Cefyngwyn Takes the Crown Again in 2026 National Herd Competition

There is something particularly fitting about a herd where quality, efficiency and the environment sit so comfortably alongside one another taking the top honours in the South Devon Herd Book Society’s 2026 National Herd Competition.

Charles Grisedale and the Cefyngwyn Herd, based at Cefyngwyn Hall, Pennant, Llanon, Ceredigion, have been crowned the 2026 National Herd Competition winners, reclaiming the title they last won in 2024.

The achievement is made all the more impressive by the fact that the competition has been judged by a different panel this year, demonstrating the consistency and quality Charles has maintained within the herd. It also comes in an exciting year for Cefyngwyn, with Charles nominated for Beef Farmer of the Year 2026.

Charles’ success is rooted in a straightforward philosophy: producing profitable, functional suckler cows from grass while working with, rather than against, the farm’s environment.

The Cefyngwyn Herd was established after Charles discovered South Devons almost by chance. Having kept cattle throughout his life and previously run Continental suckler cows, a trip to a South Devon sale convinced him of the breed’s potential. He was immediately impressed by their docility and commercial characteristics and returned home with the foundations of what would become the Cefyngwyn Herd.

Explaining his decision to make the change, Charles previously said:

“I converted to South Devons because they are the most profitable suckler cow I can find, they also don’t spend their lives bending gates. I just wish I had found the breed sooner, I suspect the South West might be trying to keep them a secret!”

That belief in the South Devon as a functional and profitable suckler cow remains at the heart of the Cefyngwyn system.

The herd numbers around 55 cows plus youngstock, grazing approximately 200 acres of Welsh countryside. The cattle are entirely grass fed, with the beef marketed through Charles’ own meat box business and processed through an on-farm chiller and cutting room.

It gives Charles the opportunity to take his cattle from the field right through to the consumer, with eating quality providing the final test of his breeding decisions. Speaking previously about feedback from customers, Charles said older generations tell him they have not tasted meat like it for decades, while younger customers say they “didn’t know that is what beef is supposed to taste like.”

Cattle and conservation working together

What makes Cefyngwyn particularly interesting is that producing quality beef is only one part of the story.

Conservation sits firmly at the forefront of the farming system, with the cattle grazing land that also supports important wildlife. Charles has undertaken significant work to encourage lapwings and other red-listed species, including installing a substantial boundary fence designed to keep predators such as foxes and badgers away from nesting areas.

The work has benefited more than the lapwings, with Charles reporting an increase in other red-listed species flourishing on the farm.

It is a farming system in which the South Devon appears perfectly at home: quiet, grass-based cattle producing high-quality beef while helping manage a landscape rich in wildlife.

Consistency at the heart of the herd

When Society members last visited Cefyngwyn following Charles’ 2024 National Herd Competition victory, the consistency throughout the cattle was particularly striking. Youngstock displayed good feet and strong toplines, while the cows and calves demonstrated the attention to detail that goes into the herd.

Charles’ breeding decisions are far from accidental. During that visit, his small working diary was never far from hand, packed with notes on individual cows, their characteristics, breeding and weights.

That attention to detail has clearly continued to pay dividends.

To win a National Herd Competition once is a considerable achievement. To return to the top two years later, under the scrutiny of a different judging team, is a strong endorsement of the consistency of the Cefyngwyn breeding programme.

And with Charles also receiving recognition beyond the Society through his 2026 Beef Farmer of the Year nomination, it is proving to be quite a year for Cefyngwyn.

The South Devon Herd Book Society will celebrate Charles’ achievement at the National Herd Competition Winners’ Open Day on Wednesday 23rd September, beginning at 11.30am at Cefyngwyn Hall, Pennant, Llanon, Ceredigion, SY23 5PD.

It will give members another opportunity to see the Cefyngwyn cattle in their home environment and discover the breeding, management and attention to detail behind a herd that has now twice reached the top of the National Herd Competition.

Many congratulations to Charles Grisedale and the Cefyngwyn Herd – our 2026 National Herd Competition Champions.