Sue Andrews reports on a recent trade mission to Romania.
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| Cluj Exhibition |
Our third visit to Cluj Napoca in Romania and the first time we have seen Texel lambs on show at the agricultural exhibition, which was a great boost to the interest shown in the breed. These lambs were Dutch Texels that had been purchased by a local farmer who was impressed with their shape but had concerns for their size and speed of growth, as were all the Romanian farmers there, but realised that he really needs to be looking at a larger faster growing sheep as a terminal sire and is keen to source British Texel.
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| Romanian Shepherd |
We were lucky enough to be taken round his farm one evening after the exhibition and saw some of his 4000 sheep. He has a number of different breeds and crosses and is by far the most forward thinking of the Romanian farmers we have spoken with, having sound marketing arrangements for his lambs. He is interested in using British Texels as well as other breeds such as Hampshie Down.
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| British Texel grazing in Romania |
We also visited a farm where we sent ten Texel rams last year. The rams look well and have adjusted well to their new environment, and their lambs look good, when we could find them. Problem is the farmer, seemed to put more faith in shepherds keeping the flocks and rams apart than was actually justified and difficult to tell what was what, especially as the age range is extreme! This is quite typical in Romania due to the very extensive approach to keeping and managing the sheep flocks.
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| Texel at the Exibition 2012 |
Some farms are investing considerable amounts on buildings, with an attention also on improving local genetics by importing modern meat producing breeds.
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| British Promotions |
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| British Promotions |