Texel ram buyers looking for rams with proven pedigrees and performance to match will have plenty of choice at the forthcoming Scottish, Welsh and English National Texel Sales at Lanark, Welshpool and Worcester.
At the Scottish National Sale on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 August more than 80% of the performance recorded ram lambs on offer having performance figures in the top 25% of the breed. As the leading terminal sire breed with a 29% share of the market the Texel has proven itself across the UK in all climates and systems, explained Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates. “The ever growing dominance of Texel sires in the national flock is testament to the increasing performance of the breed, borne out by the exceptionally strong performance figures on offer in the ram lambs at this week’s Lanark sale.
Mr Yates said the offering of 557 ram lambs at the Lanark sale represented the finest genetics within the breed, with 23% of the performance recorded lambs in the sale being in the top 1% of the breed on terminal index. “Overall 82% of the recorded ram lambs on offer are within the top 25% of the breed, with 45% in the top 5%.”
Meanwhile, at the Welsh National Sale, Welshpool, on Saturday 23 August, 53% of the recorded ram lambs entered are in the top 25% of the breed, with 16% in the top 1%, said Mr Yates. “This week’s National Texel Sales will feature ram lambs suited to both commercial and pedigree use and will provide the widest choice of first class genetics in the Texel breed at any sales this year,” explained Mr Yates.
“These may be a leading breeders sale, but their real strength is the quality in depth available to commercial sheep farmers, with plenty of commercial rams available at the right price. Buyers will not be disappointed by the quality of the sheep on offer, with strong entries of shearling ewes too for anyone looking to establish or expand a pedigree Texel flock,” he added.
The English National Sale at Worcester next Monday and Tuesday, 25 and 26 August, will also feature a strong line up of performance recorded stock, with more than 70% of the performance recorded lambs entered in the top 25% of the breed. “More than 25% of the recorded lambs entered are in the top 1% of the breed which is great to see and will provide both pedigree and commercial buyers with the opportunity to source top class Texel genetics at all three National Sales.”
To see the catalogues for the National Sales click here
