13 November 2005
New homes north of the border for hardy Welsh Blacks
It is often said that the first animal in the sale ring is the best buy, and that was certainly the case at the last Welsh Black Cattle Society sale of the season, which took place at Carlisle on Friday (November 11).

Lot 1 at the only WBCS sale held outside of Wales was Rhiwlas Seren 21 st , which took the pre-sale show champion female title and the top price of the day – 1,250gns.

When translated her name appropriately means ‘star', and she certainly lived up to her name taking the auctioneers' award the Harrison & Heatherington Perpetual Trophy for the overall breed champion of the day.

Bred and exhibited by 2004 trophy winner, Robin J Price, JP, DL, ARAgS, Rhiwlas, Bala, she was she was born on 08/03/03. Sired by Coedllys Xavier and out of Rhiwlas Seren 10th, she is in calf to Mynydd William 3rd.

Rhiwlas Seren 21 st was bought by pre-sale assistant judge, Charley Walker of Barnside, Abbey St Bathans Duns, Berwickshire , Scotland. Mr Walker and his wife Andrea established their Shannobank herd in 2001 and are in their second year of organic conversion. They bought a total of 11 pedigree Welsh Blacks cattle at the sale to add to their herd of 60 pedigree Welsh Blacks as well as a commercial cross bred herd.

The Reserve Champion Female was Nant-Ganol Tegwen 43 rd (born 10/04/03) which sold for 1,100gns. Bred and exhibited by Messrs Thomas Bros, Nant Ganol, Rhiwlas, Oswestry, Salop – who sold a total of 9 heifers on the day – she was bought by Sam Morrow, Saintfield, County Down in Northern Ireland . Sired by Nant-Ganol Twm and out of Nant-Ganol Tegwen, she is in-calf to Graig-Goch Bedwyr 31st .

Mr Morrow was unable to attend the sale in person, and so his neighbour bought Nant-Ganol Tegwen 43rd and also Nant-Ganol Gwenan 20 th (born 29/07/03) on his behalf. Again sold by Messrs Thomas Bros, this time for 1,000gns, Nant-Ganol Gwenan 20 th was sired by Fedw Perry and out of Nant-Ganol Gwenan 10th and is also in-calf to Graig-Goch Bedwyr 31st.

A third prize in-calf heifer, Rhiwlas Delyth 22nd , from Robin Price sold for 950gns. Sired by Neuadd Cawr 273rd and out of Rhiwlas Cherry 15th, she is in-calf to Mynydd William 3rd. Rhiwlas Delyth 22nd was bought by father and son partnership, Paul and Matthew Webster, Sunny Bank Farm, Whixley near York .

The Websters who are currently joining the Society, and who keep mainly Limousin and Aberdeen Angus crosses intend using the Welsh Black traits of hardiness, milkiness and mothering ability in their future breeding policy.

Fetching 900gns was another in-calf heifer, Garthuchaf Sylvia 13th (born 17/04/03). She was bred and sold by Messrs GE & SM Williams, Garth Uchaf Farm, Pentyrch near Cardiff , who sold a total of four in-calf heifers at the sale.

Garthuchaf Sylvia 13th which was sired by CwmCarno Mefyn and out of Garthuchaf Sylvia 4th is in calf to Castell Dinefwr 31st . She was bought by Messrs W Steel & Co, Cumberhead, Lesmahagow, Lanark in Scotland who went on to buy three in-calf heifers from Mr DH Roberts, Bryndreiniog, Penybont Fawr, Oswestry, Salop, who was making his debut at Carlisle where his home bred in calf heifers fetched 880gns each.

The Champion Maiden Heifer sold for 1,000gns. The 12 month-old Waedog Celynen 144th (born 31/01/04) was sired by Graig Goch Rhys 16 th (AI) and out of Waedog Celynen 82nd. She was bred and sold by Emyr Wyn Jones, Rhiw Waedog, Rhosygwalia, Bala in Gwynedd a regular at the Carlisle sale, this year selling seven maiden heifers averaging 721gns.

Waedog Celynen 144th was bought by Bob and Sarah Preece, Lower Moor Farm, Brydekirk near Annan, Dumfries , Scotland . For 800gns, Robin Price sold the maiden heifer Rhiwlas Iola 29th (born 25/02/04). Sired by Iwrch Franc and out of Rhiwlas Iola 8 th she was sold to Peter Scott, West Remington Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Peter and Wendy Scott are renowned for their pedigree Limousin cattle, but also keep a herd of 12 pedigree Welsh Black breeding cows. The Reserve Champion Maiden, Waedog Ffion 50 th was sold for 750gns by Emyr Wyn Jones.

The maiden heifer (born 1/05/04) who was sired by Graig-Goch Berwyn 44 th and out of Waedog Ffion 48 th, was bought by David Anderson, Whitslade Farm, Ashkirk, Selkirk in Scotland who bought three heifers to add to his 25 strong Welsh Black herd. Some 41 pedigree Welsh Black cattle were entered comprising of in-calf heifers andmaiden heifers of which 35 were forwarded and all sold at Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle rounding off the Society's 2005 sale season.

WBCS chief executive, Andrew James believes Wales' native breed of cattle has tremendous potential in Scotland and Northern England .

“I spent a few days visiting farmers in the Borders area and Scotland prior to the sale and I witnessed first hand the extreme weather conditions – heavy rain and gusting winds – on land in Less Favoured Areas, moorland and rough grazing,” he said.

“The Welsh Blacks excel under such conditions and I cannot wait to return to sell more cattle and promote the breed further in 2006.”