16 January 2005
'Bullish' Trade at Welsh Black Cattle Winter Sale
It was certainly a day for the boys at the 49 th Annual Welsh Black Cattle Society Winter Show & Sale , with bulls accounting for the day's top prices.

A record 137 pedigree Welsh Black were entered for the show at Dolgellau on January 14 , with 115 forward for sale.

Leading the way was Lot 135 – Graig-Goch Gerwyn 17 th – who was sold for 10,800gns to Mr & Mrs E.LL. and M Williams of Dolaugwyn, Tywyn whose family runs the Rhydygarnedd herd, and also a veterinary practice in Tywyn. They said they were “very pleased” with their purchase and “looking forward to breeding from the top prized bull.”

The 16 month-old bull was one of the youngest of the 39 bulls offered for sale and was bred and shown by Emyr Jones, Graig Goch, Nebo, Llanrwst. A first prize winner in his class the bull was also over all Reserve Champion Bull.

Next in the money stakes was Lot 123 – Caerynwch Major 3 rd – who went for 10,000gns. A second prize winner in his class the 19 month-old bull was bred and exhibited by Mr T.W.Williams, Caerynwch Farm, Dolgellau, and bought by Robin Price, JP, DL, ARAgS, Rhiwlas, Bala.

Lot 132 – Graig Goch Gerwyn 16 th – was sold for 7,000gns to Mr D William Jenkins, Neuadd-yr-Ynys, Taliesin, Machynlleth.
Bred and shown by Emyr Jones, Graig Goch, Nebo, the 17 month-old bull was a third prize winner in his class and is a full sister to Graig Goch Ceri 13 th , who was the highest priced female of 2003, selling for 3,800gns.

The 17 month-old Lot 130 – Llwynsarn Cawr 3 rd – was sold for 6,400gns . Bred and shown by Mr H W Jones, Llwynsarn, Rhydymain, Dolgellau, the second prize bull was bought by Emyr Wyn Jones, Rhiw Waedog, Rhosygwalia, Bala.

Lot 112 – Gerddi Cyfhebog 59 th – was the only organic bull at the sale, and a third prize winner. Bred and exhibited by Elwyn Pryce Evans, Gerddi Bluog, Harlech, the 21 month-old bull was sold for 4,400gns to Evan Pugh, Henblas, Llwyngwril, Gwynedd.
The pre-sale show Champion Bull - Ysguboriau Llywelyn 36 th – sold for 4,200gns .

The Lot 122 bull was bred and shown by Mr R ap Simon Jones MBE, FRAgS, Ysguboriau, Tywyn. The 19 month-old bull was bought by Mr William. T Davies, Waenfach, Llanegryn, Tywyn.
Completing the top 25% of the highest priced bulls was Brysgaga Erddyn 49 th.

The Lot 118 bull was placed fourth in his class and was sold for 4,000gns. The 20 month-old sire was bred and shown by Rowland Reese, Brysgaga, Bow Street, Aberystwyth, and bought by Lewis R. Williams, Tyddyn Bach, Llanfachreth, Dolgellau.

The top maiden prices were led by Graig-Goch Bet 41 st , who sold for 2,650gns. The 15 month-old maiden heifer and second prize class winner was bred and shown by Emyr Jones, Graig Goch, and bought by new Society members Wyn Evans and Amanda Joynson. Wyn and Amanda are establishing an elite herd of pedigree Welsh Blacks at their family farm at Croesyceilog, Carmarthenshire, and hope to show some of their recently bought heifers during 2005. Wyn is also stockman to the Berem Herd which has recently been established by Enzo Sauro at Ponyberem near Llanelli.

Lot 59 – Bro-waen Nel 5 th – a 19 month-old maiden heifer was sold for 2,600gns to Enzo Sauro, who also runs the recently established butchery and abattoir, Cwmni Cig Calon Cymru, at Cross Hands. Bred by Alwyn Morris, Merddyn, Ceunant, Llanrug, Caernarfon, and shown and sold by Ms Emily Evans, Tynshettin, Llanwddyn, Oswestry, the heifer was a first prize winner in her class and over all Champion Maiden Heifer.

Next was Lot 51 – Seisiog Ceinlys 61 st – a 20 month-old heifer from Goronwy Jones a'i Gwmni, Ty Newydd, Nebo, Llanrwst. The home bred maiden who was a second prize in her class was sold for 2,550gns to Wyn Evans and Amanda Joynson.

Lot 11 – Rhydygarnedd Polly 92 nd – sold for 1,900gns .
A first prize winner and Reserve Champion Maiden, she was bred and shown by Mr & Mrs E.LL and M Williams, Dolaugwyn, Tywyn, and bought by Dafydd Edwards, Plas y Bryniau, Bethania, Llanon, Ceredigion.

The Highest Priced Female accolade went to Lot 10, the Champion Female – Neuadd Caran Ddu 305th – who sold for 2,350gns. The in-calf heifer was bred and shown by Mr D William, Jenkins, Neuadd-yr-Ynys, Taliesin, and sold to organic farmer Gwyn Ogwen Thomas, Blaen y Nant, Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda.

Reserve Champion Female and a second prize class winner was Lot 8 - Castell Seren 212th. The in-calf heifer was bred and shown by Messrs Gareth and Jane Davies, Maes-y-Castell, Taliaris, Llandelio, and sold to Messrs Parry, Orseddfawr, Parcnewydd, for 1,700gns.

The first sale in the new calendar year followed on from the highly successful autumn pedigree sales which formed part of the Society's centenary celebrations.

WBCS chief executive, Andrew James, said overall he was very pleased with the sale.

“With so much uncertainty in the industry at the moment and following the best season ever for the Society it was a tall order to try and match the November sale at Dolgellau.

“Nevertheless the Society must say that whilst average prices were, in some categories, down on January 2004, the total sale value and number of stock sold were both up.

“On Friday (Jan 14) the Society sold 95 pedigree animals as compared to 56 in the January 2004 sale.

“The total value of the sale was 33,582gns up on the previous year's sale. Friday's sale benefits the Society through commission and levies and extra £1,000 revenue over and above what can be described as a good average in 2004.”

He added, “It has been a good start to 2005 and we urge any member wishing to purchase stock to contact the Society.”

The main sponsor of the day was the national livestock breeding company, Genus, with two advisors on hand to meet farmers. The company offered a £50 voucher for Genus services or products to the purchaser of the highest priced male and female respectively.

The sale also saw the launch by Genus of the sale of semen from their bull, Brysgaga Erddyn 42nd.

“It was quite poignant to think that the launch of the bull that was bred by immediate past Society chairman of Council Mr JP Rees, who sadly passed away early in the new year, came just a few days after his funeral.

“It is a fitting tribute that his family still travelled to Dolgellau to sell two bulls and see their home-bred bull Brysgaga Erddyn 42nd launch the semen sales.”

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