The humble sheepdog has been an integral a part of British farm life for centuries, however by no means earlier than have they commanded a lot respect – or cash.
The previous two years has seen unprecedented costs recorded for specifically bred and skilled dogs at agricultural marts.
Many of the highest dogs are now coming from Wales, together with a border collie referred to as Kim from Ceredigion, which sold for a world record £27,000 last February.
Sheep farmer and dog-handler Emrys Jones, from Barmouth in Gwynedd, mentioned he recurrently fields calls from internationally asking about his dogs, with 40 going overseas to locations corresponding to South Korea, Japan, Australia, Norway and the USA at a current sale.
“The previous boys would not imagine what’s taking place these days,” he mentioned.
Michael Priestley of Farmers Weekly mentioned: “Better dogs value extra however higher dogs make the job of gathering in sheep a lot faster they usually minimise labour value.
“It’s an funding that may repay.”
Video by Nick Hartley
