The Texel Society enjoyed a great day at the NSA Sheep Event 2024, Malvern, with the Society’s stand busy throughout the day with both members and commercial producers flocking to the stand.
Showcasing 50 years of progressive breeding the stand featured sheep from three flocks, Paul Philips Kimbolton flock, Russell and Gill Watkins’ Millend flock and Nicky Hartwright’s Whitehart flock, with these picking up the second prize card for the sheep on a trade stand.
The sheep on the stand were complemented by a display of lamb supplied by Ben Greenfield of Greenfields Farmers and Butchers, showcasing the ability of Texel sired lambs to deliver what retailers and consumers require.
Society chief executive John Yates said the event had, once again, been a successful showcase for the breed, with visitors keen to understand how the breed could help add value to their sheep enterprises.
“The Society’s introduction of genomic evaluations this year was a key talking point for many visitors as they sought to learn how to make best use of texelplus indexes to improve their flock’s performance.
“Genetic improvement in the Texel breed is predicted to be worth £334 million to UK industry over next 20 years, implementing new economic indexes increases this by £16.9m, to more than £350m.
“The adoption of genomics, launched specifically by the Society earlier this year, a first for a commercially influential breed in the UK, is predicted to add further significant value, raising index accuracies and increasing confidence in their use.
“Whether using Texels as a terminal sire or to breed replacement females the breed continues to excel in all parts of the UK,” he added.
“At a farm level using a Texel ram with a texelplus index in the top 5% of the breed can add £690 to the value of their slaughter progeny of its working life. This is because of impressive genetic improvement in the breed, including significant improvement in growth potential, with texelplus rams having the potential to increase growth by 10kg at 20 weeks, compared to a Texel ram 40 years ago.”
Added to the Society’s presence at the event, it continued its support of the NSA Next Generation Shepherd Competition with this competition won by 22-year-old Tom Garlick from Herefordshire.Close behind on the scoresheet was 24-year-old Michael Hogg from Tyne and Wear in second place and 25-year-old James White from Derbyshire in third place.
Taking the prize for the highest placed under 21 competitor was 20-year-old Ben Edwards from Herefordshire.
Society events and sales cataloguing manager Ailish Ross said supporting the Next Generation Shepherds Competition was a core part of the Society’s work with the younger generation within the sheep industry. “It was great to see such a close fought competition among enthusiastic youngsters which bodes well for the industry going forward.