We founded the Cwrt Henllys Pedigree Longhorn herd in 2003 after falling in love with the breed when visiting Frank Sutton’s Parc Grace Dieu herd in Raglan, near Monmouth.
Our initial cattle came from two renowned Carmarthenshire herds of pedigree Longhorns – Carreg Cennen and Mayhill, which were purchased over a weekend in April 2003.
The Carreg Cennen herd takes its name from the castle and farm near Llandeilo which is run by Margaret and Bernard Llewellyn and from whom we bought three in-calf cows and two yearling heifers.
The following day two cows with calves at foot followed from a visit to David Bevan’s Mayhill herd at Llanarthne near the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Over that weekend we acquired some fantastic cows and bloodlines including Fishwick Kinsman – one of the most influential sires of the last decade. Honeywood Edmund and Bulford Freddy sire to Carreg Cennen the highest priced Longhorn at auction.
Over the following months we travelled up and down the country adding pedigree cattle to our growing Cwrt Henllys herd, which by 2006 numbered 45 cows and heifers.
Our stock bull - Blackbrook Owl – was bought from the prize winning Blackbrook herd owned by John and Pat Stanley of Coalville in Leicestershire. He is a super bull and can trace his bloodline to several prestigious Longhorns – namely Huntsman Cardinal, Fishwick Mercury and Rousham Kite.
Our insistence in only buying quality pedigree stock has not only paid off in terms of succulent beef production, but also in the show ring!
While we didn’t initially intend dipping our toes (or should that been hooves!) into the world of competition, we have now caught the showing bug and have attended some of the country’s premier agricultural shows.
The quality of our cattle has resulted in some notable prize wins. Cwrt Henllys Elvis took the best junior bull title at the 2005 Royal Welsh Show, and Mayhill Magda who came to us as just seven days old was reserve female champion at the 2006 Monmouth Show.
If you would like to know more about the Longhorn breed please take a look at our Links Page.