The trust is rearing the organic cattle on the slopes of Snowdon, allowing the animals to graze naturally and mature slowly. That means they will not be ready for slaughter until after 30 months, unlike animals fattened by less natural methods.

But restrictions brought in to restore confidence after BSE in the 1990s mean the animals have to be sent to a slaughterhouse more than 100 miles away, in Staffordshire.

No abattoirs in North Wales are licensed to kill cattle aged over 30 months.

The National Trust is angry that its efforts to create a model of sustainable farming will be undermined by pollution from lorries as the produce clocks up the "food miles" imposed by the regulations.

Source: ic wales.co.uk