One of the smallest herds of Hereford cattle in the UK has brought the national herd championship crown to Pembrokeshire and Wales for the first time.

George and Ionwy Thorne’s 35 pedigree breeding cows and followers beat off competition from established herds across the country to win the Hereford Cattle Society’s national herd of the year competition.

They had won the Wales region and were up against eight other UK regions for the top title, announced at the annual Hereford Cattle Society Dinner last week.

The Thornes, along with their daughter Non, who is currently studying agriculture at Aberystwyth University, were overwhelmed when the announcement was made.

“We had no idea we had won, it came as a complete surprise,” said Ionwy.

Judges had visited the farm at Studdolph Hall, Milford Haven, in September before travelling a further 2,000 miles to judge the other finalists.

They had been impressed with the uniformity of the herd at Studdolph.

“They also gave very favourable comments about the stock bulls, the in-calf heifers and said we had a nice bunch of young calves. They also commented on the docility of the herd,” added Ionwy.

The herd was established by George and Ionwy in the early 1990s. George’s father had bred Herefords at Studdolph since 1946, but that herd was dispersed in 1979.

The top herd title comes just weeks after one of George and Ionwy’s bulls, Bosa 1 Arnold, won the beef interbreed championship at the Pembrokeshire County Show.

The show proved to be hugely successful for the Thornes, as they came away with eight trophies, including the top bull, heifer, group of three and heifer calf in the Hereford classes.

It has been a good month for pedigree cattle breeders in Pembrokeshire. Just two weeks ago a Welsh Black cow from the Gwaun Valley was named as the best of her breed in the country.

Dancoed Ceridwen 3rd, bred by Gwynfryn and Marian Phillips, of Dancoed, was named the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s female of the year.