fees slashed

fees

slashed

Members using the Society’s texelplus genetic improvement service can now do so at much reduced cost, following a recent decision to overhaul the service fees.

Charges for the service will now consist of one £20/year flock fee, a significant reduction from the previous £97/year flock fee, explains Society breed development committee chairman Steve Smith.

£20

Annual fee

Subsidised

CT scanning

£30k/year

member benefits

Ewe surcharge scrapped

“In addition to the reduction in the annual charge, the individual ewe surcharge has been scrapped, resulting in a saving of more than £180/ year for an average 40-ewe flock.” Mr Smith said the increased collection of valuable phenotypic data which would result from these lower fees would provide immediate benefits to Texel breeders and the wider industry. “It will also add support to the Society’s groundbreaking genomic research and development projects which are progressing toward the introduction of genomic breeding values.

“This reduction in fees will provide a direct financial benefit to Society members of £30,000 a year equating to more than £300,000 over the next 10 years when taking into account inflationary influence. This is in addition to the ongoing commitment from the Society in research and development, yielding further direct and indirect benefits for Society members.

For those Society members wishing to take further steps to simply record key data, ultrasound and CT scanning services continue to be available from third party contractors.

SIGN UP TO

“The Society continues to offer subsidies to members for CT scanning and is lobbying to ensure ultrasound scanning charges are equal across all breeds, including Texels.”

SCAN HERE

Add value, add texelplus

• Texelplus ram lambs averaged £2750 more at Lanark • 22% higher clearance of texelplus shearling rams at Welshpool • Texelplus shearling rams averaged £865 more at Worcester • Texelplus ram lambs averaged £178 more at Welshpool • Top 5% texelplus ram lambs averaged 3x sale average at

Ballymena

Deep phenotyping farms

The Society is further developing its Phenotype Farm Initiative to create a more formal cluster of Phenotyping Farms that carry out deep phenotyping and genotyping within their flocks. Sourced from the Society’s texelplus membership, these farms will collect information on all animals in their flocks. These measurements will support the further development of the breed and the Society’s offerings to the wider membership. The phenotype farms will be complemented by data collected from texelplus and other flocks, including on traits such as birth weight and lambing ease.

Data collection

texelplus breeders are strongly encouraged to record lambing ease and weight information on all animals at various times. Birth weights and lambing ease scores can be submitted through iTexel when completing birth notifications. Eight-week weights can be collected from animals between 42 and 84 days old and recorded through the iTexel weight screens.

Ultrasound scanning

Those members who choose to use the ultrasound scanning services available, will have their ultrasound weights and measures uploaded on their behalf by Society staff. Animals should be ultrasound

scanned when the average weight is around 35-40kg and individual animals don’t weigh less than 25kg.

Members should also pay close attention to the data submission deadlines published on the texelplus page of the Society website; any data received after the deadlines listed are not guaranteed to be included in the next evaluation.

Those members who choose not to ultrasound scan their animals, can still submit a scan weight through the iTexel weight screens.

Gimmer weights

texelplus members are also encouraged to submit mature ewe weights to the Society. All gimmers should be weighed at tupping and the information submitted to the Society for inclusion in the next evaluation.

CT scanning

Members undertaking ultrasound scanning are strongly encouraged to CT scan a selection of ram lambs from their flocks to identify the best animals more accurately. CT scanning provides the gold standard of trait measurements, being heavily subsided by the Society and levy boards, it provides the best opportunity to capture valuable profit trait information, such as lean yield across the entire carcass.

In partnership with ultrasound scanning, CT offers the opportunity to accelerate the rate of response to selection for improved carcass quality. CT scanning can also provide information on characteristics that cannot be measured by ultrasound, such as muscle shape, muscularity, muscle volume, intramuscular fat and length.

In addition, all lambs which are CT scanned are also genotyped by the Society at no cost to members.

Society continues R&D push

In the meantime the Society is also working on a brace of internal research projects in conjunction with a number of trusted research partners. Both of these projects are looking closely at the value Texel provides to the GB sheep industry and how that can be maximised through further breed development as a result of providing breeders with additional breeding tools.

The first of these internal projects is the CIEL Seed Fund project.

This is a project which involves road mapping to support early adoption and implementation of routine genomic evaluations in Texel sheep.

The aim of this project is to develop a road map for the integration of genomic evaluations into the Texel Society’s genetic improvement programme and deliver the outputs through iTexel. Working with Egenes, AbacusBio and Rezare, this project will investigate the effect the inclusion of genomic data may have on the quality of pedigree and levels of inbreeding and how animals and flocks might be re-ranked for individual breeding values and overall indexes.

The project also aims to outline the ongoing needs of a phenotyping and genotyping strategy that forms the genomic reference population, along with phenotyping practices across flocks. This will help to shape the Society’s genetic evaluations service and will have an ongoing impact on the Society’s future direction, shaping the maintenance and delivery of genetic and genomic breed development tools.

Managed effectively and carefully, through the provision of this project, it will drive a paradigm shift in the delivery of breed development tools to pedigree Texel sheep breeders in the UK. Transitioning much of the Society’s research activity into practice through partnership with Egenes and AbacusBio, this project will provide a legacy on how the Society operates its genetic improvement and registry services.

The second of these internal projects is the Texel breeding objective project which is seeking to develop a unique breeding objective for the Texel breed in the UK.

The Society has been working with AbacusBio since 2014, with AbacusBio carrying out economic analyses, providing consulting services on genetic and genomic improvement planning and supporting breeding program design and implementation.

An aim for the Society for several years has been to implement its own breeding objective, reflecting the breed’s position as the most progressive, forward-looking breed within the UK. This project has three main aims, to: • Produce and test a breeding objective including economic selection indexes,

• Review the historic and potential future economic value of Texel genetic improvement to the UK sheep industry, using the latest metrics derived from the economic indexes.

• Calculate the environmental trend and historic emission reductions resulting from genetic gain in the economic indexes (measuring emissions impact). Breeding objectives enable breeders to direct their breeding emphasis towards specific market outcomes, or address key production needs for their farming systems. They also have a significant influence on many different aspects of the breeding program including: • Which traits to record to increase profitability • The choice of animals to be the parents of the next generation and the mating strategies for those parents

• The choice of lines to introduce into a production system.

The breeding objective will allow farmers to directly estimate the effect of breeding decisions on farm profitability and it will allow the Society to measure the economic impact of genetic improvement. Further work will also show how implementing a breeding objective will affect the ranking of animals and selection decisions.

An economic analysis of historic genetic improvement will also provide a benchmark for the value of benefits generated by genetic improvement in the future. Calculation of the trend in environmental impact as a result of genetic gain in the economic indexes potentially enables the Society to analyse the contribution of the breed’s genetic improvement to reducing contribution of reducing GHG emissions and supporting net zero targets.

South Wales Texel Breeders Association

Combine business and pleasure with a visit, JOIN US AT OUR EVENTS & SALES

BRYNDERI FLOCK (BQC)

C & S Ball, Upper Cwm Farm, Llantilio Crossenny, Abergavenny Mob: 07807 366640 Email: chrisuppercwm@gmail.com

TOWY TEXELS FLOCK (YJB)

J & B Booker, Cae Cadno, Taliaris, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, SA19 7DP Mob: 07887 648710 Email: towytexels@gmail.com

TREFERE FLOCK (DBT)

Davies Bros, Trefere Uchaf, Penparc, Cardigan, SA43 1RN Tel: 01239 810381 Mob: 07773 144709 Email: gwyn.trefere@gmail.com

CAEBETRAN FLOCK (DFC)

G & H Davies & Son, Caebetran Fawr Farm, Felinfach, Brecon, Powys, LD3 0UL Tel: 01874 754460 Mob:07811 943351 Email: hazelcaebetran@aol.com

SCURLAGE CASTLE FLOCK (EKS)

E Evans & Son, Scurlage Castle Farm, Reynoldston, Swansea, SA3 1BA Tel: 01792 390714 Mob:07790 565746 Email: kevans243@gmail.com

ABERCRYCHAN FLOCK (HXA)

J W & J A Hardwick, Abercrychan Farm, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0YL Tel: 01550 720363 Mob: 07977 060225 Email: jwhardwick@btinternet.com

MARLSBROUGH FLOCK (HMJ)

Marlsbrough Farm Ltd, (Andrew & Judith Hughes), Marlsbrough, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, SA62 3NP Mob: 07974 967010 Tel: 01437 710395 Email: judith@marlsbrough.com

RIPPERSTON FLOCK (JMR)

M James, Sunnyhill, Castle Pill Road, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA73 1HE Tel: 01646 692777 Mob: 07970 785822 Email: mfjames@hotmail.co.uk

LLANTHOMAS FLOCK (JML)

G P & M Jones, Llanthomas Farm, Llanigon, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR3 5PU Tel: 01497 820096 Mob: 07432 281889 Email: paulandlynnejones@btinternet.com

MABON FLOCK (JGG)

G W & F M Jones, Garth Hall Farm, Llanfabon, Pontypridd, CF37 4HP Tel: 01443 740292 Mob: 07768 936202 Email: garthhallfarm@aol.com

TYNEWYDD FLOCK (MDY)

D J & M O Morgan, Tynewydd, Llangors, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7UA Tel: 01874 658413 Mob: 07976 975363 Email: derimorgan@gmail.com

SCOLTON FLOCK (RWS)

W O J Reed & Co Ltd., Upper Scolton, Spittal, Haverfordwest, Pembs. SA62 5QL Tel: 01437 731332 Mob: 07811 186377 Email: upperscolton@gmail.com

ONNEN FLOCK (TAS)

S Thomas, Maesyllan, Login, Whitland, Carmarthenshire, SA34 0XA. Tel: 01437 563366 Mob: 07870 279560 Email: eurylann@gmail.com

CAENANTMELYN FLOCK (WCQ)

O J Watkins, Caenantmelyn Bungalow, Hay-on-wye, Herefordshire, HR3 5RH Tel: 01497 820597 Mob: 07812 685415 Email: owenwatkins@live.co.uk

MILLEND FLOCK (WCM)

R M & G L Watkins, Upper Cwm Farm Craswall, Herefordshire, HR2 0PH Tel: 01981 510249 Email: watkins249499@btinternet.com

FERN FLOCK (WAF)

W L & A Windsor & Son, Fforest Farm, Whitland, Carmarthenshire, SA34 0LS Tel: 01994 241078 Mob:07976 408966 Email: adrian.fforest@outlook.com

WELSH FLOCK (ESW)

S& T Evans, Coedhirion, Llanddarog, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8BQ Tel: 01267 275666 Mob: 07580 752898 Email: welshfarmhouse@hotmail.com

STELFOX FLOCK (WES)

Stelfox farms LTD, Lower Solbury Farm, Walwyns Castle, Haverfordwest, Pembs, SA62 3SD. Tel: 07814 912694 Email: stelfoxtexels@gmail.com

SOLBURY FLOCK (WOS)

O & J Williams, Llangwm, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 4JB Tel: 07970792995 Email: Owenwills500@gmail.com

GEREAFON FLOCK

Shae Price, 10 Llais Yr Afon, Garth, Llangammarch Wells, Powys, LD4 4AE Mobile – 0779 2652184 Email – shaeprice56@gmail.com

TOPBANK FLOCK

Lewis Morgan, Penglanowen Farm, New Cross, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 4LX Mobile – 07949 166129 Email – lowrireed@gmail.com

COEDMORE FLOCK (JLC)

E Jones, Coedmore Hall, Cellan, Lampeter, SA48 8HU Mobile - 07890622318 email – emily.coedmore@outlook.com

CLUB EVENTS

AGM - tbc

June

Lamb Competition Flock Competition

July

Club Trip Shearling Competition

August

Ram event tbc

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

For Further Information Contact Club Secretary – Derfel Harries 07966 841304 Email - derfel@ctf-uk.com

SALES 2022

Monday, 1st August

Early NSA Ram Sale at the Royal Welsh Showground

Sunday, 11th September

Club Sale at Llandovery

Monday, 19th September

Main NSA Ram Sale at Royal Welsh Showground

Friday, 16th December

In-Lamb Ewes at Llandovery

CLUB OFFICIALS

Chairman - Owen Hughes

Tel: Owen Hughes 07843664481 Email: valetexels@gmail.com

Secretary - Derfel Harries

Tel: 01550 720 440 or 07966 841 304 Email: derfel@ctf-uk.com

Treasurer - Gill Watkins

Tel: 01981 510249 Email: watkins249499@btinternet.com