Texel rams have once again led the way in the latest results from AHDB’s RamCompare project, with the breed providing all of the top five ranked rams for overall carcass merit in each of the project’s three breeding seasons (2016-2018).
In addition, a total of seven of the top 10 rams for overall carcass merit were Texels in the same period, explained the Society’s breed development committee chairman Peter Mitchell.
“The carcass merit index combines EBVs for carcass weight, carcass conformation and carcass fat class, providing an overview of the genetic merit of sires used in typical commercial flocks.
“As such it is the most complete measure of a ram’s potential to influence their progeny. Having Texels ranking so well on this overall measure is further proof of the breed’s well recognised ability to add value to prime lamb production across the UK,” he added.
The most recent season’s results also point a positive picture for Texel sires, with two of the top three rams for overall carcass merit being Texels and the breed also claiming six of the top 10 places in the 2018 season, said Mr Mitchell.
Topping the rankings for sires used from 2016-2018 was Roxburgh Shotgun Willie, a ram bred by John Elliot and owned by the Prince family, Derbyshire. He lead the way with breeding index of 9.64, more than two points ahead of the next placed ram, another Texel in the form of PAP1501802 from Alwyn Phillips’ Penygelli flock. This one has a breeding index of 7.39.
Close behind him in third spot with an index of 7.28 was PRH1500573 from the Handbank flock of the Payne family, with another from the same breeders, Hanbank Super Nova taking fourth spot with an index of 7.00.
Fifth place in the 2016-2018 rankings went to Gaynes Major, bred by Gaynes Park Farm and owned by Trinidad Investments. He has an index of 6.99.
Also in the top 10 are HME1501742 from Matt Hobbs with an index of 6.52 and Arkle Sandiagio bred by the Wilkinson family and owned by the Prince family. He has an index of 5.77. A further three rams also rank inside the top 15 sires.
Meanwhile, leading the rankings for sires used in the 2017-18 breeding season was Handbank Super Nova, with Arkle Sandiago taking third place and Boghouse Ultra Muscle, bred by Kenny Johnstone and owned by Alwyn Phillips, in fourth spot with an index of 5.64.
In the individual traits Texel rams also performed well, with Handbak Super Nova topping the rankings for sires used in 2018 and between 2016 and 2018 for muscle depth with his value being more than 50 points ahead of his nearest rival for rams used across the three years and more than 60 points up on the second placed tup in the 2018 listings.
Garngour Nijinksy also fared well in these rankings, taking second spot in the 2018 sire listings and fourth in the 2016-18 rankings with a value of 149. He was bred by the Clark family and is owned by Claybury Texels.
Second spot in the 2016-18 rankings for scan weight went to Beeford Warrior with a value of 134, just six points behind the first placed ram. He was bred by S J Curtis and is owned by E A and L Jackson.
Notably, Texels also outperformed other breeds when it came to haunch weight, demonstrating the breed’s ability to add value in high value cuts, Topping the listings here was JER1505286 from the Jackson family, with four of the top five ranking rams here being Texels.
And the breed also performed well on proxy measures for eating quality, with two Texel rams making the top three for shear force. These were Matt Hobb’s HME1501742 and Alwyn Phillips’ PAP1501802 with values of 147 and 141, respectively. The top ranking ram here had a value of 149.
Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said the strong performance of Texel sires in RamCompare wouldn’t come as a surprise to either Texel breeders or commercial farmers already using Texel sires in their enterprises.
“The breed’s ability to add value to its progeny as well as deliver quick growing lambs which grade well and are in demand from both independent butchers and mainstream processors alike is well recognised across the UK.
“These results further back up the Society’s own research and development work in recent years and give clear indications for commercial producers looking to improve their margins and reduce risk,” he added.
