29 October 2004
Welsh Black Cattle Dominate Dolgellau Store Sale
Welsh Black Cattle dominated the sale of store cattle at Dolgellau, accounting for over three quarters of the cattle entered for the sale on October 29th, 2004.

Out of the 260 registered store cattle some 198 were Welsh Blacks, comprising of 187 steers and 11 heifers, 15 of them organic Welsh Black steers.

“While the number of cattle was comparable to the autumn 2003 sale, the prices were slightly higher overall in terms of averages, it was a great sale,” said Welsh Black Cattle Society chief executive, Andrew James.

The sale of Welsh Black store cattle was sponsored by ‘Tithebarn', and £25 prize vouchers were awarded to the highest priced group of three or more steers and pair of steers, while £20 vouchers went to the highest-priced steer and heifer, with a £10 voucher to the over-all highest priced animal (pence per kilo).

The voucher for the highest priced group of three or more steers went to immediate WBCS past president, Mrs Gwenfair Jones, and sons, of Hafodesgob Isaf, Bala, whose five steers were sold to Enzo Sauro of Cig Calon Cymru Cyf for £670 a head. They formed part of a 32 strong consignment of steers bought by Mr Sauro.

The highest priced pair of steers were again sold by Mrs Gwenfair Jones. They were sold for £642 a head to Mr O G Thomas of Chwaen Goch, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey, one of three WBCS trustees, and who bought a total of 25 steers at the sale. The steers will be fattened on the family farm to supply the Thomas' ‘Beef Direct' business – which specialises in the sale and marketing of Welsh Black Beef - run by his son Brian and wife Ffiona.

An 18 month old organic steer weighing 600kgs fetched the highest individual price and was sold for £672 by Mr E Jones, Lluest Wen, Commins Coch, Aberystwyth, to Mr O G Thomas.
Two heifers with full pedigree status picked up the highest priced heifer voucher, and were sold by Messrs Evans, Hengwrt, Rhydymain, Dolgellau for £510 a head.

Messrs M Jones of Tyncoed, Dyffryn Ardudwy, sold the highest priced animal (pence per kilo) with their three 14 month old steers weighing 345kgs and selling for £480 / £1.39/kg.

To promote organic Welsh Black beef producers at the store sale, Welsh Black Organic Club founder and former chairman, Brian Thomas of Plas Coedana, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey, offered £100 worth of sponsorship.

This was split into £25 vouchers which were awarded to the highest-priced group of 3 or more of organic steers, pair of organic steers, individual organic steer, and the highest priced organic animal (pence per kilo).
The highest priced group of three organic steers were sold by Messrs T Davies, Bryn Onen, Nanternis, New Quay to Mr O G Thomas. They weighed 520kgs and sold for £592 a head.
Welsh Black Organic Club chairman, Mrs Elizabeth Rees of Cae Mawr Farm, Llanbedr, Dyffryn Conwy, Ruthin, sold the highest priced pair of organic steers weighing 550kgs for £620, again to Mr O G Thomas.

Mr Thomas made yet another top purchase buying the highest priced organic steer for £672 from Mr E Jones, Commins Coch.

While the highest priced organic Welsh Black animal (pence per kilo) voucher went to Mrs Elizabeth Rees whose three steers weighed 480kgs and sold for £558 a head.

“The trade ironically was slightly higher in 2004 as compared to the 2003 sale,” said Mr James.

“The response by our many buyers reflected this trend with Society members who buy cattle for the beef trade creating a buoyant trade with brisk bidding at times.”

Topping the overall buying stakes was Enzo Sauro with 32 steers, followed by Mr O G Thomas with 25 steers. Peter and Tanya Bowen of the Meadowsweet herd at Treharris, Mid Glamorgan ventured north to buy 12 stores from Robin Price of the Rhiwlas herd which averaged £634 a head. Mr Price of Bala sold another four steers averaging £662 a head to Mr Sauro.

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