But the drive to produce and process local food is undermined by a shortage of suitable abattoirs in North Wales, which means the animals have to be transported 100 miles to England for slaughter.

The Hafod y Llan estate, the 4,000-acre farm bought by the trust following a public appeal in 1998, has been developed to produce high-quality beef reared on the mountain.

But Trystan Edwards, the trust's farm and countryside adviser, said the Welsh Blacks at Hafod y Llan mature and finish gradually as they graze the hill and mountain land, so very few are ready for slaughter by 30 months.

"The breed falls foul of processing regulations which say that slaughter houses must have a special licence to deal with beef cattle over 30 months of age," he said.

Source : ic Wales.co.uk