In what is hoped will be an annual event, the first Limousin Society Prize Show and Sale of suckled calves and weanlings took place at the Bishops Castle in November.

Will Forrester, of the British Limousin Cattle Society Council, attended to present the prizes and commented: “Bishops Castle Market is very well known for the high quality of the livestock it sells and, as there is a proliferation of Limousin breeders in the area, the council felt is was the ideal venue to sponsor its first prize show.

“Farmers have a lot to contend with and more work than ever is needed to support them. This prize show will help raise the profile of the breed and we’d like to follow up the sales made today to demonstrate what these calves can achieve as store cattle. We know that at almost every fatstock market the top price will be a Limousin, it’s a perfect butcher’s breed and we like to encourage more farmers to raise them.”

Judge Ben Attewell, who farms at Magor in Monmouthshire, commended the quality of the stock and said: “We buy calves from all over England and Wales and are particularly attracted by the cattle shown at Bishops Castle. There are a large number of calves here and they’re well suited to the spec we wish to purchase for onward sale.

“Limousins perform consistently, and well, on our farm system for both steers and heifers, however other breeds are gaining ground fast and it will be interesting to see if the Limousin continues to dominate.”

The Overall Champion prize of £100 went to local breeder, Simon Bedell, whose father, Jack Bedell, was one of the first to introduce Limousins into the UK almost 50 years ago.

Prize winners were as follows:

1st prize heifers and overall champion – F. T. Bedell & Son, Linch House (320kg £810)

1st prize steers and reserve champion – M. & A. Powell, Drefor Farm (340kg £905)

2nd prize steers – J. A. Wood & Sons, Kinnerton (315kg £775)

2nd prize heifers – Bowen & Bowen, Penthryn (300kg £820)

3rd prize steers Bowen & Bowen, Penthryn (300kg, £785)

3rd prize heifers - J. A. Wood & Sons, Kinnerton (300kg £765)

Following the Prize Show the judge, Ben Attewell, purchased the champion pen. There was a brisk trade, with a ring full of buyers with cattle going on to Merseyside, south Wales and further afield.

Overall, steers averaged 225p/kg and £750/head with highs of 271p/kg for a Limousin 340kg from F. T. Bedell & Son and £1140 for a Limousin 505kg from W. B. Harding, Hafan.

Heifers averaged 222p/kg and £746/head to a maximum of 302p/kg for a Limousin 300kg from M. & A. Powell, Drefor and £1200 for a Limousin 535kg from E. H. Pennie & Son, Gwern-Yr-Ychain.