3 November 2004
Welsh Blacks have A1 sale at Dolgellau
The last of the Welsh Black Cattle 2004 sales to be held on home soil has been declared a ‘great success' with six females sharing the top price of 3,000gns.

The 43 rd Dolgellau Annual Pedigree Show and Sale, which was held on November 2nd, comprised of 149 pedigree animals from 48 vendors - 25 cows & heifers in calf (including 7 with calves at heel), 103 maiden heifers (including 13 yearling heifers) and 21 bulls. Nine of the animals were certified as organic, and 119 were certified Johne's Disease free or have had a clear herd test.

“Yesterday's sale was ‘A1' with 117 of the 122 animals forwarded sold, and like other sales during the autumn all classes were sponsored to the sum of £100 per class,” said WBCS chief executive, Andrew James.

“We're all very pleased with the Autumn Centenary Sales held in Wales, with sale prices reflecting the demand for Wales' native breed of cattle.

“The attention is now on our last sale of the year which will be at Carlisle on November 12, and is the only sale the Society holds outside Wales.”

The Highest Priced and Champion Female was Braich-Du Elin 2 nd sold by Aled Jones of Braich Du, Glanrafon, Corwen to Alun Vaughan of Moel Iwrch Uchaf, Nebo, Llanrwst for 3,000gns. Sired by Iago Owain and out of Braich-Du Elin she is in calf to Rhiwlas Osian.

The Reserve Female Champion was Foty Bethan Jakes, an organic female and in calf to Caran Banner and sired by Machreth Cai 7 th and out of Foty Gwennan Mair 3 rd . She was sold by Mrs Bini Jones, Ty-Isaf Farm, Llan Ffestiniog, for 1,850gns to Messrs Lewis, Nantgwybren, Nazareth, Gwynedd.

Five heifers achieved the top maiden price of 3,000gns.
The first was the Champion Maiden Heifer, Graig Goch Bet 40 th , sired by Mynydd Major and out of Graig Goch Bet 23 rd . She was sold by Emyr Jones, Graig Goch, Nebo, Llanrwst to Dafydd Edwards, Plas y Bryniau, Bethania, Llannon, Ceredigion.

Reserve Maiden Champion, Seisiog Dwynwen 58 th also achieved the top price. Sired by Graig-Goch Berwyn 8 th and out of Seisiog Dwynwen 50 th she was sold to assistant pre-sale show judge, Ioan Roberts of Tryfil Isaf, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey, by Goronwy Jones a'i Gwmni, Ty Newydd, Nebo, Llanrwst.

Fellow 3,000gns maiden heifer, Rhiwlas Alys 28 th won first prize in her class and was sired by Coedllys Xavier and is out of Rhiwlas Alys 10th . Michael Wyn Jones of Tyddyn Perthi, Penisarwen, Caernarfon, bought her from Robin Price, JP, DL, ARAgS of Rhiwlas, Bala.

The home bred Hafren Ceinlys, who was sired by Graig-Goch Rhys 16 th and out of Seisiog Ceinlys 51 st , also went for 3,000gns. She was sold by Ms Emily Evans, Tynshettin, Llanwddyn, Oswestry to Gareth James, Bernards Well Isaf, Tufton, Clarbeston Road, Haverfordwest.

Another first prize winner in her class, Carnedd-Dafydd Haf 2 nd , completed the group of top priced maidens. Sired by Neuadd Dafydd Ddu 186 th and out of Carnedd-Dafydd Cat 2 nd , she was sold by Mr R T Richards, Bron-Llan, Llansannan, Denbigh to Sion Wyn Jones, Tyddyn Perthi, Penisarwaen, Caernarfon. A graduate from Harper Adams Agricultural College, Sion breeds and shows Welsh Black Cattle.

Fetching 2,100gns was Iwrch Nesta 60 th , sold by Alun Vaughan to Messrs E L Evans, Derlwyn, Cyfronydd, Welshpool. She was sired by Gwern-Cynyddion Rhys 30 th and is out of Iwrch Nesta 54 th .

The Highest Priced Weaned Heifer - Eigiau Gwyneth 32 nd – was sold by Messrs J E Hughes & Sons, Carreg-y-Ffordd, Talybont, Conwy for 940gns to Mrs L P Foxwell, Tyddyn Rhyddid, Harlech. She was sired by Eigiau Rhys and is out of Eigiau Gwynedd 27 th .
Another weaned heifer calf – Caerynwch Molly 70 th – sold for 900gns. Sired by Caerynwch Meirion and out of Caerynwch Molly 58 th , she was sold by Mr T W Williams, Caerynwch Farm, Dolgellau, to John and Sarah Lewis, Ffynnon Iwan, Plwmp, Llandysul.

“Like many who have attended the Society's sales during recent weeks, John and Sarah are buying pedigree Welsh Blacks to establish a herd which is based on quality and conformation,” said Andrew James.

“Some 80% of the cattle forwarded at the sale were certified free of Johne's Disease and vendors have been actively involved in herd health programmes.”

Mynydd William 6th took the honours as the Highest Priced Bull, selling for 4,800gns to Mrs Beryl F Evans, Glanrafon, Talybont, Aberystwyth. He was bred by Martin Stewart of Coediog, Mynydd Lane, Colwyn Bay and sold by Gwyn Roberts, Groesffordd Farm, Glan Conwy, Colwyn Bay. He was sired by Neuadd Addawel 68 th and out of Seisiog Bet 87th .

Meanwhile the Champion Bull was Seisiog Bedwyr 128th . Sired by Graig-Goch Rhys 16th and out of Seisiog Bet 107th , he was sold by Goronwy Jones a'i Gwmni for 4,200gns to young farmer David Walker of Llwyn Brain Farm, Pontsticill, Merthyr Tydfil.

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