Charity herd of British Blue cattle auctioned for £81,000

Retired Welsh dairy farmer Emyr Wigley has raised £81,000 for charity after auctioning his pedigree herd of British Blue cattle at Shrewsbury market.

As previously reported on FWi, Mr Wigley established The Old Stackyard Blues project in memory of his late wife Evelyn, who sadly lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2015, at the age of 69.

See also: Emyr Wigley to sell pedigree herd for cancer charity

Since then, Mr Wigley has raised more than £120,000 through cattle sales, which has been split between Ovarian Cancer Action and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi).

Emyr Wigley © Wayne Hutchinson

This latest sale saw the entire pedigree herd go under the hammer, with a top price of 5,400 guineas achieved for a cow and calf.

“I was impressed with how the cattle sold and looked in the sale ring, and hopefully the money will help a lot of people,” said Mr Wigley. “We have had seven years of pleasure from the cattle and have met some wonderfully generous people.”

Senior auctioneer Jonny Dymond remarked that “so many cattle sold for wonderful prices”, with buyers flocking from all corners of the country to attend the sale. 

Ovarian Cancer Action plans to use the funds to pay for a specialist researcher for an entire year.

Cary Wakefield, the charity’s chief executive, said: “To turn grief and personal bereavement into something so positive that others will benefit from is amazing. I am full of admiration [for Emyr].”

With his cattle now sold, Mr Wigley plans to continue fundraising, but on a smaller scale.

He also plans to finish writing a book about his life, enjoy working in his garden and making oak furniture.