30 October 2005
Cattle breeders miss out by not registering Welsh Blacks for Dolgellau store sale
Welsh Black cattle breeders who don't register their cattle are losing the opportunity to boost their sale prices.

The warning follows Friday's (October 28th) special store sale at Dolgellau where more than half the cattle entered were Welsh Blacks. But, while some 295 Welsh Blacks were forwarded for sale, only 159 had certificates confirming their full pedigree status.

“It was obvious in the sale that pedigree Welsh Black steers and heifers were fetching higher prices. As it only costs £3 a head to register Welsh Black steers it amazes me as to why only half the farmers at the sale had registered their cattle,” said Welsh Black Cattle Society chief executive, Andrew James.

“From 2006 only pedigree Welsh Black cattle will receive prizes at the Society's store sales, which means steers must be registered with the Society.” **

The advantages of registering cattle were highlighted by the fact that trade was down on the previous week's store sale at Llandovery and distinctively down compared to last year's sale.

However, many new buyers attended the sale, keen to buy as part of the demand for pedigree Welsh Black beef created by the opening of the Cig Calon Cymru abattoir in Cross Hands.

Once again the sponsor of the Welsh Black sale was Tithebarn, and rosettes and vouchers were awarded to the owners of the highest priced animals. Four steers weighing 650kgs and aged 25/26 months were sold for £608 a head making them the highest priced group of three or more steers They were bred and sold by Messrs W T Jones & Co, Caerberllan, Tywyn, Merionethshire who received a £25 voucher.

The same priced voucher also went to Messrs W T Jones & Co for the highest priced pair of steers . The 27 month old pair weighed 640kgs and sold for £592 a head. A single 24 month old steer weighing 545kgs and selling at £545 – exactly £1 per kg – took the highest priced steer accolade and £20 voucher for Messrs E Evans & Son, Sylfaen, Bermo, Gwynedd.

A £20 voucher went to Messrs T E Rowlands a'i Fab, Tyddyn Du, Dolgellau, for selling the highest priced heifer The pair of pedigree Welsh Black heifers aged 16 and 18 ½ months weighed an average of 450kg / animal and were sold for £480.

The highest priced animal (pence per kilo) and recipient of a £10 voucher was a 19 ½ month old steer weighing 420kgs. It was sold by Messrs E Evans for £470, £1.12 per kilo.

In addition to the day's awards by Tithebarn, a special £20 cash prize was awarded to the buyer of the highest priced Welsh Black animal. Awarded by Geraint Evans, Tithebarn's north Wales representative, the prize went to Mr O G Thomas, Chwaen Goch, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey.

A trustee and Honorary Life President of the Society, Mr Thomas finishes over 250 cattle a year and is a regular buyer of Welsh Blacks, buying 32 steers at the Dolgellau sale.

“This sale is one of the first for many a year for the Society to record few cattle fetching over £1 / 1kg. “But trade reflects the current environment faced by the agricultural industry,” said Mr James.

“However, it was pleasing to see 27 organic store cattle sell with the highest price of £555 a head for four steers aged 18 -22 months weighing 550kgs from Messrs J W Jones & Co, Gelligrin, Rhosygwalia, Bala.”