Organic Club
From Left; The Prince of Wales, Mr Steven Baker (Organic Club Chairman), Mr and Mrs Richard Hughes (Welsh Black Cattle Society President)
Birthday surprise for HRH from Welsh Blacks
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales had a surprise for his 60th birthday when members of The Welsh Black Cattle Society visited him at home in Wales to present him with birthday gifts.
Prince Charles is the Society’s patron and is greatly respected and valued by the members of The Welsh Black Cattle Society.
Society officials met the Prince at Llwynywormwood, Myddfai near Llandovery. The Society President, Richard Hughes of the Rafon Herd which was established in 1967, and his wife Phyllis presented HRH with a china bull on behalf of the Society.
John Pratt, Society immediate Past President from Brecon, presented a specially designed, hand-made birthday card to the Prince.
Hayley Morgan, a young farmer’s daughter from Brecon, who has established her own glassworks business ‘Baskervill Diablo’, presented a plate inscribed with details of the special occasion on behalf of the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s Organic Club.
Stephen and Sally Baker of the Disgwylfa Herd, from Carmarthenshire, also presented a hand-made birthday card on behalf of the Organic Club as Stephen is Club Chairman. The Prince, a stalwart in organic food production and farming, launched the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s Organic Club at the 2001 Royal Welsh Winter Fair. The Society, being fully aware of the current carbon print practices, wanted to present local and hand produced gifts whenever possible.
Society Chief Executive Andrew James and his wife Sian presented a home-made whisky fruit cake, baked and beautifully decorated by Andrew’s mother Winnie James from Pembrokeshire.
The Society was keen to update the Prince on the breed’s progress, explained Andrew James.
“The Welsh Black breed has yet again recorded numerous successes during the year including the highest recorded price for Welsh Black pedigree stores, during April 2008 at Dolgellau, when two organic steers sold for 1040gns by young farmer Doug Rowbotham from Ceredigion.
“During October 2008 another organic farmer from Ceredigion, Wyn Davies, Brynonnen Herd, sold 11 females which averaged 1269gns/hd.
“Both these record prices reflect on the sterling work of promotions and awareness of organic beef production which HRH has been instrumental in supporting,” he said.
Results of the 2008 Organic Herd Competition
Sponsored by Quality Welsh Foods Certification Ltd
Class 1. Best Organic Welsh Black Herd with 10 or less breeding females
1st D & PJ Sands, Blossom Farm, Pencader, Carmarthenshire
2nd Celia Jones, Upper Yardro, Old Radnor, Powys
Class 2. Best Organic Welsh Black with 11 or more breeding females
1st Doug Rowbotham, Penwernhir,
2nd Ken Hughson & Partners, Ty Mawr, Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys
3rd Mrs Beth Rees, Cae Mawr, Llanbedr, Ruthin, Denbighshire
Class 3. Best Herd in a Less Favoured Area (LFA)
1st D & PJ Sands, Blossom Farm, Pencader, Carmarthenshire
2nd D & J James, Tyllwyd, Felingwm Uchaf, Carmarthenshire
3rd (joint) Stephen Baker, Disgwylfa, Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire
3rd Mr D Stacey, Daren Uchaf, Cwmcoy
Class 4. Best Herd in a Severely Disadvantaged Area
1st Doug Rowbotham, Penwernhir
2nd Ken Hughson & Partners, Ty Mawr, Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys
3rd (joint) Mrs Beth Rees, Cae Mawr, Llanbedr, Ruthin, Denbighshire
Mrs Charmian Middleton, Old Hall, Dolau, Powys
Class 5. Best Cow with calf at heel
1st (joint) Mrs Beth Rees, Cae Mawr, Llanbedr, Ruthin, Denbighshire
D & PJ Sands, Blossom Farm, Pencader, Carmarthenshire
2nd Mr Eirwyn Edwards, Coleg Glynllifon
Class 6. Best Pair of heifers or steers
1st D & J James, Tyllwyd, Felingwm Uchaf, Carmarthenshire – pair of steers
2nd Mrs Charmian Middleton, Old Hall, Dolau, Powys – pair of heifers
3rd Mr D Stacey, Daren Uchaf, Cwmcoy – pair horned heifers