Cattle auction in memory of young farmer raises £20,000

A cow and calf sold at auction in memory of a young farmer who took his own life have made an astonishing £20,000 that will be donated to the mental health farming charity the DPJ Foundation.

The Limousin-cross cow and calf went under the hammer at Welshpool Livestock Market on Monday 30 May.

Livestock farmer Ryan Morris wanted to raise money in memory of his good friend, Sam Davies, who died on 30 April.

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Sam, 25, from Llangedwyn village in Wales, had been attending a young farmers gathering in Blackpool.

Ryan, 26, had bought the cow and calf from Sam and his father, Ari, 12 months ago and said he wanted to donate the money to the DPJ Foundation.

The livestock generated huge interest at a packed sale ring and the pair ended up being sold three times, to make £17,000.

Sam’s family made the first purchase and then the animals were twice re-offered for sale. Welshpool Market then donated £3,000 to bring the total to £20,000.

The cow and calf were sold by Welshpool mart auctioneer Tom Davies, another close friend of Sam.

“It was nice to see so many had turned out to offer the outfit for sale in memory of Sam, but also to raise money for a charity that does so much within the agricultural industry,” Mr Davies said.