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Michael Leggat – Foreman Hill Having seen them used on the commercial flock at his home farm, Condland Mill, Michael Leggat was keen to work with Texels from a young age, and was able to fulfil that ambition by working with the Mairs at Muiresk for two years, before taking on the role as shepherd for Jim Innes’ 60-ewe Strathbogie flock, near Huntly, 11 years ago.
foundation ewes bought from Baltier – she’s bright, tall, long, with a good topline and great on her legs. She’s had sons to 11,000gns and daughters to 7000gns and she breeds consistently well, with a lamb in the Lanark pen every year – I’d love a whole flock like her!” On the selling side, Michael has received up to 3000gns for gimmers and 1200gns for tup lambs, but of course he’s brought out several five-figure priced tups for Strathbogie, and 2013 has been a particularly memorable year. The flock secured its best ever price of 48,000gns at Lanark for Strathbogie Untouchable, with his two full brothers making 20,000gns at Carlisle and 6800gns at Worcester. Jim and Michael support the shows as much as possible in their busy schedule. This year’s accolades included inter-breed titles at Turriff and Keith and the male championship at the Royal Highland with the lamb which went on to make 48,000gns. But despite such a successful show and sale season this year, Michael insists his favourite time of year is lambing time. “I like nothing more than lambing time, it’s exciting seeing the new lambs and how certain tups have bred…even though I get no sleep for a week! “I honestly couldn’t think of a job I’d rather do than work with Texels, and the bonus for me is seeing tups that I’ve brought out doing well and making good prices,” said Michael. “I think the breed on the whole is heading in the right direction; the carcase side has definitely improved in the last five years and breeders seem to be focussing more on commercial traits,” he added.
“I learned a lot at Muiresk, it was my first experience with pedigree Texels and I’ve never regretted becoming involved with the breed,” explained Michael, who is based with his partner Karen Law at Cairnton Farm, Huntly, where the Strathbogie flock is kept. His own flock – which has recently changed name from Maka to Foreman Hill – consists of just six ewes and was established in 2009 with a ewe from Haremoss and gimmers from Deveronvale and Strathbogie. “I had bought the grand-dam of the Strathbogie gimmer for Jim, from Cambwell, so I knew I liked its back-breeding, but other than that I tend to go for character, shape and good legs. For me, females must have good heads, be bright, with good colours, but I don’t like them to be too powerful,” said Michael, who bought a share in a tup for his own use for the first time this year, Garngour Ultimatum, along with Strathbogie, Allanfauld, Deveronvale and Harestone. If he had to point out his perfect Texel female, Michael says it would be IJS05012. “She is the daughter of one of the
British Texel Sheep Society, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG Tel: 024 7669 6629, Fax: 024 7669 6472, Email: office@texel.co.uk