The champion female at the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s 50th autumn show and sale at Dolgellau market topped the trade at 3,400gns.

Bred by Mr William P Jones of Tywyn, two-year-old heifer Ysguboriau Vera 53rd was snapped up by Sion Wyn Jones for his Perthi herd at Penisarwaun.

The heifer, sired by Machreth Banner 7th, is in-calf to 11,000gns Caerynwch Major 4th, and due to calve next spring.

The second highest price of the day was 3,000gns for Hafodesgob Branwen 65th from Mrs Gwenfair Jones & Sons of Bala.

The champion maiden heifer, sired by Llwynsarn Cawr, was bought by Messrs P & A Moss of County Durham, who purchased a total of three females.

Mrs Gwenfair Jones & Sons had another successful day at Dolgellau market, selling their other four entries for 1,720gns, 1,600gns, 1,550gns and 1,400gns.

Messrs A & R C Williams, also of Bala, sold first prize winner, Mynach Gwyneth 28th, to J P Owen a’i Gwmni of Gwytherin. The maiden heifer, sired by Gwarcwm Max 22nd fetched 1,650gns.

The reserve champion female was Hafodyresgob Molly 117th another in calver, in calf to Gerddi Bluog Addewid 2nd and shown by Mrs G Jones & Sons, Hafod yr Esgob, Cwmtirmynach, selling for 1,600 gns to D K & J M Thomas, Ty Coch, Dryslwyn.

The fireworks continued when it came to selling the weaned calves, where there was an entry of 18.

Caerynwch Mai 84th, a six month-old heifer sired by Caerynwch Ebrillwr 14th, from Mr T W Williams of Dolgellau, sold for 920gns to a young breeder from Whitland, Ben Morgans. Mr Williams sold another four weaned heifers on the day to give a respectable average of 694gns.

Close on the heels of Caerynwch Mai 84th was Gwarcwm Ester 20th from Mr D H Jones of Bow Street, which was reserve champion maiden heifer.

This stylish weaned heifer sired by Perthi Xavier sold for 790gns to Messrs P & A Moss of County Durham.

Young breeder, Carwyn Lewis of Llanybydder, paid 710gns for Bro-Waen Doli from Alwyn Morris of Ceunant. This weaned heifer was sired by Graig-Goch Gerwyn 29th.

There were eight bulls forward from an entry of ten. Buyers were cautious with Ynysfor Guto from Ken Ellis a’i Feibion of Tywyn selling for 2,500gns to W T Jones & Co. of Tywyn.

Another bull shown by Mr and Mrs Dai Jones, Berthlwyd, Llanilar was 30-month-old Nantrhys Glandwr, sold for 1,800gns to Mr Humphreys, Bryn Du, Cerrigydrudion.

Society chairman Robert Jones, said: “The cattle forward were of a high standard and the female trade reflected the demand for quality animals by both pedigree and commercial breeders.”

The sale attracted an entry of 75 pedigree Welsh Black cattle. The auctioneers were Farmers Marts (R G Jones) Ltd, Dolgellau.