A farmer is planning to sell 14 of his British Blue cattle to raise £20,000 for charity in memory of his wife who died of ovarian cancer.
Powys farmer Emyr Wigley is planning a major sale of cattle to raise money for two causes close to his heart, farming charity RABI and Ovarian Cancer Action.
He is looking to sell between 12 to 14 animals in total over the next eight months, preferably through private sales.
The sales, which he hopes to generate over £20,000, is likely to include five breeding bulls and several cows with both calves and in calf.
Emyr first established his Old Stackyard British Blues herd in 2016 in memory of his late wife, Evelyn.
The couple had sold their farm and built a house for their retirement, but Evelyn’s untimely death from cancer changed everything.
Emyr launched his Blues herd from scratch, for the sole purpose of raising funds for his two favoured causes
Four years on, he has raised over £50,000 so far – and is now planning his biggest sale to date.
Having already sold four bulls and 17 maiden heifers, Emyr said the herd had done incredibly well and grown to 28, with 11 more calves due next year.
"All of this year’s calves were born naturally – unlike the previous 18 months when there were seven breech births, resulting in three Caesareans which was disappointing.”
Emyr started the herd with three cows and five maiden heifers from naturally calving blood lines.
The original animals are still in the herd with the oldest cow – Stonebyers Erica – now expecting her ninth calf.
All calves are reared on silage, good grass and hay, and calf rearing nuts.
“I’m looking for private sales, but I’ve also got the option of going to market in Carlisle in January and May, or Shrewsbury next March,” added Emyr.
He also raised £1,150 for Ovarian Cancer Action through a recent open garden event at his Old Stackyard house.
