The bull, called Hafod Esgob Hari, was bought for a record �23,100 by developer Enzo Sauros at Dolgellau's annual livestock sale on Friday.

The bull was sold by Gwenfair Jones from Bala, north Wales, whose pedigree herd stretches back to the mid 1940s.

The sale smashed the previous record for a bull, which had previously stood at about �9,000.

Mr Sauros, from Pontyberem in Carmarthenshire, said he was delighted with the purchase.

"I wanted a bull of this standard because the Hafod yr Esgob bloodline is one of the best there is," he said.

"I was determined to get this bull because one of his standard might not appear for another 10 years."

Hafod Esgob Hari won second place in the class for young bulls at last July's Royal Welsh Show.

The winner of that class was also bought by Mr Sauros, who now intends to put it back on the market.

I am glad the bull has been sold to an enthusiastic young breeder who is trying to establish a herd Gwenfair Jones

"I suppose I buy and sell a bit like running a football club because Hafod Esgob Hari has developed well since last July and I am now willing to sell on the other bull," said Mr Sauros, who has a 180-head herd.

Hafod Esgob Hari, weighing in at 800kg, is partly named after the farm run by its previous owner, Gwenfair Jones.

"The other part of his title comes from the name of my grandson, Hari," said Mrs Jones, who runs the Bala farm with her two sons, Meredydd and Gwilym.

"I am glad the bull has been sold to an enthusiastic young breeder who is trying to establish a herd," said Mrs Jones, who is this year's president of The Welsh Black Cattle Society.

"Mr Sauros wanted a special bull for breeding purposes and I think he has got what he wanted."

Mrs Jones the money raised from the sale would be re-invested.

"We will need to buy another stock bull in a couple of years and some of the money will go towards that end," she said.