News Archive 2005
‘CAUTIOUS’ TRADE AT ABERGAVENNY FOR WELSH BLACKS
The Welsh Black Cattle Society’s autumn sale schedule got into full swing at Abergavenny Market yesterday (Monday, September 12th) at the Society’s 5th Annual Show and Sale.
Some 81 pedigree Welsh Blacks were entered, of which 65 were forwarded and 42 sold.
The top price of the day went to the overall pre-sale show champion, Hafodesgob Gwenfair 23rd.
The 27 month old maiden heifer was sired by Fodlas Peredur 3rd and is out of Hafodesgob Gwenfair 10th. She was sold for 1,850gns by her breeders Mrs Gwenfair Jones & Sons, Hafod-yr-Esgob Isaf, Bala, to the junior judge of the day, Tom Rees of Dudwell Farm, Camrose, Haverfordwest.
Meanwhile the first cow to enter the ring - Graig-Goch Aelwen 12th – was also the highest priced cow with calf at heel.
Bred by Emyr Jones, Graig Goch, Nebo, Llanrwst, the 10 1⁄2 year-old cow was sold with her 6 month-old bull calf at heel for 1,300gns. She was also confirmed as being 4 months in calf to Graig-Goch Berwyn 40th.
Sired by Casgob Dafydd and out of Graig-Goch Aelwen 2nd, she was one of 17 females entered as part of the reduction sale by John and Janet Dimery-Seek of the Mendip Herd, Higher Farm, East Horrington, Wells, Somerset.
Graig-Goch Aelwen 12th was bought by Mid Wales veterinary officer, Mr Lewis, of Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth.
The 3 1⁄2 year-old in-calf heifer, Neuadd Addawol 121st, took the champion female title before being sold for 1,000gns.
Sired by Caerynwch Meirion 2nd and out of Neuadd Addawol 91st, she was 5 months in-calf to Neuadd Hebog 136th.
Bred and forwarded by Mr D William Jenkins, Neuadd-yr-Ynys, Taliesin, Machynlleth, she was bought by Messrs Howard & Davies, Glan Capel, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire.
Another in-calf heifer, Garthuchaf Alma 46th sold for 1,050gns. The 2 1⁄2 year-old was sired by Cwmcarno Mefyn, and is out of Garthuchaf Alma 15th. She was bred and forwarded by Messrs G E & SM Williams, Garth Uchaf Farm, Pentyrch, Cardiff, and bought by Williams Partners, Pantycornant Farm, Blackmill, Bridgend.
Messrs Williams (Garth Uchaf) also sold a second similar heifer to the Williams Patrners, the two in-calf heifers averaging 950gns a piece.
Selling for 1,400gns was the reserve champion maiden heifer, Neuadd Cati 352nd. The 21 month-old heifer was sired by Brysgaga Erddyn 31st and is out of Neuadd Cati 332nd.
She was bred and forwarded by Mr D William Jenkins, and bought by Mr & Mrs Hubert Gwyn, Coedmawr, Llandeilo.
Five bulls were forwarded on the day, with Gravel Archer 2nd chosen as the champion bull also achieving the highest price of 1,650gns.
The 25 month-old bull weighed 932kgs and was bred and sold by Mr Ken A. Hughson & Partners, Ty Mawr, Newbridge-on-Wye, Llandrindod Wells.
Sired by Gravel Andrew 2nd and out of Arglwyddes Nest 4th, he was bought by Messrs Jones, Ystradffin, Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery.
The reserve champion bull was Dancoed Cymru 8th, who at 17 months was the youngest bull at the sale.
Bred and forwarded by Gwynfryn & Marian Phillips, Dancoed, Cwm Gwaun, Abergwaun, Pembrokeshire, he was sold to Messrs Harries, High Mead, Portfieldgate, Haverfordwest for 1,000gns.
While sale averages were slightly down on last year’s autumn sale at Abergavenny, the prices were, the Welsh Black Cattle Society believes, an indication of the current concerns within the farming industry.
“The sale reflected the insecure times farmers are facing,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.
“With so much uncertainty in the beef sector regarding the Single Farm Payment, low beef prices for store cattle, and cheap foreign beef imports, it is natural for farmers to be concerned and cautious with their expenditure.”
But he added, “It is however, uplifting to see so many potential buyers attend a market, especially recently established Welsh Black Cattle farmers returning to the sale to buy both fertile and healthy pedigree stock.”