As the breeding sheep sales season kicks in to gear Texel breeders are once again getting set for the Society four National sales and the ensuing regional Club and major commercial sales that follow.
This year’s National Sales at Lanark on 25-26th August, Welshpool on 28th August, Worcester on 30th- 31st August and Ballymena on 4th September will offer buyers an unrivalled choice of leading Texel genetics suited to both pedigree and commercial flocks.
Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said that while the headline prices at these National Sales would revolve around pedigree breeders investing in the future of their flocks, they also represented an excellent opportunity for commercial buyers to tap in to the best of the breed.
“The Texel breed has continually proven itself highly adaptable to the range of farming systems and environments that exist across the UK..
“Wherever you are in the UK you are likely to see Texels being used by sheep farmers to add value to their flocks, both as a terminal sire and also as a maternal breed.
“The Texel breed has been in the UK for more than 50 years and in that time has gone from strength to strength as farmers have recognised its ability to provide superior quality carcasses no matter what breed it is crossed with.
“On top of this the modern Texel is a fast growing sheep with superb maternal instincts, making it an ideal flock ewe too,” explained Mr Yates.
This is the outcome of years of dedicated breed development and has resulted in lambs performance recorded with the Society’s texelplus service predicted to weigh almost 4.5 kg more at ultrasound scanning compared to those born in 2011.
“For commercial lamb producers this genetic progress means that lambs by texelplus sires now have the potential to be 2.25kg heavier at 20 weeks old. This extra gain is commercially valuable in a number of ways,” explained Mr Yates.
“Firstly, lambs are ready for slaughter quicker. This saves costs on-farm and often means lambs are sold when prices are better, meaning they are worth more too.
“In addition, lambs which are sold sooner help reduce a farm’s carbon footprint and give farmers the chance to better manage grass for ewes later in the year,” he added.
“This spring Texel cross lambs have once again been among the most sought after at live markets across the UK, often achieving prices more than 50p/kg ahead of market averages, with the best lambs often achieving prices 75-80p/kg more than those of other breeds.”
These figures back up research undertaken for the Society which has shown the increased value pedigree Texel rams can add to flocks, with pedigree rams adding more than £25 a year to the value of their progeny.
“Furthermore, recent Society R&D data shows that more than 85% of Texel sired lambs grade as ‘in spec’,” explained Mr Yates.
Importantly, all sheep at the Society’s National Sales are MV Accredited and veterinary inspected, giving buyers further reassurance that they are investing in quality.
For more information on Texel sales this autumn see www.texel.uk/sales
