattle at the sale as compared to the same sale in 2007. The prices were also better in most of the classes reflecting on the demand for Wales ' beef cattle,” said a happy WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

The prize store sale which was sponsored by Blue Merle Ltd c/o Mr Peter Phillips rewarded each class winner with Blue Merle vouchers to the value of £15 per farmer.

AUCTIONEERS

Auctioneers Clee, Tompkinson and Francis, Llandovery

The next Welsh Black Cattle Society sale will be a store sale at Dolgellau on Friday April 25 th 2008.

•  The next store cattle sale held at Llandovery will be on Friday 16th May 2008 with Blue Merle Ltd sponsoring the Welsh Black cattle classes.