28 April 2006
Yearlings lead the way at Welsh Black's Dolgellau Spring Sale
The need for traceability and accountability from ‘hoof to hook' and from ‘pasture to plate' resulted in strong trade at the Welsh Black Cattle Society's (WBCS) annual prize store sale at Dolgellau Market today (Friday, April 28, 2006)

Buyers paid up to £1.59/kg for pedigree Welsh Black Store Cattle, with registered cattle of particular interest and value.

From the 170 Welsh Black store cattle entered for the sale, 111 were registered with the Society.

“It was the yearling store cattle which were accompanied with pedigree certificates that attracted the greatest interest,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

“The 12 lots of mainly young cattle sold for £1.36 /kg and above, which goes to show how registering cattle will pay dividends at auction.”

Six steers weighing 635kgs were sold for £675/head making them the highest priced pen of four or more steers .

Sold by Messrs I.I.Hughes, Pentre Piod, Llanuwchllyn, Bala; the 24 month-old animals were bought by Mr O.G.Thomas, Chwaen Goch, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey, who bought 16 steers in total.

A pair of 23 month-old steers weighing 550kgs was sold for £635/head by Messrs E.G.Evans & Son, Sylfaen, Bermo, Gwynedd.

The highest priced pair of steers of the day was bought by Steven Jones of Shrewsbury . While Mr Evans sold a further five steers in two separate lots, achieving comparative prices for lighter steers.

The highest priced single steer was a 22 month-old animal sold for £618 by Messrs Jones, Talymignedd Isaf, Nantlle, Caernarfon, who went on to sell a further six steers in four lots averaging £1.20/kg

Weighting 525kgs the prize-winning single steer was bought by Hywel Lewis, Glantowy, Llandovery, who also bought a further seven steers for himself and four for Messrs Lewis, Cwmgwyn, Llandovery who were unable to attend. Regular buyers of pedigree Welsh Blacks at the Society's store sales, the Lewis family supply fattened cattle to pedigree Welsh Black beef specialist, Cig Calon Cymru Cyf of Cross Hands.

Aged 15 and 19 months and weighing 475kgs, a pair of heifers from Messrs T.E.Rowlands a'i Fab, Tyddyn Du, Dolgellau, sold for £520 each, making them the highest priced heifers of the day .

The registered animals were tested clear of Johne's disease, and were bought by Richard Paul of Skipton in Yorkshire . Originally from North Wales Mr Paul, who was recently featured on S4C, bought a lorry load of cattle – females for breeding and store cattle for his new boxed beef venture.

Meanwhile, brisk bidding throughout the day saw the yearling cattle reach new record prices (pence per kilo).

Three steers weighing 280kgs and aged 10-12 months sold for £445, resulting in a new record price of £1.59/kg.

The highest priced animal/s based on a pence per kilo basis were bred by Geraint Lloyd Wynne, Meifod Uchaf, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd.

He sold eight yearling steers in three lots and also achieved the second highest price per kilo with £1.54/kg for four steers.

Mr Wynne established his Ardudwy herd in 1943 and is a WBCS Council member for Merionethshire.

The record price animals were bought by chairman of Meirionethshire FUW and Ffermio presenter Alun Evans, Cae Coch, Rhydymain, Dolgellau, who went on to buy more yearling cattle at the sale.

“The WBCS's spring store sales have been a definite success, which on the eve of next month's two pedigree breeding sales is excellent news for the Society,” said a happy Mr James.

The WBCS store sales are sponsored by Tithebarn, with rosettes and vouchers presented by Area Manager, Richard Lawrence.

RESULTS

Highest priced pen of 4 or more steers & £30 voucher

Sold by: Messrs I.I.Hughes, Pentre Piod, Llanuwchllyn, Bala

Bought by: Mr O.G.Thomas, Chwaen Goch, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey

Highest priced pair of steers & £20 voucher

Sold by: Messrs E.G.Evans & Son, Sylfaen, Bermo, Gwynedd

Bought by: Steven Jones, Shewsbury

Highest priced single steer & £20 voucher

Sold by: Messrs Jones, Talymignedd Isaf, Nantlle, Caernarfon

Bought by: Hywel Lewis, Glantowy, Llandovery

Highest priced heifer & £20 voucher

Sold by: Messrs T.E.Rowlands a'i Fab, Tyddyn Du, Dolgellau

Bought by: Richard Paul, Skipton, Yorkshire

Highest priced animal (pence per kilo) & £10 voucher      

Sold by: Geraint Lloyd Wynne, Meifod Uchaf, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd

Bought by: Alun Evans, Cae Coch, Rhydymain, Dolgellau

AUCTIONEERS

Farmers Marts (R.G.Jones) Ltd, Dolgellau.