A NEW era for local farmers began with the sale of a cow bred near Hereford.

The moment for county historians came last Wednesday morning (June 22) when the first beast was sold at the .

Ten years of planning and some £7million have been spent on the purpose-built market on Roman Road.

The momentous event attracted more than 1,100 farmers from across the region, all eager to say “they were there”.

Only the lucky few made the treasured first sales with a pair of Herefordshire cousins getting the biggest prize of all.

Owen and Jason Morgan will go down as the first cattle buyers at Roman Road after spending £2,500 on the champion beast.

The 20-month Limousin cross steer weighed 635kgs and was bred nearby by D J Watkins of Highfield, Holmer. Its buyers hail from Bridge Farm, Almeley, and Luce, Steensbridge, and are sons of well-known cattle feeders.

“It’s an honour for someone to say they bought the first beast at the new market,”

said Richard Hyde, director of Hereford Market Auctioneers.

“It’s just luck it came from Holmer, but it was a close call because the other beast came from Knightwick.”

Mr Hyde said the opening day was a “fantastic success”

and included a 15- year market record of 4,100 lambs being penned.

Edward Price, of Oakchurch Farm Shop, bought for the first pen for £150 from James Thorne of Upper Holme, Lyonshall.

“We had over 3,000 for the last two weeks at the old market but to go 1,000 over what we would normally get is incredible,” said Mr Hyde. “That record goes back 15 years so it shows the interest we had last Wednesday.

“It went like clockwork but the only thing that went wrong was the lorry wash pump, as the water pressure was pathetic.”