THE increasing interest in the Hereford breed was evident at last week's Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells.

Lewis Thomas, of the Hereford Cattle Society, said: "There is so much more interest in the breed, with registrations having gone up by one-third in two years."

Mr Thomas put the increased interest down to a number of issues, including the Waitrose supermarket scheme and the opportunity for restocking that some breeders were given during the aftermath of foot and mouth.

At the show, the supreme champion Hereford was a 14-month-old bull from Ford Abbey Farms at Docklow, near Leominster.

The home-bred bull, Albert, who had scooped the reserve male beef champion at the Three Counties, also won the male breed championship at Builth.

Other main winners in the Hereford section came from the Llancillo herd of Ralph Bailey, of Pandy.

Mr Bailey won the young bull class and the reserve male championship with David and the young heifer class with Beauty 11.

W S C Richards, of Ullingswick, was first for bulls, born on or before December 31, 2003, while Miss Rachael Houghton of Cheshire, won the cow or heifer class with Emerald and went on to win the female championship and reserve supreme championship.

Milford Haven breeders T G and E I Thorne had the best heifer born between September 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003.