Pedigree cattle breeder and Norfolk farmer Tim Wyatt, who has died aged 69 after a long illness, exported stock around the world from the noted Twells herd.

The family's dairy shorthorn enterprise at Grange Farm, Snetterton, was just one of three visited by delegates attending the breed society's world conference in July 2010.

He shared a passion for racehorses and National Hunt racing with his wife Anne, and they bred a number of winners over the years on the family's 400-acre farm.

The Pearn Wyatt & Co name, the business started by his grandfather, Joseph, also made its mark across Europe as a fleet of lorries from Snetterton specialised in continental and refrigerated transport from the early 1970s.

Educated at Old Buckenham and then Wellingborough, he returned to the family's farm, where he became fully involved in all strands of the family's business interests.

The pedigree dairy shorthorn herd was founded in 1936 by his father, Joe, who was given a dozen heifers as a wedding present.

The herd, which lived outside until 1970, also produced some outstanding cattle. And bloodlines were exported around the world to South America, China and Australia. One bull, Twells Moss Trooper 4, was an outstanding success in Australia. It was one of the reasons that the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society's 120 delegates to the world conference were so determined to visit Norfolk because of the family's success in breeding outstanding quality stock.

It is the only shorthorn dairy herd in Norfolk and one of a handful in the country and he improved its performance over a number of years.

Last year, his son Jonathan, who became the fourth generation to take up dairy farming, topped the national league table for milk production. The 150-strong herd had boosted yields by an average 1,000 litres, with the cows averaging 8,589 kg at 3.99pc butterfat.

They had three horses in training with Henrietta Knight, who trained the three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Best Mate. She produced a number of winners including one at Fontwell last year.

Married for 46 years, he leaves a widow, Anne, three children, Cherry, Penny and Jonathan, and three grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at St Peter and St Peter, Shropham, on Friday, February 8 at 2pm.

Michael Pollitt