SPRING is in the air as a new generation of extremely rare cattle begin to roam the fields of Towy Valley.

The ancient herd of 1,000-year-old white park cattle date back to Celtic times and are so rare that it is estimated that only 500 females exist throughout the world.

But Dinefwr Park in Llandeilo are lucky enough to have a collection of the cows, which are a big attraction to visitors. These are exciting times down at the park as the females are beginning to calf, introducing new blood to the herd's dangerously low numbers world-wide.

Visitors were deprived of the pleasure of seeing the rarest of the rare breeds last year when the park had to close due to the foot and mouth outbreak, which fortunately didn't directly affect them. But Dinefwr's gates are now open and visitor numbers are expected to rise after the birth of the young calves.

The cattle were originally used in the days of Hywel Dda, circa 950, and are mentioned in the laws of the time where they were used as payment of tribute to the Kings of Deheubarth - an ancient kingdom of which Dinefwr was the capital.

They were also kept by British and Irish Celts with mention of them in their ancient manuscripts.

Some are even traced back to the year 800 where they were used in Druid festivals, but existed mostly as dual-purpose beasts, often to draw carts.

They are now thriving at Dinefwr where there are nine cows, one bull and six followers resident - meaning that their future looks all-wight!

All new calves born at the park last year were named after Shakespearean characters but the warden is open to suggestions for names for this year's first born. Guardian readers are invited to "Name the Newborn" and send their suggestions to Huw Waghorn, South Wales Guardian, 37 Quay street, Ammanford, SA18 3BS.