Texel Sheep Society Autumn Bulletin 2019

The bulletin for all

Breeders A Texel Society Publication

OCTOBER 2019

Texels dominate commercial ram sales p14 Society YDP has packed summer p18

Lanark sees 200,000gns leader p38 Society R&D shows Texel potential p24

Interbreed success at major shows p32

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Autumn 2019

Texel Mug £6.00

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TEXEL Breeders Bulletin texel.uk

Texel Bulletin is published by the Texel Sheep Society Ltd twice a year in March and October.

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of the information contained in this publication, no responsibility can be accepted by the Society for any errors or any reliance on the use of information by readers.

Membership Subscriptions are available by contacting the Society Office Advertising office@texel.co.uk Registrations & Sales Cataloguing registrations@texel.co.uk cataloguing@texel.uk Accounts accounts@texel.co.uk R&D Projects edsmith@texel.co.uk Society Governance Chief Executive John Yates Chairman Steve Richardson Stonebridge flock Vice Chairman Roy Campbell Cowal and Royel flocks Treasurer Andy Barr Parkhouse flock Contributors Jonathan Long, Lynsey Clark and Society staff Photography Country Girl Media, MacGregor Photography, Tim Scrivener, Alfie Shaw, Richard Hodgson, Jonathan Long British Texel Sheep Society, Unit 74 - 4th Street, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG

Tel: 024 7669 6629 Email: office@texel.co.uk Website: texel.uk

In touch with Texel @BritishTexel #addtexeladdvalue

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Reflections from the Chief Executive

I

n this edition we highlight the sales and show successes from across our community, as we take time to share in the benefits the Texel breed has to offer.

Innovation and investment are at the heart of any successful business and nowhere is that more true than in the sheep sector. Texel breeders continue to innovate, invest and adapt to the market conditions around them.

Whether that innovation is in the form of new genetics, changes in breeding strategy, use of new technologies or better use of grass and forage crops, Texel breeders have often led the way in driving the sheep industry forward.

Supporting this, the Texel Sheep Society, continues to innovate and invest in members’ needs, aiming to deliver added value to every member, enabling Texel breeders to remain at the head of the industry.

There are also lots of opportunities for members to get involved with the Society: for example, by becoming a Trustee, joining a club committee, contributing to publications, supporting young breeders, or just by attending local or national sales and shows to help promote the breed. There is certainly something from everybody to share.

Earlier this year the Society strengthened its performance recording service by contracting directly with the world class geneticists at SRUC Egenes and the Society now provides that service directly to members under the brand.

As delivery transitions further improvements in data collection and reporting will be provided ensuring breeders have access to performance information to help continue to produce sheep with the traits customers require. This initiative fits with the Society’s 10 year breed development strategy

published in an earlier edition of the bulletin and available at texel.uk.

And, demand for recorded stock at both the Society’s National sales and major commercial sales has remained buoyant, with buyers willing to pay premiums for performance recorded stock which also meet their other criteria.

Investing in the future has been a core Society principle since its inception and the board continue to follow this mantra, with continued investment in research and development and promotions, to ensure the breed is fit for the future.

Alongside this the Society is investing heavily in its new database ‘ ’ to further improve registry services and ensure that both members and commercial producers seeking Texel genetics have finger tip access to the valuable information Texel pedigree and performance provides.

This new database will aid delivery of the Society’s digital first vision and ensure data collection and delivery are both easier, simpler and more efficient for all involved with the breed.

Looking back over the summer the quality of stock presented at the Royal Shows this year was second to none and testament to this were the results the breed achieved in interbreed classes, with the interbreed champions at both the Royal Highland and Royal Welsh being Texels, while the reserve interbreed championship at Great Yorkshire was also won by a Texel.

The same is true of the sales season and while trade has been, for several reasons, more reserved at some of the sales, the Society’s National Sales once again attracted strong trade for the best of the sheep on offer.

John

John Yates, Chief Executive

Registered office – The Mechanics Workshop, New Lanark, Lanark, ML11 9DB Auditors – Dafferns LLP, One Eastwood, Harry Weston Road, Binley Business Park, Coventry, CV3 2UB Solicitors – Lodders Solicitors, 10 Elm Court, Arden Street, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 6PA Bankers – RBS, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Coventry Branch, 15 Little Park Road, Coventry, CV1 2RN ‘British Texel Sheep Society Ltd (Texel Sheep Society) is a Scottish Charity, SC007271, regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)’.

Autumn 2019

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October 2019 6

UK genetics thrive overseas

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Commercial producers flock to Texel at NSA events

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22

Texels excel at summer shows

Five Nations Weekend draws a crowd

NEWS

YOUTH FOCUS

TECHNICAL CORNER

6 Export success

18 YDP supports NSA competitions

24 R&D work provides food for thought

8 Texels top RamCompare

19 Youngsters enjoy summer of success

26 CT scan data hints at lambing ease traits

9 Society influences animal scientists

20 Students rewarded with Education Awards

10 Flock data accuracy key

22 Texel enthusiasts gather for action packed weekend

7 Welsh member wins Society draw

11 Society AGM heads to Northern Ireland 12 Strong turnouts for NSA events 16

delivers for members

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Autumn 2019

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38

Capaldi calls the tune at Lanark

56 19

26

Deveronvale breeding delivers

Successful summer for Texel youngsters

CT scanning insight on lambing ease

SHOWS

SALES

LIFESTYLE

28 Alderview leads at Balmoral

38 Lanark hits 200,000gns high

30 Mullan Amigo daughter tops Bath and West

41 Rhaeadr gimmer leads at 9000gns

56 Deveronvale delivers time and again

32 Douganhill takes Royal Highland interbreed

42 Ram lambs to 15,000gns at Worcester

34 Procters ewe lamb wins Great Yorkshire

44 English National shearlings to 10,000gns

36 Interbreed honours at Royal Welsh

46 Records set at Welshpool

58 Commercial focus at Canllefaes

50 Fairywater lamb tops Ballymena 52 Two at ÂŁ8500 seal successful Kelso 54 Demand drives prices up at Builth

texel.uk

Autumn 2019

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News Society Matters

Board Elections Elections for board members in three of the Society’s regions saw sitting directors re-elected unopposed.

In the North of Scotland Graeme Knox of the Haddo flock retains his seat, while in South West Scotland and Cumbria Roy Campbell of the Cowal and Royel flocks stood unopposed.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith of the Penparc was also re-elected unopposed in the Mid Wales and Borders region.

Society Matters

Annual Membership Subscription Fees Increase As of 1st October 2019, there will be a change in subscription fees. The rise is in line with the retail price index.

The new membership fees are as below: Adult - £56 inc.VAT Junior - £28 inc.VAT

Society Matters

Cambwell Trademark sons in the USA

Export success Continued interest in British Texel genetics in Europe has seen another significant export of UK Texels to Switzerland, with 60 head exported from a number of flocks to join regular buyer of recent years Heinz Pluss.

Flocks contributing to the consignment included the Laird family’s Cambwell flock, the Ingram family’s Logie Durno flock and Kenny Johnstone’s Boghouse flock.

The Laird family have also exported rams to both Germany and Holland this year.

While the Clark family, Garngour, Teiglum and Clarks, have exported to Holland.

Meanwhile, in South America, another market which has a keen interest in British Texel genetics, the recent Expointer Show, Brazil, saw both the championship and reserve in the Texels go to sheep backed by British breeding.

Champion was a shearling ewe from the Gran-Reserva flock, with this one being

by Cambwell Trademark and out of a dam by Teiglum Vision, with the reserve championship going to another shearling ewe by Cambwell Trademark.

Furthermore, a gimmer by Teiglum Vision recently set a new breed record in Brazil when selling for 53,200 Brazilian Real (£10,500).

Additional exports to Brazil are underway this autumn, with semen from both the Clark family’s Garngour flock and the Laird family’s Cambwell flock taking place.

The Clarks have consigned semen from three homebred rams, Teiglum Brave, Garngour Boxer and Garngour Bullseye, while semen from the Cambwell flock comes from Cambwell Trademark and Cambwell Belter.

In North America British genetics have also been making their presence felt in the sale ring, with sons of Cambwell Trademark selling at the Mid-West Stud Ram Sale to a joint top price of US$2500, with Trademark-sired gimmers also selling to a joint top price of US$1500.

Further exports of Cambwell Trademark semen and Langford Adder Again, both from the Cambwell flock are due this autumn too.

Additionally, interest in the breed is spreading to new territories, with a Chinese delegation due to visit the Miserden flock of Aubrey and Sue Andrews this autumn.

Please see the members fee sheet on the back cover for more information.

INVOICES

Champion and reserve at Expointer, Brazil

Expointer champion

Please NOTE:

From September 2019 All flocks that have an email address registered with the Society will begin to receive their invoices by email.

Society Matters

Names for 2020 born lambs begin with the letter…

D

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Society Matters

Register Your Rams Now Remember to register your rams now to avoid fee increases and potential delays in birth notifications.

For home bred rams, the DNA sample kits can be requested by contacting the office by phone: 02476 696629 (extension 1) or email: registrations@ texel.co.uk. Please quote the homebred ram’s flockbook number and ensure they have a name.

For rams bought from a sale, a proof of purchase is required prior to the DNA sample kit being sent out. Ram dockets will no longer be available so this can be either a handwritten ram docket or an invoice with the ram’s full UK ministry tag or flockbook number.

When buying an in-lamb ewe or purchasing frozen semen for use in

your own AI or ET programmes, please ensure the service sire or ram has been registered and DNA sampled by the owner.

It can take up to six weeks for the laboratory to issue the DNA profile of a ram, so please bear this in mind when requesting your DNA sampling kit.

Failure to register your ram in time, will delay your birth notifications next year.

Registration certificates Registration certificates are only available on request and no longer automatically printed and posted.

Certificates need to be requested prior to selling your registered sheep, given to the purchaser at the time of the sale and used as proof of purchase when transferring the sheep into the new owner’s flock.

Event Dates

2020 NSA EVENTS

3 June - Scotsheep - Hosted

by Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg Farm, near Tealing, Dundeeshire 28 July - NSA Sheep 2020 - Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire NSA South Sheep 2020 - Date and venue TBC

ROYAL SHOWS 13- 16 May - Royal Ulster 12 - 14 June - Royal Three Counties - 2020 Society South of England Focus 18 - 21 June - Royal Highland 14 - 16 July - Great Yorkshire 20 - 23 July - Royal Welsh

Society Matters

NSA events winner The winner of the Society’s competition to win a Ritchie weigh crate has been announced. Winning the competition which was staged at five NSA events across the UK this summer was Merfyn Glyn Owen of the Bryn Mawr flock.

Caernarfon-based Merfyn was presented with his prize by Ritchie at the end of July after being congratulated on his success by Society chief executive John Yates at the Royal Welsh Show.

The competition was an overwhelming success, with more than 1500 people entering across the five events in Wales, South West England, Northern England, the Highlands of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

NATIONAL SALE DATES 26 - 27 August - Scotland 29 August - Wales 31 August - 1 September England 2 September - Northern Ireland

Health declarations Flock health declarations are available to download at texel.uk/sales. Print it, complete it and display it on your pen so customers can take a photo for later reference.

Obituaries The Society was informed of the loss of some dear members and friends.

JILL WILLIAMS – Stelfox & Turbine Texel flocks JIM HORN – Blackboys Texel flock GLYNN WILLIAMS - Past Society field officer Owen Family & John Yates

News texel.uk

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Society Matters

Texels top the rankings in RamCompare 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 (20162018).

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 paint 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 led the way with a 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.

The society has grown considerably since its establishment in 1974.

With that success comes a responsibility to ensure the data collected and stored from the breed, your flocks and animals is in a fit for purpose repository.

This means storing it in a way that allows analysis and secure access for a variety of

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, Handbank Super Nova taking fourth spot with an index of 7.00.

Roxburgh Shotgun Willie topped the RamCompare rankings

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 Sandiago 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 Handbank 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.

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.

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.

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.

Mr Mitchell 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.

stakeholders; staff, members, commercial producers and public.

A further investment by the company came in 2012 to help drive online database interactions for a variety of stakeholders. In 2018 the three owners of Basco each decided a different focus for future investment for their Society database services was required.

Various iterations of databases have come and gone over the history of the Society, each adapting and evolving as best the Society has been able to afford with the technology and resource available at that time.

The most recent was the innovation of Basco Data Ltd in 2005 when three breed societies collaborated and benefited from a government grant.

During 2018 the Society commissioned a technical audit of the Basco database and as a result sourced and secured funding for a next generation database built specifically for the Society using cloudbased software solutions.

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Autumn 2019

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Society Matters

Texels influence animal scientists Society chief executive John Yates has recently completed a three-year term on the sheep commission of the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP), having been elected at the conference held in Belfast in 2016.

The role has helped raise the profile of UK sheep research among both the European and global animal science communities with more than 1500 delegates attending the five day annual conference from all sectors of the animal scientific community.

Attendance has also helped communicate the leading roll the Society has had in sheep research, in particular measuring for health traits and the application of genomics. “The Society’s R&D work is industry leading, not just in the UK, but across Europe and the Society’s involvement, supported by the Society research team, with EAAP has helped raise the profile of the Society among those with an interest in helping the global farming industry overcome many of the challenges it faces.

“Healthy livestock is the keystone of a sustainable and viable livestock industry.

The farming industry has worked hard in recent years to improve animal health and welfare, against a rising level of standards required by stakeholders, which include reducing antimicrobial use and improving consumer trust, all while driving productivity in an era of uncertainty,” he explains.

acceptability, animal health is critical, said Mr Yates.

“A healthy animal will produce a higher yield per unit of input, while also having increased overall productivity and lifespan, which for broadly the same reasons also results in a smaller carbon footprint than an unhealthy animal, as more is produced for less resource use.

“Increased productivity, environmental sustainability and societal benefits of healthy livestock will accommodate future food production, but they need to be boosted by having regulatory frameworks, benchmarks and incentives in place.”

The UK has one of the most advanced farming industries in the world, and there has been a marked reduction in antimicrobial use as a result of industry benchmarking. However, it is estimated that 20% of animal production worldwide is lost as a result of disease.

“To continue to meet the challenge of improving livestock health and productivity it is important that we emulate these benchmarks with animal health, disease prevention and sustainability at the heart.

“By putting best-in-class practice, such as high standards of biosecurity and stockmanship, and using vaccination to protect against future infection, at the top of the agenda, the rewards will be seen far beyond the farmgate,” he said.

However, in order to achieve long-term sustainability, including economic viability, environmental responsibility and social

“As industries move to an era with less direct support, it will become ever more critical for sheep farmers that

During late 2019 the Society will roll out its iTexel database to specifically serve the needs of the Society, its membership and their commercial customers. This new database has been built by Rezare, a New Zealand-based software developer with extensive experience in livestock data capture and storage.

• Significant level of maintenance • End of its life

Why replace BASCO? • Unable to deliver future TSS digital first services • Not designed for tablet/mobile use • Provided poor return on investment

What will members get?

• Modern, easy to use system • Optimised for tablet/mobile use • Improved data collection functionality • Reduce reliance on paper transactions • Online life cycle flock management – from birth notification to entering sales • More joined up communications due to compatibility with other software; for example accounting

John Yates has recently completed a threeyear term on the EAAP Sheep Commission.

the systems they choose assist them to become increasingly more efficient. This will require animals that need lower levels of intervention and that can thrive in challenging and changing environments.

“The R&D work the Texel Society has been engaged with over the past five years and continues to engage with going forward is designed to deliver exactly these aims, both for breeders and, importantly, for their commercial customers, the bedrock of the UK sheep industry.”

He added: “These are challenging and exciting times, as the Society invests in its new database platform and applies its research activity to benefit the membership and the flocks they manage.”

Why should I care?

• Simple to use • Online sales cataloguing supporting member entries • Scalable, adaptable and flexible to meet future needs • Cloud based • Improved efficiency for TSS – keeping development and running costs as low as possible • Compatible across modern devices

News texel.uk

Autumn 2019

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Society Matters

Quality flock data counts Members are reminded of the need to complete the annual flock census accurately and ensure their flock data is as up to date as possible.

This includes removing animals no longer in the flock for whatever reason, be they sold or dead, explains Society database manager Emily Goodman.

“Accurate data makes for easier database management, both for the Society and for individual members, and means any queries are much easier and quicker to resolve as there are fewer unnecessary records to scrutinise.”

She adds that having the database carrying large numbers of defunct records results in slower searches when users are looking for specific animal information.

“Searching the Society’s database for either a specific animal or a group of animals by either their pedigree or their estimated breeding values is significantly compromised when there are large numbers of out of date records on the database.

“It slows search times and means users are often presented with information for animals which are no longer alive.

For those users searching for animals by parentage or by estimated breeding values this can be hugely frustrating.”

Miss Goodman says completing the annual flock census, either on paper or online is a simple and easy way to ensure the Society’s database is accurate and up to date. “Accurate data makes database use easier for you and your potential customers,” she adds.

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48 John Street, Forfar, DD8 3EZ Tel: 01307 462651 Fax: 01307 464290 Email: forfar@lawrieandsymington.com LIVESTOCK ENQUIRIES: Daniel Johnston: 07889 862989

SHEEP ENQUIRIES: Archie Hamilton: 07917 624409 CATTLE ENQUIRIES: Primrose Beaton: 07717 503841 MACHINERY ENQUIRIES: Brian Ross: 07774 124361

News

10 Autumn 2019

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Society Matters

Zootechnical Certificates New guidance for pedigree certificates for imported or exported pedigree Texel sheep To support members that wish to export from and into the UK from the EU, the Society is officially recognised under the EU Animal Breeding Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012). This requires the Society to issue and receive EU Regulation approved zootechnical pedigree certificates for all imported and exported sheep in to and out of the British Texel Sheep Society’s flockbook.

These certificates are different to those issued by the Society and routinely used within the UK.

Society Matters

Society AGM This year’s Society AGM and Social Weekend will take place from Friday 8th November to Sunday 10th November in Northern Ireland and will incorporate the Northern Ireland Texel Breeders Club’s 40th anniversary celebration dinner dance.

visits on the Saturday, with the Society AGM taking place at 18.00 on Friday 8th November.

Based at the Dunadry Hotel, Co Antrim, the weekend will include an informal pub quiz on Friday evening, along with flock

Places are now limited, so book now to ensure availability. For more information see the Society’s website – texel.uk/agm.

Saturday evening will include a drinks reception and celebration dinner dance from 18.00.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the forty seventh Annual General Meeting of The British Texel Sheep Society Limited will be held at The Dunadry Hotel, 2 Islandreagh Drive, Dunadry, Co Antrim, BT41 2HA, on Friday 8th November 2019 at 18.00 1. To Receive apologies for absence

2. RESOLUTION: Approval of the minutes and Matters Arising of the AGM which took place on Saturday 17th November 2018, at North Lakes Hotel, Ullswater Road, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 8QT

To import sheep into the Society’s flockbook: Members will need to request the zootechnical certificate from the breeder on purchase and forward it on to the Society to allow for the official import into the Society flockbook. Zootechnical certificates will be required for any sheep born on or after 1st November 2018.

Any sheep imported from Ireland (Éire) must have a zootechnical certificate to be accepted into the British Texel Society flockbook.

3. To receive the Chairman’s report

To export sheep from the Society’s flockbook: If you wish to export a pedigree sheep, please contact the registrations department to obtain an official zootechnical certificate for that animal.

It is very likely, sheep without relevant certification will not be accepted into another flockbook, for example the Dutch Texel Society.

7. RESOLUTION: To confirm the appointment of Dafferns LLP as the Auditors for the Society and to authorise the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration.

For further guidance or to obtain a zootechnical certificate for a sheep you wish to export, please contact the registrations department by email: registrations@texel.co.uk or phone: 02476 696629 (extension 1).

4. To receive the Chief Executive’s report

5. SPECIAL RESOLUTION: To amend - Articles of Association - Article 41.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES The Board of Directors have revised Article 41 to ensure it is fit for purpose in supporting a fair disciplinary process. The amended article is available to view at texel. uk/agm The Board seek the memberships acceptance by way of ballot, either for or against the amended article.

6. RESOLUTION: To receive, consider and adopt the income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2019 and the balance sheet as at that date and; to receive, consider and adopt the reports of the Board of Directors and the Auditors for the year ended 31 March 2019.

8. Announcement of Board of Directors election results Area 1 - North of Scotland - Graeme Knox - unopposed Area 4 - South West of Scotland & Cumbria - Roy Campbell - unopposed Area 13 - Mid Wales & Borders - Steve Smith - unopposed 9. Any other business that has been approved by the Chairman for discussion.

By order of the Board John Yates MBA Chief Executive & Company Secretary 1st October 2019 The Mechanics Workshop, New Lanark, Lanark, ML11 9DB

Special Resolution to Article of Association - 41 - Disciplinary Procedures

Proposal - to amend/update text and process of the Disciplinary procedure to ensure it is fit for purpose for all members, the disciplinary committee and the governing body.

This includes referring to those involved in the Disciplinary process as he, she

or them/they (currently referred to as ‘him/he’).

Ensuring all involved in any individual disciplinary case/s are kept aware of the status of the case as stated in the amended process as detailed in the amended Article 41.

The complete Article 41 (as amended) - Disciplinary Procedures, is available on the Society website at texel.uk/agm

News texel.uk

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Society Matters

NSA events draw crowds The summer months saw the Society busy once again attending a number of technical events, including Welsh Sheep, North Sheep, Highland Sheep, South West Sheep and Sheep Northern Ireland.

At all of these events the Society’s presence was aimed at demonstrating the continued commercial success of the Texel breed across the UK in a wide range of environments and farming systems.

The first event of the summer, Welsh Sheep Event, Glynllifon, was a great success for the Society with visitors flocking to the Society’s stand at the event to learn the latest updates on the breed and see first-hand excellent examples of Texels being used for commercial success.

Another key draw to the Society’s stands across the summer was its popular guess the weight competitions, which drew more than 1500 entries from the five events.

This competition, kindly sponsored by Ritchie, required entrants to guess the weight of a variety of sheep at each event, with the winners from each event being placed in a prize draw at the end of the summer to win a Ritchie weigh crate.

At Welsh Sheep visitors had to guess the combined weight of four Texel sired lambs out of Suffolk x Lleyn ewes loaned

by William Williams, Gwynedd.

Society chief executive John Yates said Welsh Sheep had been a great success for both the Society and the Welsh sheep industry as a whole. “The Society stand was busy throughout the day and it was clear from many conversations how much of an important part the Texel breed is playing in the success of many Welsh sheep farming businesses.”

Next up was North Sheep, Rathmell, North Yorkshire, with the event proving to be another busy one for the Society.

The Society stand was thronged during the day as people flocked to the stand to take part in the Society’s summer competition, challenging event visitors to guess the weight of the ¾ Texel prime lambs on the stand, kindly loaned by Wannops Farm Ltd, Morecambe.

Mr Yates said North Sheep had once again proven a great success for the Texel breed, with the host farmers making good use of the breed in their breeding programme.

Meanwhile, NSA Highland Sheep, hosted by the Sutherland family, Sibmister, Caithness, was another great day for the Society, visitors able to see the hugely positive impact Texels are having on this progressive sheep and beef farming business in the far north of Scotland.

This included the sheep on the Society stand, with the Sutherland family kindly supplying two Texel cross ewes with Texel-sired lambs at foot. These sheep provided the basis for the Society’s guess the weight competition.

At NSA Sheep South West, Devon, the Society’s stand was a hive of activity throughout the day.

Once again, a major draw to the stand was the guess the weight competition which challenged event visitors to guess the weight of two Lleyn ewe hoggs with single lambs at foot.

The Society is grateful for the support and assistance of the South West Texel Breeders Club for running the stand and to Michelle Moore and Messrs F and H Chave for loaning sheep for the stand.

The final event of the summer season, NSA Sheep Northern Ireland, proved another excellent event for the Society, with a strong turnout of visitors ensuring the Society stand was kept busy throughout the day.

Following on from previous events this summer the stand once again hosted a qualifying competition for the Society’s prize draw to win a Ritchie weigh crate. The challenge this time around was to guess the weight of a shearling ram, Knap Bonanaza, kindly loaned for the event by Henry Gamble, Springwell.

A strong turn-out of members ensured stand visitors were able to have the questions and queries answered and the Society its grateful to the Northern Irish Club for their support in running the stand on the day.

News

12 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

SHROPSHIRE & BORDERS CLUB Evening Sale of In-Lamb Females

on Thursday 19th December 2019 at Welshpool Market Call Welshpool Livestock Sales

on 01938 553 438

texel.uk

Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Club host their female

Sale of Pedigree Texel Sheep at CCM SKIPTON Thursday 9th January 2020 Show and Sale of In-Lamb Ewes, Shearling Ewes and Gimmer Lambs OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEXEL SHEEP SOCIETY

Show starting at 4.00pm with prize money for all classes. Sale to commence straight after approx. 5.30pm To enter the sale please contact Craven Cattle Marts Ltd, Gargrave Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1UD

Telephone: 01756 792375 www.ccmauctions.com

Entries close 06.12.19

Autumn 2019

13

Society Matters

Texels dominate major commercial sales The two largest ram sales in the UK, Kelso Ram Sale and the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, have once again been dominated by Texels, as buyers showed confidence in the face of uncertainty and backed the breed’s reputation with strong bidding.

At the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, registered Texel rams accounted for 27% of the sale’s value, more than twice that achieved by any other breed and an increase from 25% in 2018 and 23.6% in 2017, demonstrating a clear trend in demand for Texels at the sale and a willingness of commercial buyers to invest in the breed for the long-term.

Kelso, meanwhile, saw registered Texels claim a 25.5% market share by value, with this figure also increasing on the previous two years.

At Builth it was clear from the ringside that commercial buyers were bidding strongly and, in some cases, competing with pedigree buyers for the sheep they wanted.

The average of £766.53 for registered shearlings was again the best achieved in the last three years, increasing by more than £80 on the 2018 sale.

The same was true at Kelso, with the registered shearlings sold there averaging out at £975.20, up more than £90 on 12 months earlier and showing a clear improvement on the two previous sales, despite lower headline prices being achieved.

Society chief executive John Yates said both sales had been massive votes of confidence from commercial buyers about the abilities of the breed to deliver added value for their flocks.

“The breed’s premium earning potential is well recognised by buyers at both of these major sales and buyers have clearly sought out Texels to give them some assurance of quality and premium prices in these uncertain times,” he added.

It is clear at both sales that buyers respect the assurance that pedigree offers, with registered rams earning a significant premium over those sold in unregistered rings.

At Kelso registered shearlings averaged more than £400 more than their unregistered counterparts, while at Builth the difference was in excess of £200.

“In both cases the premium earned by registered flocks has grown year on year as buyers seek out the quality and assurance offered by pedigree stock.

Furthermore, recorded rams were also in demand at both sales, with recorded stock among the top prices at both sales,” explained Mr Yates.

While there has been much made of the increasing appeal of crossbred and hybrid sheep in recent years, both numbers sold and clearance rates at these sales tell a different story. “These sale results clearly demonstrate that this hype is not being borne out in sales figures,” said Mr Yates.

When it comes to total Texel sales at both sales the demand for the breed clearly outstrips all others. At Kelso the breed represented 40% of the value of all rams sold when both registered and unregistered rams are included.

Meanwhile, at Builth Texels accounted for 41% of the sales value once the registered and non-registered rams are accounted, with more than £707,000 spent on Texels during the day.

News

14 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

Kelso Ram Sale Breed

Total sold (reg and non-reg, shearlings and lambs) 2018

Total Sold (reg and non-reg, shearlings and lambs) 2019

Sales value 2018

Sales value 2019

% of total sales value 2018

% of total sales value 2019

Ave price 2018

Ave price 2019

Texel

1615

1528

£1,198,700

£1,173,210

40%

40%

£742.23

£767.80

Suffolk

959

869

£584,560

£544,350

20%

19%

£609.55

£626.41

Charollais

188

147

£96,930

£68,500

3%

2.30%

£515.58

£465.98

Beltex

280

311

£199,780

£219,990

7%

7.50%

£713.50

£707.36

Crossbred

524

609

£290,910

£351,460

10%

12%

£555.17

£577.11

Registered Texel shearlings

844

766

£745,020

£747,000

25%

25.50%

£882.73

£975.20

Unregistered Texel shearlings

653

598

£377,710

£341,580

13%

11.67%

£578.42

£571.20

Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells Breed

Total sold (reg and non-reg, shearlings and lambs) 2018

Total Sold (reg and non-reg, shearlings and lambs) 2019

Sales value 2018

Sales Value 2019

% of total sales value 2018

% of total sales value 2019

Ave price 2018

Ave price 2019

Texel

1192

1102

£675,699.41

£707,708.72

37%

41%

£566.86

£642.20

Suffolk

367

347

£191,247

£225,183.03

10%

13%

£521.11

£648.94

Charollais

309

308

£170,121

£163,647.42

9%

9%

£550.53

£531.32

Beltex

33

43

£14,059.50

£14,463.70

0.76%

0.84%

£426.05

£336.37

Crossbred

445

361

£189,961.50

£184,874.42

10%

11%

£426.88

£512.12

Registered Texel Shearlings

675

618

£460,458

£474, 172.19

25%

27%

£682.16

£776.53

Unregistered Texel Shearlings

177

165

£88,210.50

£94,866.75

4.80%

5.50%

£498.36

£574.95

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Friday 20th December 2019 @ 6.30pm Hilltown Livestock Mart BT34 5YN Tel: 028406 30287 / 07707811818

Main consignors: Tullagh, Braehead, Springwell, Blackstown, Mullan

New consignor: Mullan Camikaze 48,000gns

Strathbogie

News texel.uk

Autumn 2019

15

Society Matters

Society delivers texelplus recording services

Taking the championship and second top price at Lanark was Garngour Craftsman with a texelplus index in the top 1% of the breed.

From the 1st April this year the Texel Sheep Society has been providing performance recording services to Texel breeders under the brand.

Alongside this, the National Terminal Sire (NTS) Evaluation was also rolled out in April by AHDB-Signet for all recording Terminal Sires. The NTS introduced monthly evaluations, changed how carcass traits were calculated, updated the index by rebasing to the average animal in 2010 and introduced multiple new traits created from CT Scanning.

These changes were necessary to make the evaluation service more reliable, accurate and robust for all users.

The Society’s breed development committee believes being involved with the National programme is best for Texel breeders and the wider sheep industry, allowing Texel data to be compared across the sheep sector.

NEW CT predicted traits have been introduced. These are predicted on a fixed weight rather than age.

Trait

Explanation

Eye-Muscle Area (EMA)

The total area of eye muscle.

Predicts the levels of intramuscular Intra-muscular Fat fat within the (IMF) loin, which can influence Meat Eating Quality.

Spine Traits (Thoracic spine length, thoracic vertebra number, lumbar spine length, lumbar vertebra number, total spine length, total vertebra number)

Six new spine traits are being introduced.

These are to assist in selecting animals which have increased amounts of saleable meat in hgh value areas.

In a change to previous years, evaluation reports have only been available online

this year through individual member’s BASCO pages. With the Society’s move to an ‘online first’ approach, and the introduction of new traits, members can now make their own flock performance reports.

The new Database (see page 8) will improve this function to access and design bespoke reports in a more userfriendly way for members to use in the future.

In addition, all communications to recorders this year have been via email.

The Society would like to remind members to check their emails to ensure they are kept up to date with deadlines and latest releases.

To aid members’ marketing at sales, National Sales performance charts were available to members online on the individual animal BASCO pages.

Many members used these previously as a marketing tool for their flocks and continued to do so this year. These will continue to be available as 75% of respondents to the 2018 Tell Texel Questionnaire prefered the graphical display when describing their animals.

The web pages on the Society’s website have been refreshed and these will be maintained as the basis for future communications to the membership and wider audiences. With the introduction of the new database, there will be further changes to the information published about individual animals.

These changes and the reasons for them will be presented on the web pages in the first instance to minimise confusion among breeders and commercial producers alike.

SALES The statistics from the 2019 National Sales have shown that demand for recorded stock has been strong, with stock gaining significant premiums and being in greater demand than non-recorded stock.

The season opening Scottish National Sale, Lanark, saw ram lambs achieve a 76% clearance rate compared to 61% for non-recorded lambs, the average for lambs settled at £3821.88, while the average for those non-recorded lambs was significantly lower at £3161.05.

Lambs in the top 5% of the breed for index achieved an impressive average of £7156.71.

Meanwhile, at the Welsh National shearling rams with data were among the pick of the trade, averaging out at £1512.87, more than twice the average of non-recorded shearlings which managed an average of £676.62. Clearance rates were also higher for shearlings with 80% of recorded rams finding new homes, compared with 67% of non-recorded rams.

News

16 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

And at the English National Sale ram lambs in the top 10% of sold to level at £1933.75, well up on the £1088.26 achieved across the sale.

Meat traits are now based on a fixed WEIGHT rather than age What does this mean?

Animals now have their muscle/ fat EBVs predicted for a fixed 40kg live carcass weight rather than at a fixed age. This removes double counting within the evaluation and has made the trait more accurate.

In addition, shearling ewes in the top 10% sold to level at £1708, more than £540 higher than the overall sale average.

Society chief executive John Yates said these figures clearly demonstrated the appetite among both pedigree and commercial buyers for recorded stock.

Why? This is to make the trait more commercially focussed as lambs are more commonly drawn for slaughter once they hit a specific weight and fatness cover, rather than at an age.

“This was also clearly demonstrated at Kelso Ram Sale where many of the top priced shearling rams were from recorded flocks, including the top three priced shearling rams and the top priced ram lamb.

What changes might breeders see?

This has caused some re-ranking within these meat traits – muscle depth, fat depth, CT lean weight, CT fat weight.You might find that animals which were previously high for carcass traits and growth rate, will have fallen on these EBV rankings. The previous evaluation method measured scan weight and carcass traits together – high growth rates encouraged high muscle depth because total muscle mass is greater in a bigger animal. Now they are measured separately, so animals are rewarded for having a lot of muscle relative to their weight (40kg). There will be more animals within the breed with a negative fat depth. This is because at a fixed weight of 40kg animals with superior muscling tend to be leaner. Therefore, some animals now appear negative within this trait.

“The Society continues to invest in its service to ensure breeders have access to the best possible data to aid their breeding and purchasing decisions and help drive their flocks forward,” he added.

For pedigree Texel breeders the service will continue to be as easy as:

1

Record birth weight and lambing ease along with your pedigree data at lambing

2 3

Record the weights of lambs at eight weeks of age Ultrasound scan and weigh lambs between 35-40kg CT Scan a selection of your lambs

Scottish National Sale recorded ram lambs averaged £3821.88 compared to non-recorded lambs averaging £3161.05 Welsh National sale recorded shearling rams averaged £1512.87 compared to non recorded shearling rams averaging £676.62

non-recorded

nonrecorded

The TEXEL TERMINAL INDEX and TRAITS have been REBASED

The terminal sire index has been reset to the average performance of the breed in 2010 rather than the base set in 1990.

Why? This is to make indexes more relevant and understandable for commercial producers as there has been significant genetic improvement within those 20 years.

What changes might breeders see?

You will find that all animals index will have ‘fallen’ in number.

With Top 10% animals having an index of 210 compared with the 361 it was before the change.

The TEXEL TERMINAL INDEX has been

UPDATED

The Texel Terminal Sire Index is now influenced by crossbred animal data that has been collected through the RamCompare project and from those breeders who have recorded data from Texel cross animals.

RamCompare introduces data into the evaluation from the abattoir such as carcass weight and carcass conformation. To date more than 40 Texel rams have been used within the Ramcompare project.

English National sale ram lambs in top 10% of index averaged £1933.75 compared to the whole sale average of £1088.26 English National Sale shearling ewes in top 10% of index averaged £1708, compared to whole sale average of £1171.52

whole sale

whole sale

News texel.uk

Autumn 2019

17

Society YDP coordinator Ailish Ross congratulates Tomos Glyn at WelshSheep

If you have any ideas to develop the YDP programme get in touch with your regional YDP Committee Member or email office@texel.co.uk

Joint winners at Highland Sheep were Amy Jo Reid and Farquhar Renwick

Society supports NSA competitions This summer’s NSA events have seen the Society sponsor a brace of Next Generation Young Shepherd Competitions as part of the Society’s Youth Development Programme.

At Welsh Sheep in May the competition was hard fought, drawing an entry of 20 competitors from across Wales Taking the top prize was the winner of the under 21 year-old section, Tomos Glyn Davies, Denbigh. Mr Davies now goes forward to represent the Welsh region at the National Finals at the Sheep Event, Malvern, in July 2020.

A

The second event at which the Society supported the Young Shepherd Competition was Highland Sheep, with another strong turnout of competitors. First place here was awarded in a two-way split between Amy Jo Reid and Farquhar Renwick.

E B D C

Area A - David McKerrow Jnr Nochnary/Kettle 07843 288 067 Area B - Kirree Kermode Orrisdale 01624 823 534 Area C - Johanna Smith Slapton 07521 143 505 Area D - Will Davis Usk Vale 07779 603 143 Area E - David Chestnutt Bushmills/Clougher 07843 152 743

Secretarial support and coordinator - Ailish Ross Society Office - ailish@texel.co.uk

Society YDP coordinator Ailish Ross said these competitions had once again shown the high standard of young people currently entering the industry. “It is great to see such skilled young people in the sheep sector and congratulations go to the winners of these competitions and also to all of those who competed.”

FIVE NATIONS

WEEKEND 2020 • Flock visits • Competitions • Social nights

Keep an eye on texel.uk/ydp for more information Youth Focus

18 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

Young handlers success at Royal Highland Texel youngsters were to the fore in the young handlers’ competitions at the Royal Highland Show.

In the sheep young handlers classes Katie Aiken of the Procters flock was once again crowned the champion young handler, while across in the show’s poultry section Angus McGowan of the Incheoch flock was the top young poultry person.

A new twist this year saw all the show’s young handlers champions from the Beef, Dairy, Sheep, Goat, Clydesdale and Poultry sections go head to head for a new championship sponsored by Iain and Patsy Hunter, Dalchirla.

Following on her rich run of form Katie Aiken triumphed here as well, pipping Angus McGowan to the overall championship.

Congratulations to them both.

Taking top spot in the YDP class at Lanark was James Hair with Drumbreddan Centre of Attention which went on to sell for 32,000gns.

Katie Aiken and Angus McGowan with sponsors Patsy and Ian Hunter at the Royal Highland Show.

Winning the junior young handlers class at the Royal Welsh was Katie Aiken.

Youngsters enjoy successful summer in 2019 This year’s young handler and YDP classes at summer events were once again well supported, with strong competition.

At the season opening Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland, the junior Texel young handlers class was won by Amber McNeilly of the Drumadowney flock, with her brother Sam in second spot and Thomas Hamill of the Ballynadrenta flock third.

In the senior class at the same show the winner was Katie Gilmour of the Milcomb flock, followed by Chelsea Best in second and Nathan Armstrong of the Derryhoney flock then won third prize.

Later in the summer the Royal Welsh Texel young handlers class saw a one-two for the Aiken family in the junior class. The red ticket here went to Katie Aiken pipping her brother, Robbie, to the top spot, both representing the Procters flock. Third place here was taken by Hari Jones, Llangwm, with Tomos Elis of Eglur in fourth and Scarlett Foster of Grove Farm in fifth place.

Leading the way in the senior class at the Royal Welsh was Sioned Thomas of the Onnen flock, with second going to Sophie Huntley of the Langford flock.

Best of the Royal Welsh senior young handlers was Sioned Thomas.

Then at the Scottish National Sale, Lanark, the YDP class was won by James Hair with Drumbreddan Centre of Attention, second here was Douglas Webster with Lower Reiss Cassius Clay. Taking third place was Robert Bennett with Plasucha Cheeky Charlie, while fourth here went to Cameron Gauld with Cairnam Cha Cha Slide and fifth was Daniel Jones with his lamb Aldan Cantona.

And at the Northern Irish National Sale the NITYBC ram lamb class was won by James Wilkinson with Ballygroogan Combine, with second spot taken by Jack Gault with Cherryvale Coburg, while third went to John Trimble with Curley Capri.

Youth Focus texel.uk

Autumn 2019

19

Awards recognise student excellence Each year the Society makes Educational Awards to students attaining the highest mark on a sheep production related Honours Research Project.

The awards of £250 are offered to four Universities one in each home nation. In Northern Ireland the award is made at Greenmount, in Scotland it is made to an SRUC student, while in Wales it is awarded at Aberystwyth University and in England the award is made to a student at Harper Adams.

The Society’s chairman Steve Richardson says the future of the sheep industry depends on knowledgeable, educated and inspired young people and the Society’s sponsorship of these awards is aimed at rewarding excellent students with the ability and passion to drive the sheep industry forward.

“These awards recognise the hard work and dedication shown by students in researching key areas in the UK sheep industry and are a key part of the Society’s promotional work to engage with the next generation of sheep producers and decision makers in the sheep sector.”

The 2019 winner of the award at SRUC was Rachel Gateley for her dissertation titled ‘The Use of Newly Available Technology to Investigate Differences in Feeding Behaviour Between Lleyn and Scottish Blackface Sheep’.

In Northern Ireland the award winner at Greenmount College was Ellen McLure with her report on Faecal Egg Counts in a study flock.

At Aberystwyth the 2019 winner was Leisa Tudor with her study titled ‘The Effect of MOET Procedure on the Natural Lambing Performance of Ewes’.

At Harper Adams the winner was George Ellis for his project titled ‘Identifying the optimal mature ewe body weight on a grass-based system.

To learn more about the winners please visit texel.uk/ydp

Youth Focus

20 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

Youth Focus texel.uk

Autumn 2019

21

Young Texel enthusiasts gather for Five Nations Weekend

M

ore than 50 young Texel enthusiasts from across the UK and Ireland gathered in Scotland in early June for the biennial Five Nations Event which included flock visits and competitions.

Coming together on Friday afternoon for a brace of flock visits to the Gray family’s Scrogtonhead flock and the Clark family’s Garngour, Teiglum and Clarks flocks, the youngsters were shown excellent stock at both farms, including progeny of a number of noted stock rams.

The weekend’s competitive element also kicked off during these visits with guess the weight competitions at both farms.

At Scrogtonhead the task was to guess the weight of two stock rams, Fine Valley You Star and Elmscleugh Yardsman, while at Garngour the competition was to guess the weight of stock ram Knock Yardsman.

This was followed on Saturday afternoon with a flock visit to the Auldhouseburn flock of the Blackwood family. This visit included lambs by the 125,000gns Lanark topper Rhaeadr Best of the Best and the 130,000gns Lanark leader Sportsmans A Star.

A stock judging competition also took place at Auldhouseburn, with Gordon Gray of the Ettrick flock acting as master judge.

Competitors had to place four classes; aged ewes, two pens of shearling ewes and ewe lambs.

The prize for winning the stock judging was two doses of Rhaeadr Best of the Best semen. With this semen not being made available on the open market, this was once in a lifetime opportunity for the young breeders weekend.

In addition the attendees were also challenged to name previous Scottish National Sale top priced animals from photgraphs on display.

Texel Society YDP coordinator Ailish Ross said both of Friday’s farm visits were a great way to start the weekend, with a superb display of stock at both flocks and exceptional hospitality from both families too. Friday evening saw the youngsters stay at the Clark family’s farm for an evening social event.

Then on Saturday the fun continued at Craig Wilson Ltd’s Ayr market with a Highland Games event including welly wanging, toss the caber and tug of war as well as a relay race. This competition was separate from the remainder of the weekend’s events, with a combined Irish team taking first spot with 10,950 points and England second with 10,075, Wales were third 9525 and Scotland fourth on a score of 9200.

Stockjudging at Auldhouseburn

Youth Focus

22 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

More than 50 young Texel enthusiasts enjoyed the weekend’s activities.

It was tight at the top, but Ryan Greene, Southern Ireland, came out on top with 190 points with James McKerrow second and David McKerrow third. There was an open class as well as a Five Nations class, this was won by Kerr Jarvie, of the Duncryne flock.

Miss Ross said the weekend had been a huge success, allowing young Texel enthusiasts to come together in an informal, fun environment. “This event was a great chance for those attending to meet up and network and make new contacts among fellow enthusiasts for the Texel enthusiasts.

The Drumgooland Shield presentation took place at Auldhouseburn with the points calculated over all the competitions on the weekend.

“Without a doubt everyone attending will have gone away with new friendships and knowledge and the Society’s thanks go to all the families which welcomed the attendees to their farms over the weekend and of course to the weekend’s sponsors, including Tom Stevenson, Lawrie and Symington, Farmgene and Galloway and MacLeod.

Winning Team: Scotland A: David McKerrow – Nochnary, James McKerrow – Nochnary, Cameron Gauld – Cairnam, Thomas Muirhead – Orchilmore 2nd Place: Wales B: Charlotte Watkins – Millend, Megan Watkins – Millend, Owen Watkins – Caenantmelyn, Robert Bennett – Plasucha, Dafydd Evans – Plasucha 3rd Place: England B: Henry Summerhayes – Holywell, James Nairey – Meinspride, George Plant – Bromley, Paul Bowden – Treable, Ben Roberts – Poundapitt

Youth Focus texel.uk

Autumn 2019

23

R&D highlights Texel benefits

T

he Society’s ongoing research and development projects continue to provide a range of interesting information which is helping drive breed development policy and the development of unique breeding values for the Texel breed.

VIA Project | Developing video image analysis procedures in a large scale meat processing plant. Creation of novel breeding values to support the TexelPlus genetic improvement programme.

The preliminary analyses of the data from the first year of the VIA project have been completed by SRUC and will continue as the project progresses. Almost 1500 lambs were produced by 42 performance-recorded pedigree Texel sires, across four commercial flocks and followed to slaughter. More than 96 % of lambs graded as E, U and R, with one in four lambs produced realising top-spec (see Table 1).

Table 1. Percentages of Texel-cross lamb carcass grades achieved in year one of the VIA project.

VIA Yr1 %

1

2

3L

3H

4L

4H

5

E

0.0

0.1

0.9

1.3

0.2

0.0

0.0

2.5

U

0.0

5.6

18.9

12.4

1.8

0.1

0.0

38.8

R

0.3

14.3

32.6

7.3

0.1

0.1

0.0

54.7

O

0.2

2.4

1.2

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

3.9

P

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Total

0.5

22.5

53.6

21.2

2.1

0.1

0.0

100.0

Top-spec In-spec Out-of-spec

Total

The full analysis cannot be finalised until the second year of data collection is completed in January 2020. However, the initial analyses of the first year’s data collection indicate that breeding values for Texel sires to produce crossbred lambs that perform well in the abattoir are feasible.

Whole lamb carcass muscle and fat traits have a preliminary heritability of about 25%.

This compares with heritability values of 29% for muscle depth and 32% for CT fat content, explains the Society’s R&D manager Ed Smith.

The second year of lamb production is well underway with approximately 1600 lambs on the ground. To date almost 500 lambs have been killed and have achieved similar grades to last year. This demonstrates the consistent ability of the Texel to perform in different production years and systems.

“We are now beginning to develop the exploitation model of this research as the project transitions into a Society-funded initiative as part of its breeding programme.

“This project has also supported the Society’s focus on measuring health traits, for both footrot and mastitis research.

These hard-to-measure phenotypes have been collected from more than 4500 ewes in the flocks participating in the Society’s Pedigree Phenotype Farm Initiative. This has supported the creation of the first commercial genomic reference population for a UK pedigree sheep population.”

More than 95% Texel sired lambs in the Society’s R&D projects have graded as E, U and R grades.

Technical Corner

24 Autumn 2019

texel.uk

Genomic breeding values for both footrot and mastitis for the flocks involved are expected to pave the way for routine genomic evaluations from as early as 2020.

The VIA project has been funded in part by Innovate UK and delivered through a collaboration between the Society, SRUC and ABP. Engagement with industry The Society continues to engage with the wider industry through a range of meetings, workshops and events.

Society R&D manager Ed Smith attended the 70th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) to showcase how the efforts of the Society and its members are improving the genetics and genomics of the Texel breed.

SRUC’s Nicola Lambe presented work that the Society has contributed to over the past few years that supports improving links and feedback in the UK lamb supply chain: aiming for a tighter integrated supply chain.

There were presentations describing technologies to reduce methane emissions from New Zealand sheep, an area the Society is actively engaging in, with further updates expected in the Spring Bulletin on the GrassToGas research project.

Looking more widely, studies investigating bacterial populations in the rumen (mainly of dairy cows) and how this might influence feed conversion and sustainable intensification are gathering pace, with some authors suggesting that one day animal selection could be driven by their rumen genome rather than the animal genome.

Dr Smith also attended the one-day One Health conference on the 6th September at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester.

The aim of One Health is to improve the health and well-being of all, through reducing risks and effects of events that occur in

humans, animals and their environments; recognising that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected.

There were initially presentations on the facilities available at the College and how animal health influences One Health.

Duncan Forbes of Agri-epi and Kingshay Farming gave an interesting presentation on how technology can used on-farm; outlining the OPTIBEEF project that aims to have full animal monitoring on-farm in the future using 3D cameras for the prediction of growth and fat deposition.

There was also an update on Innovate UK funding opportunities, including information on the next round of the Transforming Food Production challenge.

Technical Corner texel.uk

Autumn 2019

25

CT scanning to predict lambing difficulty

Data from historic CT scans has been used to assess the viability of lambing ease predictions.

S

election for lambing ease in Texels could take a significant step forward following recent Scottish Government funded research at SRUC. This work has involved taking additional measurements from archived CT images, allowing a further set of novel traits to be investigated for the first time, relating to the hip, shoulder and pelvis of Texel animals.

The relationship between these traits and dystocia (lambing difficulty) is of particular interest.

An initial data set of 437 animals was selected from Texel ram lambs that had been CT scanned between 2000 and 2015, for which lambing ease records of relatives were available.

The new traits investigated included: hip width; shoulder width; pelvic opening width, height and area; and pelvic angle (the angle of the pelvis relative to the table, as they lay on their back for CT scanning).

Preliminary results indicate that these traits are under genetic control, with heritabilities ranging from 0.16 to 0.65, with the highest heritability estimates associated with pelvic area, angle and width (all of these are more than 50% heritable), suggesting substantial scope for genetic selection.

Genetic relationships were investigated between these CT predictors measured on ram lambs and recorded lambing ease scores – either at the level of the lamb (as it was born), or the ewe (as she lambed).

Lambs were born more easily when they had CT-scanned relatives with low hip and shoulder widths (strongest genetic correlations). However, ewes had less lambing difficulties when

their male relatives were measured as having higher pelvic angles and greater pelvic widths during CT scanning, with these being the strongest genetic correlations with ewe lambing ease.

These preliminary results suggest that these traits deserve further investigation with a larger data set and more work is planned by the SRUC research team in this area.

It is important for the future development of these breeding values that breeders continue to record lambing ease data as part of their standard recording process.

This can be done by simply weighing your lambs at birth and giving them a lambing ease score. Birth weights should be recorded within 48 hours of birth to the nearest 0.1kg.

The easiest method of weighing lambs is to place them in a bucket hung from a spring balance. The lambing ease score is subjective by the breeder.

It should be remembered that scoring all lambing events as a 1 (no assistance) will not identify any genetic differences in ease of lambing and does not lead to accurate and positive ease of lambing EBVs going forward.

Ongoing study on Laryngeal Chondritis

T

he Society has developed a novel collaboration with SRUC that aims to give greater insights into the anatomy of the Texel larynx. A recently published report has demonstrated that Texels have an altered larynx compared to Blue-faced Leicester sheep. Building on this knowledge, the Society’s pilot study aims to investigate any detectable laryngeal variation within the Texel breed.

In the long-term, this work could reveal new ways to identify animals that may be susceptible to diseases such as laryngeal chondritis, an inflammation of the larynx that Texel-type breeds are known to be predisposed to.

In this first-year pilot study, extra information has been collected from animals CT scanned in Edinburgh. The Society would like to work with breeders to keep track of the scanned

animals throughout their lifetime and be made aware of any health issues they may experience.

In addition, the Society maintains a database of animals affected by laryngeal chondritis to support research into the topic. If you have any affected animals, please get in touch with the Society’s R&D manager Ed Smith at the Society offices. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Technical Corner

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Gloucester & Border Counties Club Annual “Christmas Present” In-Lamb Gimmer, Ewe Lamb Show & Sale To include a Virtual Disperal of the ATOK flock for D.R.Jones

Saturday 7th December 2019 at Worcester Market

Tel: McCartneys on

01905 769770

texel.uk

Autumn 2019

27

Barrister takes judge’s nod at Balmoral

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he opening major show of the summer season, Northern Ireland’s Royal Ulster Show – Balmoral – saw Mark Patterson’s Alderview flock claim its first Balmoral championship, a year after talking the reserve champion title.

Notably it was the same animal which returned to clinch the top ticket for Mr Patterson, Alderview Barrister. This shearling ram is by Arkle Awesome and out of a Halbeath dam by Hartside Vault, with this ewe being maternal sister to Halbeath VIP and goes back to a 6200gns Loosebeare dam.

Judge Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, said his champion had stood out in his class and was a magnificent example of the breed.

Taking the reserve overall championship was the winner of the gimmer class from James Herdman’s Templepark flock, HKP1801487. She’s a daughter of 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun and is out of a Knock dam by the 20,000gns Sportsmans Supreme.

Reserve male champion behind the overall champion was another from the Alderview flock, this time ram lamb PTT1900251. In reserve spot in the female section was James Herdman with a ewe lamb, HPK1901707.

In the day’s opening class of aged tups the winner was Henry Gamble’s Drumderg Aurelius, a Drumderg Won and Only son out of a dam by Teiglum Tornado.

Then leading the aged ewe class was Stephen McCollam with a hombred ewe, MSY1601045, a Sportsmans Warrior II daughter out of a Strathbogie dam by Glenside Razzle Dazzle.

And top spot in the class for a pair of shearling ewes went to C and M Mullan with a brace from the Blue Gates flock.

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Results Aged Tup 1 – Henry Gamble’s Drumderg Aurelius 2 – Gareth Tumelty’s Crailloch Your The Boy

Aged ram winner was Drumderg Aurelius from Henry Gamble

Champion was Alderview Barrister from Mark Patterson

The McCollam family won the aged ewe class

Shearling ewe leader was HKP1801487 from James Herdman

Shearling Rams 1 – Mark Patterson’s Alderview Barrister 2 – C and M Mullan’s Blue Gates Barracuda 3 – S and J McCollam’s Carmavy Bomber 4 – J, R and G Foster’s Springhill Billyboy 5 – Henry Gamble’s Springwell Bestie Ram Lambs 1 – Mark Patterson’s PTT1900251 2 – James Herdman’s HKP1901706 3 – J Wilson and J Wilson Moses’ WWB1901361 4 – Stephen McNeilly’s SPF1900313 5 – Peter Boyd’s XPB1901196 Aged Ewes 1 – S and J McCollam’s MSY1601045 2 – Alistair Gault’s GCN1401259 3 – J Trimble’s KMR1600572 4 – Henry Gamble’s GRS1602005 5 – Gareth Tumelty’s TGA1500533

First place ram lamb from Mark Patterson

First prize ewe lamb and reserve female champion from James Herdman

Shearling Ewes 1 – James Herdman’s HKP1801487 2 – C and M Mullan’s MUC1800510 3 – Mark Patterson’s PTT180090 4 – C and M Mullan’s MUC1800514 5 – Mark Priestley’s GAF1802247 Pair of Shearling Ewes 1 – C and M Mullan’s MUC1800510 & MUC1800514 2 – P Donelly’s DNN1801361 & DNN1801359 3 – Alistair Gault’s GAF1802203 & GAF1802268 4 – James Herdman’s HKP1801487 & HKP1801302 5 – S and J McCollam’s MSY1801306 & MSY1801252 Ewe Lambs 1 – James Herdman’s HKP1901707 2 – Mark Patterson’s PTT1900263 3 – Alistair Gault’s GAF1902452 4 – S McNeilly’s SPF1900358 5 – James Wilson and Jack Wilson Moses’ WWB1901356 Champion Mark Patterson’s Alderview Barrister Reserve champion James Herdman’s HKP1801487 Reserve male champion Mark Patterson’s PTT1900251 Reserve female champion James Herdman’s HKP1901707

Shows texel.uk

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Mullan Amigo daughter leads at Bath and West T

his year’s Southern Feature Show at the Royal Bath and West Show, Shepton Mallet, saw big classes in front of Society chairman Steve Richardson, with the breed’s popularity in the south and south west evident in the strength seen in many classes.

Leading the way in the final championship line-up was well travelled exhibitor David Bradley-Farmer, Dumfries, with his shearling ewe, CKP1802809, a gimmer bred in Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock and sired by Mullan Amigo and out of a Mullan Playboy daughter.

The aged ewe class was won by Ian and Fiona Andrews’ Cattistock flock with AIC1600183, a Kauri Vesuvius daughter out of a Beautry-bred dam.

In the ewe lambs the winner was a lamb from Fordwell Farm Partners, with this one, CJF1900905, being by Maineview Brody and out of an Allanfauld Warlord-sired dam.

Winning both the group of three class and the pairs class was David Bradley-Farmer.

This one had stood first in the gimmer class before being female champion and then overall champion under Mr Richardson, with the judge describing her as an exceptionally correct, stylish gimmer with excellent fleshing throughout her top and ends.

“She was a stand out in the class and in the championship.”

She then went on to stand reserve interbreed champion on the second day of the show under Bleu Du Maine breeder Stuart Goldie, Thirsk,Yorkshire.

Reserve championship honours in the breed classes went to the reserve female champion and second prize gimmer from Paul and Christine Tippett’s Wilodge flock. This was TIP1801846, a Deveronvale Ace of Diamonds daughter out of a homebred dam by Strathbogie Terminator.

Championship honours fell to David-Bradley Farmer’s gimmer

Taking the male championship was the winner of the shearling ram class from Fordwell Farm Partners, Maineview Brody, a Teiglum Younggun son out of a dam by Holylee Volcano.

And reserve spot here went to Georgie Helyer with the winner of the ram lamb class, HML1900701, a Strathbogie Wembley son.

In the aged rams, the winner was Millar’s Action Replay from Fordwell Farm Partners and Ian and Fiona Andrews. This son of Cowal Yorkshire Lad is out of a dam by Knap Vital Spark.

Leading the aged tups was Millar’s Action Replay

Shows

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Results Aged Tup 1 – Fordwell Farm Partners and Cattistock Texels’ Millar’s Action Replay 2 – Georgie Helyer’s Milnbank Africa 3 – Lisette Smith’s Nochnary Amigo 4 – Trevor Prew’s Ettrick Amaretto 5 – Mark and Alice Blakeney’s Cranleigh Ace Shearling Rams 1 – Fordwell Farm Partners’ Maineview Brody 2 – Georgie Helyer’s Langford Boa 3 – David Bradley Farmer’s Cairnam Bootstrap Bill 4 – Lisette Smith’s Partridge Nest Buzzing 5 – Anthony Carter’s Millcroft Bison Ram Lambs 1 – Georgie Helyer’s HML1900701 2 – Fordwell Farm Partners’ CJF1900914 3 –Paul and Christine Tippett’s TIP1902449 4 – Mark and Alice Blakeney’s BZZ1904570 5 – Fordwell Farm Partners’ CJF1900914 First place group of three from David Bradley-Farmer

Aged Ewes 1 – Ian and Fiona Andrews’ AIC1600183 2 – Lisette Smith’s MJH185950 3 – Annabel Hole’s ECE1702588 4 – Hannah Edmunds’ KMH1500296 5 – Lisette Smith’s KDS1700349

First prize ewe lamb from Fordwell Farm Partners

Reserve female champion and reserve overall was Paul and Christine Tippett’s gimmer

Topping the ram lambs was Georgie Helyer

Aged ewe class winner was Ian and Fiona Andrews’ ewe

Shearling Ewes 1 – David Bradley-Farmer’s CKP1802809 2 – Paul and Christine Tippett’s TIP1801846 3 – David Bradley-Farmer’s CKP1802788 4 – Georgie Helyer’s HML1800631 5 – David Bradley-Farmer’s CKP1802720 Ewe Lambs 1 – Fordwell Farm Partners’ CJF1900905 2 – Fordwell Farm Partners CJF1900918 3 – Paul and Christine Tippett’s TIP1902429 4 – Mark and Alice Blakeney’s BZZ1904557 5 – Mark and Alice Blakeney’s BZZ1904572 Champion David Bradley Farmer’s shearling ewe CKP1802809 Reserve champion Paul and Christine Tippett’s shearling ewe TIP1801846 Male champion Fordwell Farm Partners’ shearling ram Maineview Brody

Topping the shearling rams was Maineview Brody

First prize pair from David Bradley-Farmer

Reserve male champion Georgie Helyer’s ram lamb HML1900701

Shows texel.uk

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Douganhill gimmer delights at Royal Highland

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gimmer from the Douganhill flock took top honours in the sheep lines at the Royal Highland Show, clinching the breed championship under judge Roger Strawbridge before going on to be tapped out as interbreed champion under Archie MacGregor on the third day of the show.

Taking reserve spot in both the female and overall championship was the winner of the aged ewe class, the one-crop ewe BFE1707032, a Plasucha ewe from the Alford family, Devon. This one is by Eden Valley Wizz Kid and out of a dam by Garngour Upperclass. She was purchased at Lanark last year for 18,000gns.

Topping the section for Douganhill Farms under the stewardship of Brian MacTaggart and family, was GCK1811101, a daughter of the 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun out of a dam by Cairnam Tavish.

The Alford’s continued their winning ways in the male championship, taking the top ticket with three-shear ram Midlock Youre The One, a Midlock Wilson son out of a dam by Douganhill Monarch and bought in partnership with Jonathan Watson’s Brijon flock and John Elliot Jnr’s Roxburgh flock at Kelso as a shearling in September 2017.

Commenting on his interbreed champion, Mr MacGregor said she was a very well balanced gimmer which would make a fantastic ewe.

The gimmer was on her first outing this summer having stood first as a ewe lamb last year at Dumfries Show and marked an exceptional return to the Highland for the Douganhill flock after an absence of 12 years.

Roger Strawbridge had the task of judging this year’s classes

Reserve male champion was the winner of the shearling ram class from the Knox family, Strawfrank Balvenie, a Cambwell Aristocrat son out of a dam by Strathbogie Usher. This shearling was bought for 5000gns at Kelso last September.

In the open ram lamb class the winner was John Connell’s lamb CLJ1901982, a Milnbank Bacardi son out of a Milnbank Wesleysired dam.

Then in the performance recorded ram lambs the winner was Gordon Gray’s GGH1909204. This lamb is by the £29,000 2018 Kelso topper Garngour Awesome and out of a dam by Clinterty You Cracker which herself stood third in the aged ewe class later in the day.

Winning the ewe lamb class was the Knox family with their lamb KWJ1901784, a daughter of the 8000gns 2018-purchase Hexel Born To Be Wild and out of a dam by Garngour Vintage.

Meanwhile, the breed also enjoyed success in the commercial classes, with a Texel cross ewe with Texel sired lambs at foot taking the reserve championship for the Sutherland family. This ewe and lamb entry had previously featured on the Society’s stand at NSA Highland Sheep which was hosted by the Sutherlands in the week before the show. The family also picked up a red ticket with a Texel cross ewe lamb in the same section.

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Class Results Aged Rams 1 – Mr and Mrs M Alford’s Midlock Youre The One Shearling Rams 1 – W J Knox’s Strawfrank Balvenie 2 – John Connell’s Milnbank Bacardi 3 – Ian Murray’s MFZ1801910 4 – Clark Farms’ Knock Bantastic 5 – Ian Murray’s MFZ1801916 Ram Lambs 1 – John Connell’s CLJ1901982 2 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1909056 3 – James Innes’ IJS1903460 4 – W J Knox’s KWJ1901809 5 – Charlotte and James Nicolson’s NIC19012261 Recorded Ram Lambs 1 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1909204 2 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1909151 3 – David McKerrow’s DMN1902241 4 – Alan Campbell’s CNK1901339 5 – W J Knox’s KWJ1901810 Aged Ewes 1 – Mr and Mrs M Alford’s BFE1707032 2 – Procters Farm’s HBR1600780 3 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1707106 4 – W J Knox’s KWJ1701313 5 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1606104 Champion and interbreed champion was Douganill Farm’s gimmer

Top placed ewe lamb from the Knox family

Reserve champion from the Alford family

Shearling Ewes 1 – Douganhill Farm’s GCK1811101 2 – Robbie Wilson’s LYM1803016 3 – Procters Farm’s PFD1802456 4 – John Forsyth’s FPG1801621 5 – Robert Bennett’s BFE1808092 Ewe Lambs 1 – W J Knox’s KWJ1901784 2 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903114 3 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1909006 4 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903105 5 – W J Knox’s KWJ1901788 Male Champion Mr and Mrs M Alford’s Midlock Youre The One Reserve Male Champion W J Knox’s Strawfrank Balvenie

Male champion was Midlock Youre The One

Leading the ram lambs was John Connell

Female champion Douganhill Farm’s GCK1811101 Reserve female champion Mr and Mrs M Alford’s BFE1707032 Overall champion Douganhill Farm’s GCK1811101

The Knox family led the shearling ram class

Topping the recorded lambs was Gordon Gray

Reserve overall champion Mr and Mrs M Alford’s BFE1707032

Shows texel.uk

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Procters ewe lamb takes Great Yorkshire championship and reserve interbreed title

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t was Lancashire’s day in the Texel judging at the Great Yorkshire Show with Procters Farm taking the championship title back across the county line to the Red Rose county.

The champion, a ewe lamb, PFD1903114, brought out by Procters Farm flock manager Jeff Aiken and wife, Jennifer, had previously won her class and been tapped out as female champion before going on to scoop the overall title.

Sired by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman, she is out of a dam by the 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun, making her a powerful combination of recent high-priced genetics.

She followed up success in the breed classes by taking the terminal sire championship and reserve overall interbreed championship under Roderick Runciman on the second day of the show.

Adding further to the spoils, the champion teamed up with male champion, R and R Bradley’s ram lamb, BRF1900428, to take the interbreed pairs championship title.

Standing reserve female and reserve overall champion was the winner of the gimmer classs, Clark Farms’ CFT1805693, a Knock Yardsman daughter out of a dam by Teiglum Windfall, making her a full sister to Younggun.

In the male classes the championship fell to a ram lamb from R and R Bradley, BRF1900428, from the Far Hey flock. Sired by

Auldhouseburn Bolt, he is out of a dam by Halbeath VIP. Reserve male champion was the second prize tup lamb from the same class from Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell. This was CKC1911022, another by an Auldhouseburn sire, this time the 75,000gns Auldhouseburn Boss. She is out of a Knap-bred dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan.

In the opening class of the day, the aged rams, the winner was Knock Yankee from Messrs Woof, Wilson, McKerrow, Draper, Pierce, Bennett and Pew. He is by Tophill Wall St and out of a Cambwell Trademark daughter.

Then in the exhibitor bred shearling rams the winner was Peter Longdin with LJW1801036, a son of Wellingley Whiskey Galore and out of a dam by Newbie Mains Winston.

The open shearling ram class was then won by Steve Richardson with Kiltariff Barrett, a Sportsmans Yogi Bear son out of a dam by Cowal Viceroy.

Leading the way in the performance recorded ram lamb class was Richard Wilson with WEV1901329, an Auldhouseburn Bolt son out of a dam by Eden Valley Warrior King.

And in the aged ewes the winner was Gordon Gray’s ewe GGH1707106, a Clinterty You Cracker daughter out of a Plasucha Tiger daughter. Peter Woof then won the group of three class.

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First place old ram was Knock Yankee

Topping the aged ewes was Gordon Gray

Homebred shearling ram winner from Peter Longdin

Male champion was the Bradley family’s ram lamb

Reserve male champion from the Campbell family

Reserve overall champion and gimmer leader from the Clarks

The open shearling ram leader from Steve Richardson

Richard Wilson won the recorded ram lamb class.

Texel champion and reserve interbreed champion from Procters Farm

Class Results Aged Rams 1 – Messrs Woof, Wilson, McKerrow, Draper, Pierce, Bennett and Pew’s Knock Yankee.

2 – M R Ireland’s Midlock Angus 3 – T J Prew’s Ettrick Amaretto Shearling Rams 1 – Peter Longdin’s LJW1801036 2 – R Wilson’s Eden Valley Bad Ass 3 – Messrs Orr’s Halbeath BMX 4 – Messrs Orr’s ONH1800628 5 – Procters Farm’s THF1802586

Recorded Ram Lambs 1 – R Wilson’s WEV1901329 2 – D McKerrow’s DMN1902241 3 – G Gray’s GGH1909005 4 – T Nesbitt and Son’s NTA1901542 5 – K, A and R Campbell’s CKC1911014

Group of Three 1 – P K Woof 2 – K, A and R Campbell 3 – G Gray 4 – D J MacGregor 5 – R Wilson

Aged Ewes 1 – G Gray’s GGH1707106 2 – Procters Farm’s HBR1600780 3 – R Wilson’s WEV1600606 4 – G Gray’s GGH1707160 5 –D J MacGregor’s XMM1610709

Male Champion R and R Bradley’s BRF1900428

Open Shearling Rams 1 – S Richardson’s Kiltariff Barret 2 – Dr S Symes’ Fachell Buffalo Bill 3 – J V Perrings Milnbank Banjo 4 – B W and D J Glaves’ CNK1800808 5 – G L Riby and Son’s Stonehills Bulmer

Shearling Ewes 1 – Clark Farms’ CFT1805693 2 – R and R Bradley’s BRF1800376 3 – Procters Farm’s PFD1802456 4 – R and R Bradley’s BYK1800276 5 – K, A and R Campbell’s CKC1809808

Ram Lambs 1 – R and R Bradley’s BRF1900428 2 – K, A and R Campbell’s CKC1911022 3 – R and R Bradley’s BYK1900310 4 – R Wilson’s WEV1901305 5 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903196

Ewe Lambs 1 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903114 2 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903105 3 – R Wilson’s WEV1901309 4 – K, A and R Campbell’s CKC1911030 5 – Clark Farms’ CFT1906365

Reserve Male Champion K, A and R Campbell’s CKC1911022 Female champion Procters Farm’s PFD1903114 Reserve female champion Clark Farms’ CFT1805693 Overall champion Procters Farm’s PFD1903114 Reserve overall champion Clark Farms’ CFT1805693

Shows texel.uk

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Interbreed honours for Procters at Royal Welsh

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t was a day to remember for the Procters flock at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells, when it took both the overall championship and reserve overall championship with ewe lambs by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman.

The overall champion then went to take the interbreed championship on the third day of the show under Robbie Wilson of the Milnbank flock.

Topping off the list of achievements was a ram lamb, again by Batman, which took the male championship under judge Richard Henderson. Brought out by the Aiken family, flock manager Jeff, his wife, Jennifer, daughter, Katie, and son, Robbie, the team also picked up second spot in the aged ewe class as well as taking top spot in the group of three class.

Mr Henderson said his champion, PFD1903114, was an outstanding lamb with great fleshing qualities throughout her top and backend, with that added show ring sparkle and exceptional correctness. “She’s just a standout lamb and a truly modern Texel female.”

This lamb had been breed champion and reserve interbreed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier in July. Reserve champion was the reserve female champion and second prize ewe lamb, PFD1903105, again by Batman, she is also out of a Teiglum Younggun daughter which was second at the Royal Welsh as a gimmer in 2018.

Male champion was Procters Class Act. He again combines Batman breeding with a Younggun dam and was praised by Mr Henderson for his structure and fleshing. “Again he has that bit of sparkle you’re looking for in a show winner,” he added.

Having come through from a tough fought class Mr Henderson stuck with the ram lambs for his reserve male champion,

awarding this to Ben Lowe’s lamb from the Rue Wood flock, Rue Wood Cherokee. He’s by Mullan Bedazzled and out of an Anglezarke Uno-sired dam.

In the day’s opening class, the aged tups, the winner was Millar’s Action Replay from Fordwell Farm Partners and Ian and Fiona Andrews, with this one being by Cowal Yorkshireman and out of a dam by Knap Vital Spark.

Leading the shearling rams was Wilodge Bravo from the Reed family and Claybury Texels. Sired by Baltier Thunderbird, he is out of a Beautry-bred dam by Loosebeare Voldemort and was bought at the Welsh National Sale last year.

Taking top honours in the aged ewes was Robert Bennett with his ewe BFE1707087, an Eden Valley Wizz Kid daughter out of a dam by Connachan Sharky. Then in the gimmers the leader was Robert Bennett again with BFE1808013, a daughter of the homebred Plasucha All Star out of a Wizz Kid daughter.

Richard Henderson said the quality throughout his morning’s judging had been superb and a credit to all the exhibitors. “It was a great show of sheep, with some really strong classes, particularly in the lamb classes which were exceptional in both Shows

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Results

their size and their quality. The breeders are to be congratulated on putting forward such a strong display of Texels for me to judge. I thank them all for the effort they have put in to bring their sheep forward.”

Aged Tup 1 – Fordwell Farm Partners and Ian and Fiona Andrews’ Millar’s Action Replay 2 – Iolo Prys Jones’ Foreman Hill Apache 3 – H G and I E Williams Strawfrank Yeehaa 4 – Georgina Helyer’s Milnbank Africa Shearling Rams 1 – W O J Reed and Claybury Texels’ Wilodge Bravo 2 – Fordwell Farm Partners’ Maineview Brody 3 – Ian and Fiona Andrews’ Usk Vale Bonkers Bill 4 – Tyngwndwn Texels’ Arkle Bermuda 5 – G and K Williams’ Smithy Ben

Breed and interbreed champion from Procters Farm

Ram Lambs 1 – Procters Farm’s Procters Class Act 2 – Ben Lowe’s Rue Wood Cherokee 3 – James Ruggeri’s RUJ1901474 4 – Iolo Prys Jones’ JLI1901673 5 – David and Joe Lewis’ LWD1900452 Aged Ewes 1 – Robert Bennett’s BFE1707087 2 – Procters Farm’s PFD1701975 3 – Fordwell Farm Partners GGH1707049 4 – Tyngwndwn Texels’ CKP1600865 5 – Ian and Fiona Andrews’ AIC1600183

Top placed shearling ram was Wilodge Bravo

Male champion from Procters Farm

Millar’s Action Replay led the aged rams

Robert Bennett’s first prize aged ewe

Shearling Ewes 1 – Robert Bennett’s BFE1808013 2 – H G and I E Williams’ WHA1801501 3 – James Ruggeri’s RUJ1801013 4 – Iolo Prys Jones’ JLI1802417 5 – Robert Pierce’s PRE1801119 Ewe Lambs 1 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903114 2 – Procters Farm’s PFD1903105 3 – Tomos Evans’ ESW1901526 4 – Ben Lowe’s LWE1900170 5 – James Ruggeri’s RUJ1901475 Champion Procters Farm’s ewe lamb PFD1903114

Leading the gimmers was this one from Plasucha

Reserve breed champion was another ewe lamb from Procters

Reserve champion Procters Farm’s ewe lamb PFD1903105

Shows texel.uk

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Midlock Capaldi calls the tune at 200,000gns T his year’s Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, saw the second highest priced sheep in the UK sell at 200,000gns, with the two-day sale grossing more than £1,271,000.

Selling for the second highest ever prize of 200,000gns was Midlock Capaldi from the Wight family. He was shared by Messrs Boden and Davies and Alan Blackwood.

Midlock Capaldi, a lamb bred by the Wight family, Alan and Karen and children, Andrew, Ben and Katie, Biggar, was the talk of the yard from the moment he set foot in the market. Sired

by Knock Bantastic, he is an ET-bred lamb flushed from a 2018-born Mullan Amigo daughter and goes back to a Garngour dam purchased in 2016.

Unshown in the pre-sale show, this stylish, well bodied lamb took bidding to an extreme level around the Lanark ring, with the final bid coming from a two-part consortium of Charlie Boden, buying for the Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks and Hugh and Alan Blackwood buying for their Auldhouseburn flock.

Breeder Alan Wight said the lamb had been a standout from two weeks old, with exceptional flesh and character.

“You always knew he was one to watch and he had that extra something the best ones always have,” he added.

Joint purchaser Alan Blackwood said there was no doubt this was the lamb

to have. “He’s exceptionally correct, has style and character coupled with a great carcass. We’re delighted to have got him and knew from the minute we saw him he was the one to add the next level to the flock.”

British Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said the atmosphere at the two-day event had been buoyant throughout. “There is no doubt that despite some current political uncertainties Texel breeders have faith in the breed and are placing Texels firmly

at the heart of their farming businesses going forward.

“That confidence is feeding back up from the commercial sector where Texel cross lambs continue to earn premium prices thanks to their ability to meet the strict market specification demanded by both processors and retailers. It should be remembered that Texel-sired prime lambs outperform the industry average in this respect with 20% more Texel cross lambs meeting specification compared to the rest of the industry.

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“The breed’s performance as both a terminal and maternal breed is at the core of the UK sheep industry and it continues to provide commercial producers with large numbers of saleable lambs no matter where in the UK you look.”

Selling for the day’s second best was the pre-sale champion, Garngour Craftsman, from the Clark family, Helen and sons Alan, Andrew and David, led the charge in the show ring and took one of the best prices of the day when selling for 65,000gns, the second best price achieved by the flock. This son of the 17,000gns Silvermere Baltic is out of a dam by Mossvale Winston and is a maternal brother to the 40,000gns Garngour Alabama.

Selling with an index of 252 and having won the recorded class in the presale show before being tapped out as champion, he was another secured by the judge Charlie Boden for the Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks, Cheshire, with a half share taken by the Vaughan family, Kingspark, Herefordshire.

Setting the sale alight early in the day was Brian Hanthorn’s pen, with his best, Mullan Camikaze making 48,000gns, just 10 minutes in to the sale. This much fancied son of Deveronvale Aftershock is ET bred out of a 2018-born ewe lamb by Teiglum Younggun and sold with an index of 254 and having stood fourth in the recorded class in the pre-sale show.

He was eventually knocked down to a consortium of five buyers, with Gordon Gray, Ettrick, Messrs Knox, Haddo, the Orr family, Halbeath, Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, and Andrew Neilson, Brackenridge all taking shares.

Welsh breeder Willy Davis enjoyed a flying trade for his pen of three which levelled the day at £21,700. His best was 36,000gns paid for Usk Vale Cheeky Charlie, a son of Hexel Born To Be Wild and out of a homebred dam by Strathbogie Ya Belter, which is a full sister to the 17,000gns Usk Vale Albatross. He sold to the Nicholson family, Knockem, Procters Farm, Procters, and Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn.

Taking a 48,000gns call early in the sale was Brian Hanthorn’s Mullan Camikaze, a Deveronvale Aftershock son.

Selling for 32,000gns was another presale favourite, Drumbreddan Centre of Attention from James Hair. This first prize winner in the YDP class is by Midlock Yorkie and out of a dam by Knap Yorkie. Selling after strong bidding, he was the pick of the Alford family for their Foxhillfarm flock, Devon.

Going away at 24,000gns was Hope Valley C The Stars from Robert Evans. This Sportsmans Belter son is out of a dam by Clinterty Yogi Bear which is a maternal sister to the 130,000gns Sportsmans A

Harestone Central Bank made 20,000gns for Stuart Barclay. Buying him were Hartside Farms, Hartside, and Allan Campbell, Strawfrank.

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Star. He sold to Willy Davis, Usk Vale and Paul Delves, Bridgeview.

Robert Bennett’s Plasucha pen also drew a strong trade, with his topper being a 20,000gns call for Plasucha Cheeky Charlie, a son of the homebred Plasucha All Star and out of a dam by Kelso Wiseman. Selling with an index of 188, he was another to be shared, with Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, James Innes, Strathbogie and Graham Morrison, Deveronvale, all in the consortium.

At the same money was the first of the day from Stuart Barclay’s Harestone flock, Harestone Central Bank. This lamb, the best sale to date from the flock, is by Teiglum Braveheart and out of a Teiglumbred dam by Knock Yardsman. Attracting plenty of attention, he was bought in a two-way split by Allan Campbell, Strawfrank and Hartside Farms, Hartside.

Taking a 17,000gns call was the first of the day from Messrs Boden and Davies, Sportsmans Cannon Ball, a Garngour Alabama son out of a Clinterty Yogi Bear daughter and with an index of 273. This well fancied tup was the pick of Messrs Wight, Midlock, Robert Cockburn, Knap, and Steven Renwick, Craig Douglas.

A pair then sold away at 16,000gns, with the first of these being Stainton Coca Cola, an Auldhouseburn Bolt son from Peter Woof. This one is out of a Sportsmans Tremendous II daughter and sold with an index of 178, when bought by Messrs Gallagher, Eire.

Second at this level was Procters Cocktail from Procters Farm under the stewardship of Jeff Aiken. This son of the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman is out of a Strathbogie Ya Belter daughter and sold to Alastair Gault, Forkins and Richard Henderson, Ballynahone.

Another from Stuart Barclay then sold at 15,000gns, with this being Harestone Commander, a son of Rhaeadr Ace and out of a dam by Glenside Will.I.Am. This triplet-born lamb was knocked down to Gary Beacom, Northern Ireland, for the Lakeview flock.

Taking the first 13,000gns bid of the day was Ellen Valley Caesar from George Wilkinson. This Silvermere Baltic son is out of a dam by Eden Valley Y Not and is from the same family as the 8500gns Ellen Valley Trojan. This one heads to the north of Scotland with Jemma Green, Corskie.

Two from the Usk Vale pen of Willy Davis then sold at 13,000gns. The first at this money was Usk Vale Captain Billy, a Hexel Born To Be Wild son out of a dam by Strathbogie Ya Belter and a full brother to the 36,000gns Usk Vale Ckeeky Charlie.

Buying this one was Daffyd Jones, Kitrob.

The second from this pen at this price was Usk Vale Crackerjack, another by Born To Be Wild and this time out of a Castlecairn Vavavoom daughter. This one sold to Jack Arnott, Haymount.

And a final 13,000gns bid came for Midlock Cobra from the Wight family. This lamb, second last of the day, is by Knock Bantastic, the same sire as the sale leader and is another out of a Mullan Amigo dam.

He heads to Shropshire with Paul and Christine Tippetts, Wilodge.

And at 12,000gns was Teiglum Charmer from the Clark family, Helen and sons, Alan, Andrew and David. This lamb is by Knock Bantastic and out of a dam by Knock Yardsman. This one has an index of 199 and heads to the Cowal flock of the Campbell brothers, Keith, Alan and Roy. Also making 12,000gns was Procters Cheeky Monkey from the Procters pen, again by Sportsmans Batman, he’s out of a Teiglum Younggun daughter and is a full brother to the male champion at this year’s Royal Welsh Show. She sold to Messrs Gilmour, Humestone and Morrison, Dalwyne.

Following the pattern at 12,000gns was Auldhouseburn Capaldi from Alan Blackwood, with this son of the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best being out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan which was sold at the Select Seven last December. He found a new home with John Foster, Springhill, Northern Ireland.

Messrs Boden and Davies were back in the money then taking 11,000gns for Sportsmans Catapult, a substitute entry

by Fordafourie Amalert and out of a dam by the 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun. Selling to Idris Morris, Fachell, he has an index of 186.

Procters Farm then took 11,000gns for Procters Candycrush, another

by Sportsmans Batman and out of a Teiglum Youngun sired dam. This lamb, a full brother to this year’s Royal Welsh interbreed winner sold to Rob Evans for the Hope Valley flock, Shropshire.

Following that at 10,000gns was Roger Strawbridge and family’s best of the

Peter Wood took 16,000gns for Stainton Coca Cola, an Auldhouseburn Bolt son which headed to Eire with Messrs Gallagher.

Garngour Craftsman, the pre-sale show champion from the Clark family, sold for the day’s second best price of 65,000gns, with this one split by Messrs Boden and Davies and Vaughan Farms.

Making 32,000gns when selling to the Alford family was Drumbreddan Centre of Attention from James Hair.

Plasucha Cheeky Charlie sold at 20,000gns, with this one shared by a four-part consortium.

sale, Tamnamoney Colt, a Deveronvale Aftershock son out of a ewe by the noted Duncryne Uber Cool. He was taken by Stephen Cobbold, Suffolk.

Other leading prices 9000gns – Mullan Chancellor from Brian Hanthorn to Ian Murray, Ian and Tom Walling and Alan Jackson; Strathbogie Cannonball from James Innes to Claybury Texels.

8500gns – Harestone Celtic Tiger from Stuart Barclay to Messrs Watkins; Procters Class Act from Procters Farm to Charles Harkin.

Average; 342 ram lambs £3385. 46 (Lawrie and Symington).

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Sportsmans Cannon Ball from Messrs Boden and Davies sold at 17,000gns, being a son of Gargnour Alabama.

Usk Vale Cheeky Charlie from Willy Davies sold for 36,000gns, selling to a three-way partneship.

Robert Evans took his best ever price when selling Hope Valley C the Stars at 24,000gns.

Rhaeadr gimmer leads Lanark trade

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yfyr Evans started this year’s Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, where he left off last year, leading the trade again, on an evening which saw 74 gimmers sold, the highest number traded at Lanark for 13 years.

This time around it was the gimmer trade he peaked when selling his first in the ring ENM1801997 at 9000gns. This Rhaeadr Ace daughter is out of a Glenside Whiz Kid daughter, with her sire being a maternal brother to last year’s trade topper, the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best. This one sold to Eire, joining Michael Power, Co Limerick.

Second best of the evening sale was an 8500gns bid from Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans flock for a gimmer from Alan Blackwood’s Auldhouseburn flock. This was BYZ1820772, an ET bred daughter of the 130,000gns Sportsmans A Star out of an Ettrick-bred Knock Topaz daughter.

She sold with semen from the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best.

Following that at 6800gns was the second prize gimmer from the pre-sale show and reserve female champion from Richard Wilson’s Eden Valley flock. Sired

by Knock Yankee, WEV1801143 is out of an Anglezarke Uno daughter and was another to head across the water with Michael Power.

Upperclass daughter which is also dam to Mullan BFG. This one heads to Darlington with Messrs Teward.

And making 3400gns was the second of the evening from Myfyr Evans, ENM1802003. Again by Rhaeadr Ace, she is out of another Glenside Whiz Kid daughter and heads to Herefordshire with James Amphlett and Ellie Owens, Leominster.

A 6800gns call secured WEV1801143 from Richard Wilson’s Eden Valley flock, with this one bought by Michael Power, Eire.

John Rendall then sold one from the Norseman flock at 3000gns, with this being RHN1800489. ET bred by Arkle Angelo, she is out of Springwell Ulsterboy daughter and sold to Cosyn Texels.

At the same money was one from Robert Bennett, Plasucha, BFE1808078, a daughter of the homebred Plasucha All Star out of a dam by Kelso Wiseman. Selling with an index of 153, she sold to Nick Legge, Leominster.

Second best in the gimmers at 8500gns was Alan Blackwood’s Auldhoueburn gimmer BYZ1820772, bought by Messrs Boden and Davies.

And at 2400gns was John Forsyth’s best from the Glenside pen, FPG1801552. This Sportsmans A Star daughter is out of a dam by Hexel Wild Bill and sold to Alistair Jackson, Annan.

Average; 74 gimmers £1523.07 (Lawrie and Symington).

Top call in the gimmers was 9000gns paid by Michael Power, Eire, for this one from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock.

Close behind at 6500gns was the champion female from the pre-sale show, Will McCaffrey’s YWM1800730 from the Scholars flock. She is an Eden Valley Wiz Kid daughter out of a dam by Tophill Union Jack and was knocked down to Rob Evans for the Hope Valley flock.

After that came a 4500gns bid for the best from Northern Ireland’s Brian Hanthorn, HBN1801829. She’s by Strathbogie Yabba Dabba Doo and out of a Garngour

Will McCaffrey’s gimmer from the Scholars flock,YWM1800730, having been female champion. She was bought by Robert Evans, Hope Valley.

Brian Hanthorn sold HBN1801829 at 4500gns, with this Strathbogie Yabba Dabba Doo daughter to Messrs Teward.

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15,000gns call tops Worcester ram lambs T

his year’s English National Texel Sale, Worcester, saw a top call of 15,000gns in the ram lambs when Willy Davis’ Usk Vale Champagne Charlie sent the corks popping.

This son of Hexel Born To Be Wild is out of a Glenside-bred dam by the 82,000gns Cornmore Velvet Jacket. This one was much fancied in by the ringside, with bidding quickly escalating past 10,000gns.

Landing the final bid at 15,000gns were Nick Legge and family for the Thornbury flock.

Second best in the ram lambs was a 5500gns bid for Welsh breeder Myfyr Evans’ lamb from his Rhaeadr flock. This one is a son of Garngour Alabama and out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan, with a strong breeding history behind it. Buying this one was Stephen Cobbald, Suffolk.

Then making 5000gns was Cambwell Chieftan from Robert Laird. Sired by Langford Adder Again, this one is out of a dam by the homebred Cambwell Trademark and sold with an index of 221.

Bred from the same dam as last year’s sale topping Cambwell Boss Hogg, he sold to Andrew Reed and family for the Scolton flock, South Wales.

Following that came a 4500gns bid for another from the Usk Vale consignment, Usk Vale Cloud 9 from Willy Davis. Again sired by Hexel Born To Be Wild, this Sales

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Willy Davies’ Usk Vale Champagne Charlie led the ram lamb trade at 15,000gns when selling to Nick Legge and family for the Thornbury flock.

Heading home with the Reed family for the Scolton flock, Haverfordwest, was Robert Laird’s Cambwell Chieftan at 5000gns.

Benchmark is out of a Glenside Vahala daughter and was taken by J Lea, Market Drayton.

Next at this price was Mellor Vale Capri from Charlie Boden. Sired by the 32,000gns Plasucha Big Gun, he is out of a dam by Knock Will.I.Am and sold to John Owens and family, Shobdon, Leominster.

Taking a 5500gns call was a ram lamb from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock, with this one bought by Stephen Cobbald.

Close behind at 3200gns was a Deveronvale Ace of Diamonds son from Messrs Boden and Davies. This was Sportsmans Classic, a lamb out of a dam by the 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun. He sold to Dave Smith for the Tockington flock, Tockington, Bristol.

one is a full brother to the 15,000gns sale topper and was knocked down to James Theyer for the Clanfield flock, Oxfordshire.

And making 4200gns was Tima Cantona from David Gray, Selkirk. Sired by the £29,000 Garngour Awesome, this lamb is out of a dam by Clinterty Yankee Doodle and sold with an index of 275 to A E Williams and Son, Craven Arms.

Close behind at 4000gns was Plasucha Copycat from Robert Bennett, Welshpool.

He is by Mullan Awesome and out of a Knock Yankee dam. Sold with an index of 222, he was the pick of David BradleyFarmer, Oxfordshire.

Two then traded at 3300gns, with the first of these being Strathbogie Crisscross from James Innes. This son of Sportsmans

And a brace then followed at 3000gns, with the first being early in the day from Procters Farm in the form of Procters Commander, a son of the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman and out of a dam by Strathbogie Ya Belter. This one found a new home with P L Heard, Okehampton.

The other at this level was Nicola Hartright’s first of the sale, Whitehart Classy, a son of Gyrhos Boris out of a dam

by Alticane Yo Yo. He was taken by M D Furness, Wormhill, Buxton.

Averages; 153 ram lambs £1088.26 (McCartneys).

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Usk Vale Cloud 9 sold at 4500gns when bought

by James Theyer and helping Willy Davis to an average of £7735 for three sold.

David Gray sold Tima Cantona at 4200gns, with this one bought by A E Williams and Son, Craven Arms.

Selling at 4000gns was the second prize ram lamb Plasucha Copycat from Robert Bennett.

10,000gns shearling Bright Spark shines brightest C anllefaes Bright Spark from W T Davies and Co, Cardigan, Ceredigion, shone the brightest in the shearling rams at the English National Texel Sale, Worcester, topping trade at 10,000gns.

Topping the shearling rams was Canllefaes Bees Knees from W T Davies and Co at 10,000gns when selling to Ian Hunter, Dalchirla Farming.

This son of Talcoed You Know is out of a dam by Young Venture Vantasitc and, after a strong bidding war, he now heads north to join Ian Hunter, Dalchirla Farms, Perthshire.

Next best at 7000gns was Whitehart Big Style from Nicola Hartwright and her father, Jim. Sired by Strawfrank Wild Thing, he is out of a dam by Broomknowes Tyson and had stood first in the pre-sale show. Taking this one home was Paul Tippetts, Shifnal, Shropshire, for the Wilodge flock.

Following along at 3200gns was another from Messrs Davies, Canllefaes Big Boy. Another by Talcoed You Know, he had stood second in the pre-sale show, and is out of a Scolton Uranium-sired dam and was sold in a shared deal Messrs Reed, Scolton, Barbara Smith and family, Slapton and Philip Weaver, Empire.

Two then sold at 3000gns, with both of these coming from the Peacehay flock of the Chave family. The first of these was Peacehay Belter, a son of the £30,000 Scrogtonhead You Stoater out of a Sheeoch Tardis-sired dam. He headed home with R E Davies,Yockleton, Shrewsbury.

The other from the same pen at this money was Peacehay Bright Spark. He’s

by Clarks Wizard and out of a dam by Cennan Magnum. Here the hammer fell to The Lawrence family, Market Bosworth, for the Coton flock.

After that at 2600gns was Loosebeare Bombadier from the Quick family, with this one being by former Lanark champion Ballynahone Winner and out of a dam by Loosebeare Rebel. This one was bought by local breeder L Goldsmith, Hallow, Worcester.

And following him at 2400gns was Paul Johnson’s Corriecravie Black Jack, a son of Cornmore Young Hustler out of a dam by Corriecravie Union Pacific. He sold with an index in the top 25% of the breed and was the choice of R C Burrough and Son, Membury, Axminster.

Close behind at 2300gns was Langford Boa from Georgie Helyer and family, Hampshire. This son of Clarks Wizard is out of a dam by Meon Down Spartacus.

Selling with an index inside the top 10% of the breed he found a new home with R and A Howells, Treoes, Bridgend.

Wrapping up the headline trade at 1800gns was Halbeath Baltic from Robin and Caroline Orr. This one is by the 23,000gns Peacehay Ya Belter and out of a dam by Granite Untouchable. Taking him home was B Francis, Caereinion, Welshpool.

Averages; 52 shearling rams £1298.77 (McCartneys).

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Nicola Hartright sold Whitehart Big Style at 7000gns, the first prize winning shearling from the pre-sale show.

The first of two from the Chave family to make 3000gns was Peacehay Belter, with this one bought by Messrs Davies,Yockleton, Shrewsbury.

Also at 3000gns was Peacehay Bright Spark. He found a new home with the Lawrence family for the Coton flock.

9000gns highlight leads Worcester gimmers

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he hottest bank holiday weekend in history saw temperatures soar around the sale ring at the English National Texel Sale, Worcester, with the Monday evening gimmer sale topping at 9000gns and seeing a second best ever average recorded at £1171.52.

Hot on her heels at 3500gns was GGH1808118, a triple-born entry from Gordon Gray’s Ettrick flock. This daughter of Hartside All Star is out of a dam by the homebred Ettrick Sir Alan and sold to Adam and Jessica Neachell, Walsall.

Topping the sale which saw 75 gimmers sold, a rise of 16 on the year, was a 9000gns call for the pre-sale female champion from Angus and Sue Howie’s Millhouse flock.

And at 3000gns was Angela Nairey’s pen leader from the Meinspride flock, LNM1804306. Sired by Tophill Wall St, she is out of a dam by Glenside King II and was the pick of Sprios Spyrou, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

This gimmer, HNL1802146, which had also stood reserve overall champion in the pre-sale show, is by the 32,000gns Cairness Ranger out of a dam by the homebred Millhouse Upstart and sold to James Theyer for his Clanfield flock, Oxfordshire.

Second best at 6200gns was James Innes’ second prize winner from the pre-sale show, IJS1802825. This daughter of the Irish sire Greenstar Alfie is out of a dam

by Aman Vyrnwy and was another taken

by James Theyer.

Then making 6000gns was Robert Cockburn’s Knap gimmer, CKP1802793.

Sired by Mullan Amigo and out of a dam

by Charben Valentine, she sold to Mark Priestley, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland.

A 3600gns call followed that for the sole gimmer from the Watkins family’s Cwmcerrig flock. This was WJJ1801258, a Strathbogie Yes Sir daughter out of a dam

by Glenside Razzle Dazzle. This one was knocked down to J Mifflin, Halmer End, Stoke on Trent.

a dam by Eden Valley Wiz Kid. This one was the pick of T Vaughan, Osbastow, Monmouth.

And a 1650gns call then claimed the best from the Draper family’s Claybury flock, DHL1801325. This one is by Strathbogie YouI and out of a dam by Strathbogie Upgrade and was another to join Jeremy Theyer’s flock.

Averages; 75 gimmers £1171.52 (McCartneys).

Following her at 2600gns was one from Andrew Kennedy’s Maineview flock.

Unshown as Mr Kennedy judged the presale show, this gimmer is by Arkle A One and out of a dam by the noted Duncryne Uber Cool. She sold to A E Jones, Carmarthenshire, for the Ynystoddeb flock.

Then making 1900gns was Geoff and Chris Riby’s Stonehills gimmer, RKS1801430, a Scotsman Armageddon daughter out of a dam by Stainton Richochet. She was bought by Jeremy Theyer, Cheltenham.

Angus and Sue Howie’s female champion from the pre-sale show took the top bid in the gimmers, selling at 9000gns to James Theyer.

Close behind at 1700gns was one from the Welsh flock of Selwyn and Tomos Evans. This was ESW1801065, a Baltier Vampire daughter out of a dam by Fairywater Valiant and sold to Adam and Jessica Neachell, Walsall.

Selling for the same money was the very first of the night, a Scholars gimmer from Will McCaffrey. This was YWM1800756, a Strathbogie Ya Belter daughter out of

Heading to Northern Ireland to join Mark Priestley was Robert Cockburn’s CKP1802793 at 6000gns.

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Brace of centre records at Welsh National T

he Welsh National Texel Sale, Welshpool, saw a brace of new centre records set for the breed, with a new top price for a shearling ram as a well as a new high mark for a ram lamb seen.

Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said that while trade had been reserved in places, largely due to a spell of fine weather keeping buyers busy combining and silage making, the sale had once again been robust, with both pedigree and commercial buyers competing well.

for Procters Farm, Clitheroe, buying for the Procters and Tatham Hall flocks.

Sticking with the shearling rams, the next best price in this section came for the very next lot, Caereinion Boss, again from Cefyn Pryce. Sired by Kimbolton Venturer, he is out of another Caereinion Number One daughter and came to the ring with an index of 272. This one sold at 1650gns to D and G Andrew, Meifod.

Following him at 1200gns was Canllefaes Belter from W T Davies and Co. This Talcoed You Know-sired shearling tup is out of a dam by Scolton Uranium and sold to D E Evans, Tymawr, Llanrhaeadr.

Just shy of that at 1100gns was another from the same home, Canllefaes Bonanza.

Again by Talcoed You Know, he is another out of a Scolton Uranium daughter and sold to J Baldwyn, Lower Chapel.

Caereinion Bonus from Cefyn Pryce took the top call at the Welsh National, selling for 10,000gns to Procters Farm.

Leading the day’s trade was the first prize shearling ram from the pre-sale show, Caereinion Bonus from local breeder Cefyn Pryce. Sired by Granite Untouchable and out of a dam by the homebred Caereinion Number One, this powerful shearling sold with an index of 303, well within the top 1% of the breed.

He was a tup which caught the interest of many at the sale and indeed those not present, with a rapid bidding battle resulting in the hammer falling at 10,000gns, a new breed centre male record price. The winning bidder on this occasion was Jeff Aiken, flock manager Sales

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Two shearlings then sold at 1050gns, with the first of these being Tom Ryder’s third prize tup from the pre-sale show, Ryders Big Man, an Easterseat Wayout son out of a dam by Vorn Vaurus. This one was bought by G H Barker and Son, Bridgenorth.

The other at this level was Clun Benchmark, the fifth prize shearling from the pre-sale show. This one from A E Williams and Son is by Craig Douglas Ya Belter and out of a Castlecairn Tantric Guru daughter and was knocked down to J W and J A Hardwick, Llandovery.

Ram Lambs Topping the ram lamb trade and setting a new centre ram lamb record prize at 9000gns was the first prize novice breeder ram lamb and male and overall champion from the pre-sale show, Ynystoddeb Coron Aur from Euros Jones

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Euros Jones’ Ynystoddeb Coron Aur sold for 9000gns having been champion in the pre-sale show.

and family. This son of Plasucha All Star is out of a Plasucha ewe by Kelso Wiseman and was another which was well fought for by the ringside.

Landing the final bid for this one was a consortium of three buyers, namely pre-sale judge Robert Bennett, Plasucha, James Theyer, Clanfield and Jermey Theyer, Chedworth, with the Jones family also retaining a share in the lamb.

The next best price of 3800gns was paid for Rhaeadr Crusader from Myfyr Evans. This lamb had been second to the champion in the pre-sale show and is by the 40,000gns Garngour Alabama and out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan. Bred from the same family as the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best, he sold to Gordon Gray, Ettrick and Robert Cockburn, Knap.

After that came a 2600gns call for Ben Vernon’s best of the day from the Charben flock, Charben Crazy Horse.

Sired by Hexel Beast From The East, this one is out of a Glenside Valhalla-sired dam and was the pick of S and K Lewis, Welsh Hook, Haverfordwest.

Selling for 1800gns was Oldford Cai from Robert Pierce, a son of Auldhouseburn Bolt and out of a dam by Knock Yankee.

Selling with an index of 183, this lamb was taken by the Howells family for their Shadog flock, Carmarthenshire.

And at 1600gns was the best of the day from Procters Farm, Procters Colonel.

Sired by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman, this lamb is out of a Teiglum Younggun daughter and sold to E Evans, Renoldston for the Scurlage flock.

Gimmers The female and reserve overall champion led the gimmer trade at 1800gns, with this being BYK1800273, a daughter of the 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun from Ryan Bradley. She is out of a dam by Tophill Union Jack and sold to G Scott, Denbighshire.

Following her at 1400gns was the second prize gimmer and reserve female champion, Peter Woof’s gimmer WPS1801301 from the Stainton flock.

This one is by Eden Valley A1 and out of a dam by Hexel Wildcard. She sold with an index of 196 and was bought by Adrian Davies, Carmarthenshire.

Three then sold at 1000gns, with the first of these being from the Wilodge flock of Paul and Christine Tippetts. This was TIP1801952, an ET bred daughter ofn Deveronvale Ace if Diamonds out of a dam by Baltier Thunderbird and sold with an index of 156. She found a new home with Robert Evans for his Hope Valley flock.

Rhaeadr Crusader from Myfyr Evans made 3800gns when selling to Gordon Gray and Robert Cockburn.

Selling at 2600gns was Charben Crazy Horse from Ben Vernon, with this one bought by S and K Lewis, Haverfordwest.

Pre-sale show judge Robert Bennett then sold one from his Plasucha flock at the same money. This was BFE1808038, a Plasucha Aberfeldy daughter out of a dam

by Kelso Wiseman. Buying this one was Esmor Evans, Flintshire.

The final 1000gns call came for David Houghton’s gimmer HPH1801262 from the Tophill flock. Sired by Midlock Avicii she is out of a Knock Trident-sired dam and was bought by P and R Butler, CoedY-Go, Morda.

Averages; 54 gimmers £581.19, 37 shearling rams £947.84, 79 ram lambs £699.78 (Welshpool Livestock Sales).

Topping the gimmers at 1800gns was Ryan Bradley’s BYK1800273, a Teiglum Younggun daughter. She sold ton G Scott, Denbighshire.

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Sales texel.uk

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Columbo takes 5000gns highest bid at NI National A 5000gns top call was the highlight of the Northern Irish National Sale, with this price paid for the reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Fairywater Columbo from Andrew Fyffe.

Top price at 5000gns was Andrew Fyffe’s reserve overall champion, Fairywater Columbo.

This ram lamb had stood first in the open class before going on to be reserve male and reserve overall champion. Sired

by Mullan Armani, he is out of a dam by Knock Trident and was bought by the Mullan family for the Blue Gates flock.

Second best in the ram lambs was a bid of 2400gns for Robert Mulligan’s Brague Caesar, a son of Aman Bendigedig out of a dam by Llangwm Yorkie. He sold to Messrs Simpson and Calvin for the Ballyhivistock flock, having stood fourth in the pre-sale show.

Then at the same money was Brian Hanthorn’s best of the day, Mullan Charisma. This one is by Deveronvale Aftershock and out of a Haddo Ringleader-sired dam. Selling with an index in the top 10% of the breed, he was the pick of W D McCabe, Muckamore, Antrim.

Close behind at 2200gns was Paramor Craftsman from Eamonn Conway. This second prize winner in the open class is out of a dam by the 42,000gns Tullylagan Tonka. He was knocked down to John Parke, Raphoe, Co Donegal.

At 1700gns in the ram lambs was Braehead Casanova from David Warwick, with this one being a son of Kelso Pavarotti and out of a dam by Strathbogie Terminator. Buying this one was John Stewart, Ramelton, Letterkenny.

And making the same money was another from Andrew Fyffe, Fairywater Class Act. This Garngour Alabama son is out of a Knock Trident-sired dam and sold to Malachy Byrne, Donkineely, Co Donegal.

Shearling Rams Leading the shearling ram trade at

4500gns was the day’s pre-sale champion from Sean McCloskey. This was Glenroe Bacardi, a Bluehill Yogi son out of a dam

by Brackenridge Transformer and was taken by a consortium of three breeders; John and Richard Currie, Tullagh, Henry and Robert Gamble, Springwell and Andrew Fyffe, Fairywater.

Two then sold at 1000gns, with the first of these being Gareth Tumelty’s Aideshill Bossman, an Aideshill Vision son out of a dam by Knap Vogue. Buying this was Alexander Ross, Newtonards.

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Alabama daughter out of a dam by Tophill White Knight.

Selling at 2400gns was Brague Cowboy from Robert Mulligan and family.

At the same money was Andrew Fyffe’s best of the day, FAO1801128, a Milnbank Avicii-sired gimmer out of a dam by Eglur Viscount. She was knocked down to Nathan Gilmour, Dromore.

And wrapping up the best of the gimmer trade was Brian Hanthorn’s Mullan gimmer, HBN1801833. Sired by Bushmills Arnos, he is out of a Mullan Van Winkle daughter and sold to John Crawford, Clougher, Co Tyrone.

Averages; 130 ram lambs £607.79, 56 shearling rams £697.13, 37 gimmers £681.08 (J A McClelland and Co).

The other at this level was John Watson’s pen leader Duvarren Baltimore. Sired by Blackstown Yule, he is out of a dam by Garngour Patriot and was bought by M Watson.

Gimmers Top call in the gimmers was 3400gns paid for Jack and Beth Gault’s female champion from the Cherryvale flock. This was GCN1802359, a Scotsman Ace daughter out of a dam by Duncryne Uber Cool.

After spirited bidding she sold to Eamonn

Brian Hanthorn’s Mullan Charisma was another to sell at 2400gns.

Vaughan for the Partridge Nest flock, Derbyshire.

Following her at 1450gns was an Alderview gimmer from Mark Patterson.

This one, PTT1800124, is by Sportsmans Yaya and out of a dam by Ellen Valley Warlord. She was bought by T S and W R Cousins, Omagh.

The same buyers then paid 1050gns for a Carmavy gimmer from the McCollam family. This was MSY1801240, a Milnbank

Highest call in the shearling ewes was a 3400gns bid for Beth and Jack Gault’s female champion from the pre-sale show.

Making 2200gns was Paramor Craftsman from Eamonn Conway.

Leading the shearling ram trade at 4500gns was Sean McCloskey’s Glenroe Bacardi, the champion from the pre-sale show.

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Bowsden Moor – Best of the day for Jonathan Watson was a £7000 call for this son of Duhonw Yager Bomb, with this one selling to Jim Innes, Strathbogie.

Glenway – Ian Murray’s best of the day was an £8000 sale for Glenway Billy The Kid, a Glenway Ace of Diamonds son.

Kelso sees £8500 top twice A

strong demand for quality rams ensured an average of £975.20 for 766 registered Texel shearlings at Kelso Ram Sale – an increase of £93 on the year and the best overall shearling average of all the breeds – while 164 lambs levelled out at £516.04.

Trade topped at £8500 twice, with John Green receiving that early on, for a shearling from his Greenall flock at The Craggs, Melrose. Sired by the home-bred Greenall Atticus and out of a ewe by Hightecs Ultimatum, Greenall Billy Whizz sold to Richard and Chris Thornton, Cornhills, Morpeth, sporting an index of 220.

At the same money and with an index of 260, John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, sold a shearling son of the £23,000 Midlock Youre The One, out of a ewe by Brackenridge Strongbow, to Ken Hodge’s Greenarch flock at Earlston.

Mr Elliot had a successful day, selling 34 shearlings to average £1757, with another by the Midlock sire making £6600, to J Winter, Clickem Farm, Appleby.

Ian Murray’s champion in the Ring five Border Texel Group show and winner in the recorded show, Glenway Billy The Kid, sold at £8000 to Jeff Teward, New View, Darlington, boasting an index of 269. Sired by Glenway Ace of Diamonds and out of a ewe by Brackenridge Strongbow, he stood inter-breed champion at Glendale Show.

Collecting his best ever price of £7200 was Turriff-based Matthew Seed, who

Roxburgh – Joint top price of £8500 went to this one from John Elliot, a son of Midlock Youre The one sold to Ken Hodges, Greenarch.

runs 100 ewes at Home Farm, Auchry.

He sold a shearling son of Boghouse Atlanta, out of a ewe by Culter Allers Vulcan, to Esmor Evans, for his Maerdy flock in Wales.

Alex and Russell Gray, Langside, Lanark, sold to a top of £7000 for a son of the 23,000gns Peacehay Ya Belter, out of a ewe by Springhill Uppercut. He went to Gary Beacom, Lakeview, Co Tyrone, and William and Liz McAllister, Parkgate, Ballymena.

Also from Langside, another by the Peacehay tup, this time out of a Langside Vagabond daughter, sold at £6200 to Lilburn Estate, Wooler.

Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Biggar, also received a top of £7000, for

Hartside Bronco, a Halbeath VIP son, out of a ewe by Sportsmans Unbeatable, which went to W Wearmouth and Son, Rosehill, Bishop Auckland.

Another from the same pen, Hartside Big Boy, made £4800, to R G and R Jones, Robleston Hall, Haverdfordwest.

Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed, sold to £7000, for one by the Builth purchase, Duhonw Yager Bomb, out of a ewe by Haymount Va Va Voom. Buyer was Jim Innes, for his Strathbogie flock at Dunscroft, Huntly.

Final £7000 seller was the best from the Quick family’s Loosebeare flock from Devon. Sired by the £5800 Kelso purchase, Brijon You’re The Boy, and out of a home-bred daughter of Lavenham

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Loosebeare – Making £7000 was the Quick family’s son of Brijon You’re The Boy when bought by Josh Greasley.

Auchry – Malcolm Seed enjoyed his best ever trade, peaking at £7200 for a son of Boghouse Atlanta which sold to Esmor Evans.

purchased at Kelso in 2017 out of a dam by the £9500 Langside Stifler. Buying him were the Ingram family, for the Logie Durno flock.

Leading the Douganhill pen at £4800, was a Knock Yardsman son, out of a ewe by Langlands What A Topper, which sold to Floors Farming, Duns.

Greenall – The other at £8500 was this Greenall shearling from John Green and sired by the homebred Greenall Atticus.

Langside – The Gray family, Langside, peaked at £7000 for this Peacehay Ya Belter son which sold to Gary Beacom.

Heading up the lamb prices at £4800, was Garngour Captain from the Clarks at Garngour, Lesmahagow. A son of Teiglum Braveheart, out of a ewe by Knock Yardsman, which is a full sister to the 40,000gns Garngour Alabama, he sold to Angus Kennedy, Mitchellhill, Broughton.

The Clarks also sold Teiglum Cosmic, a son of Knock Bantastic, at £3400, to the Loosebeare and Whitehart flocks.

Hartside – another £7000 seller was this one from Malcolm Coubrough which found a new home with W Wearmouth and Son, Bishop Auckland.

Best of the lambs at £4800 was this Teiglum Braveheart son from the Clark family.

Ronald, he sold to Josh Greasley, for his Kedleston flock in Derby.

£5600 for a son of Craig Farm Wizard, which sold to Tom Oates.

Also from Loosebeare at £4800, a son of Whitehart Ultimate, out of a show ewe

by Loosebeare Voomer, sold to Will Case, Plumpton Cottage, Ulverston.

Not far behind, the Dunlops sold to £5500 from their Elmscleugh consignment from Dunbar, with a son of Plasucha All In One, out of a ewe

by Milnbank Wisconsin, going to the Biggar-based Wolfclyde, Wester Walston, Kingside and Toftcombs flocks.

Jack Arnott’s Haymount pen peaked at £6200 for one by Milnbank Awesome, out of a ewe by Forkins Viagra. A first prize winner at Kelso Show this summer, he sold to Stuart Barclay, Harestone.

Best for Peter and Lynn Gray’s Scrogton consignment was a £5800 bid for a Clinterty Yuga Khan son, out of a ewe by Springhill Upper Cut. He was knocked down to Messrs Davies’ Canllefaes flock in Cardigan.

Shearlings from Ken Hodge’s Greenarch flock, which are kept at Earlston, sold to

Ted Fox received a top of £5000 for shearlings from St John’s Kirk, Symington.

His best, a son of a £2800 Builth purchase, Duhonw Yogi Bear, out of a home-bred College ewe, sold to Bob and Becca Rennie, Sydenham, Kelso, and Sir Robert Wilson, Edinburgh.

Also at £5000 was the best sale of the day from the Artnagullion flock from Brian and William McAllister. This was for a son of the £5000 Midlock Yohann

Bruce Renwick’s pen of lambs peaked at £4000, for a Teiglum Braveheart son, which sold to Charlie Boden, Sportsmans.

And, at £3400, Gordon and David Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, sold a lamb from their Ettrick pen, to Donald Rankin, Isle of Skye. He’s a son of last year’s £29,000 seller, Garngour Awesome.

Averages; 766 shearling rams £975.20, 164 ram lambs £516.04.

Leading flock averages: Loosebeare (9 sh) £2216.67 Procters (8 sh) £1850 Roxburgh (34 sh) £1757.35 Hartside (13 sh) £1563.85 Greenall (16 sh) £1484.38 Langside (25 sh) £1383.20 Greenarch (14 sh) £1375 Kedzlie (7 sh) £1335.71 Auchry (14 sh) £1257.14 Glenway (29 sh) £1219.66 Swarland (8 sh) £1218.75 Douganhill (11 sh) £1209.09 Brijon (32 sh) £1203.13 Castlecairn (5 la) £1790 Garngour (10 la) £1199

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Demand drives Texel prices at Builth A

n exceptional demand in the Texel rings at the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, drove trade throughout an action-packed day which saw the two Society shearling rings under the auspices of Clee, Tomkinson and Francis achieve clearance rates of 97% and 95%.

Top price of the day was 7000gns for Jonathan Watson’s REW1806390

Meanwhile, Hexham and Northern Marts Texel ring achieved a 76% clearance rate for the shearlings offered there.

Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said commercial buyers were once again a buying force to be reckoned with at Builth Wells, with a clear air of confidence in the breed to deliver.

“Despite what some regard as uncertain times it was clear that commercial customers were willing to maintain their faith in the Texel breed and bid strongly throughout the sale to buy the tups they wanted.”

Leading the day’s prices at 7000gns was one from Jonathan Watson’s Brijon flock, REW1806390. Sired by the £23,000 Midlock Youre the One, he is out of a Brackenridge Strongbow daughter and sold to the Morgan family for the Blaencar flock, Sennybridge, Brecon.

Following him at 6000gns was the champion from the Society’s pre-sale show, the Ingram family’s Logie Durno Braveheart. Sired by Caereinion Ace, he is out of a dam by Livery Ultimatum

Making 6000gns was the champion, Logie Durno Braveheart

and sold to the Priestley family for their Brontemoor flock, Carlisle.

After that came a 5000gns bid for the best of the day from the Reed family’s Scolton flock, Pembrokeshire. This was Scolton Bespoke, a Caereinion Rocket son out of a dam by Caereinion Valuable and was subject to strong bidding before being bought by C D Timm, Appelton Roebuck, York.

And a 4400gns call secured the best of the day from Michael and Ella James’ Duhonw flock. This was JMU1806382, a shearling

by Strathbogie Yamaha and out of a dam

by Meinspride Usain. Buying this one in a two-way split were Jonathan Watson, for the Brijon flock, Northumberland and Ben Marsden, Liley Farms,Yorkshire.

Following that came two 4000gns bids, the first of which was paid for Canllefaes Bruno from W T Davies and Co, Cardigan.

Sired by Talcoed You Know, he’s out of a dam by Scolton Uranium and was bought

by H R Jones, Painscastle, Powys.

Second at this price was the best of the day from A E Williams and Son’s Clun flock, Clun Big Boy. He’s a son of Craig Douglas Ya Belter, with his mother being sired by Glenside Uri. He was taken by R E and C J Davies,Yockleton, Shrewsbury.

A 3600gns call then secured Paul Johnson’s Corriecravie Benchmark, the first prize winner in the recorded class in the pre-sale and the reserve overall champion. With Sportsmans Alonso as his sire, he is out

Selling at 5000gns was Scolton Bespoke from the Reed family

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Females Topping the female trade were a brace of 1100gns bid for gimmers. First to take this call was one from the Usk Vale Pedigrees’ pen, UVP1803342, a Strathbogie Ya Belter daughter out of a dam by Anglezarke Uno. She was bought by W R David and Sons, Llanharry, Glamorgan.

of a dam by the homebred Corriecravie Union Pacific and sold with an index in the top 1% of the breed. Buying this one was Alan Jackson, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Then came two at 3000gns. First to this price was another from the Ingram family, Granite Bay City Roller, a son of Elmscleugh Assasin out of a dam by Deveronvale Warrior and with an index in the top 5%. He went to the Arnott family, Haymount, Kelso.

The other at this price was a Greenarch tup from John Elliot, HEV1806474.

This son of Craig Farm Wizard out of a Claybury dam by Cosyn Texels Viking sold to L Hadfield and Son, Peak Forest, Buxton.

The Chave family then sold Peacehay Bread Winner II at 2900gns, with this one being by Deveronvale Warrior and out of a ewe by Scrogtonhead U Stoater. He found a new home with H and E Powell, Rhayader, Powys.

Making 2700gns was another from the Davies family, Canllefaes Bang On. Again

by Talcoed You Know, he’s out of a dam

by Young Venture Vantastic and headed home with Charles Scott, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.

Ram Lambs Topping ram lamb trade at 2300gns was Teilo Clobyn from John Eirian Davies and family. By Clinterty Yogi Bear, he is out of a dam by Crewburn Silver Spur and has an index in the top 10% of the breed. Buying this one was C J Fielder, Timsbury, Romsey.

Next best at 2000gns was Robert Bennett’s, Plasucha Casino Royale. This son of homebred Plasucha All Star is out of a ewe by Glenside Willie Winkie.

Michael and Ella James took 4400gns for JMU1806382

Topping the ram lambs was Teilo Clobyn at 2300gns.

Then trading at the same money was Donald MacPherson’s best of the day, with this lamb bought by Ben Lowe for the Rue Wood flock, Wem, Shrewsbury. This was Hexel Cognac, a daughter of Plasucha All Star and out of a dam by Duncryne Uber Cool.

Two then followed that at 1700gns, the first was Euros Jones’ Ynystoddeb Cob. Sired by Sportsmans A Star, he is out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan and was the pick of D Roberts, Cefn, Denbighshire.

The other at this level was Will and Archie Dorrell’s Stonegrove Centurian. This son of the £23,000 Midlock Youre The One is out of a dam by Caereinion U R The One and was well fancied by the ringside, being knocked down to W H Edwards, Llanddew, Brecon.

Euros Jones then sold another at 1500gns.

This was Ynystoddeb Cornerstone, a Mullan Awesome son out of a dam by Hexel Wildcard. He was taken by W Jones, Ffairfach, Carmarthenshire.

Also at this price was Usk Vale Charmer from Usk Vale Pedigrees, with this one being by Hexel Born To Be Wild and out of a dam by Cornmore Velvet Jacket.

He was the choice of the Ingram family, Aberdeenshire, for the Logie Durno flock.

Second to make this price was the female champion from the Wilodge flock of Paul and Christine Tippetts, TIP1801955. She’s

by Deveronvale Ace of Diamonds and out of a dam by Baltier Thunderbird. Buying this one was Michael Owens, Pontsaen, Ceredigion.

Following those at 1000gns was one from the Morgan family’s Blaencar consignment, YME1805471. She’s by a Strathbogie sire and out of a dam by Knap Vinnie Jones and was taken by D G and E A Thomas, Login, Whitland.

Close behind at 950gns was another from Usk Vale Pedigrees in the form of UVP1803342. Again by Strathbogie Ya Belter, she’s out of a Garngour Upperclass daughter and sold to T D and J M L Rees, Dolfach, Llangadog.

Another from the same home then sold at 850gns, with this being UVP1803445.

Again by Ya Belter, she’s out of a dam by Sportsmans Trojan II and was knocked down to O E M and E M Jones.

Taking the best ewe lamb price of the day at 750gns was Iolo Prys Jones’ first prize winner, JLI1902677 from the Llangwm flock. She’s by Milnbank Brisbane and out of a Baltier Vampire daughter. This one headed home with S Thomas, Llangadog.

Averages; 619 shearling rams £766.53 (+£84.27), 319 ram lambs £372, 67 gimmers £454.48, 32 ewe lambs £257.91.

Best from the Davies family was Canllefaes Bruno at 4000gns

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Deveronvale flock continues to deliver top genetics Graham Morrison - Aberdeenshire

G

raham Morrison’s Deveronvale flock made national headlines back in 2009, with the sale of the recordbreaking Deveronvale Perfection at 220,000gns.

But by selective breeding and keeping sight of all-important commercial attributes, Graham has ensured that his flock has been far more than a ‘one-hit wonder’ in the 10 years following that phenomenal sale.

A pallet dealer by trade, Graham first bought into the breed almost 20 years ago, purchasing two gimmers at Thainstone.

“My dad always had Suffolks, so I was used to pedigree sheep and I liked the look of Texels, although I had no experience of the breed. I wasn’t happy with the first couple that I bought, so at that point, I decided, if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right and buy the best I could afford,” says Graham.

“I mainly focused on good bodies and skins and bought from some of the top flocks, including Garngour, Muiresk and Knock.”

“He was always a lamb that stood out; when he was a month old, I phoned Robbie Scott and told him to come and have a look at him, as I just thought there was something special about him. However, I never dreamed he’d make what he did!

“The morning after the sale I was interviewed live on the radio, and to this day, I can’t remember what I said, I was in a daze!”

Graham says his first ‘breakthrough’ came in 2008, with the sale of Deveronvale Oddie at 12,000gns. He had bought a half share of his dam, HAK05030, from George Howie of Knock, back in 2005, which proved a shrewd buy.

However, Graham admits that once you make a price like that, it’s difficult not to be disappointed when you go back to receiving more realistic prices.

“In 2006, we flushed that gimmer and got two embryos, which George and I split. I got a ewe lamb, MGV07251, which turned out to be the dam of Perfection.

“I’ve tried to work on being consistent and producing a batch of good quality lambs and gimmers every year. I think keeping that up year after year is the most important thing.”

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There have been many more highlights over the years though, and just two years ago, the Millars Windbrook son, Deveronvale Ace of Diamonds, sold at 50,000gns, to the Sportsmans flock.

There was also the Mullan Vivaldi-sired Deveronvale Warrior at 19,000gns in 2015 and, last year, the Mullan Armani son Deveronvale Braveheart, made 15,000gns.

Graham says: “The type of females that breed well for me tend to be the big, bright and bold ones, with plenty of character, but it’s not always easy to find the right rams to match the females.

Apart from anything else, they have to be good on their legs, with good conformation. I’ve been guilty of buying tups in the past with great heads and nothing else, but the faults always come through in the breeding, which does your flock no good in the long-term.

“Pedigree sheep need to be flashy, but they need to have a bit of size and be good on their legs too.”

The flock numbers are kept to between 35 and 40 ewes and Graham says he is particularly selective when it comes to keeping females for breeding. Likewise, if tups don’t breed well, they don’t get a second chance. The 10 best ewes are flushed each year and the sale gimmers are AI’d, with the rest of the flock tupped naturally, to lamb from mid-February.

Graham also cites the homebred MGV1200331, as one of the best breeding lines in the flock. A Glenside Razzle Dazzle daughter, out of Perfection’s sister, she has produced gimmers at 7000gns and 6000gns and a ram lamb at 6000gns.

This year’s lambs were mainly off Sportsmans Benchmark – a tup bought jointly with Strathbogie last year for 26,000gns – and the home-bred Deveronvale Aftershock, a Strathbogie Yes Sir son which had been destined for Lanark in 2017, but unfortunately broke his leg in the run up to the sale.

Graham explains: “He was a cracker of a lamb and the vet gave him little chance after he broke his leg, but we decided to try pinning it. Luckily it came alright after a lot of nursing. I’ve sold some semen off him and used him quite heavily on my own flock.

“His dam, MGV1400644, is another particularly good breeder in the flock. She’s also the dam of a gimmer we sold to Sportsmans for 9000gns.”

With the pallet business taking up much of Graham’s time, he’s happy to keep the sheep numbers as they are and plans to continue building up his small pedigree Limousin herd, which runs alongside 40 cross cows. After purchasing Inchbruich Farm, at Cornhill, Banff, in 2007, he later took on the rent of the neighbouring farm, giving him 185 acres in all.

Tup lambs are sold at Lanark and Thainstone, and Graham also sells 20-25 gimmers annually, at Carlisle, Thainstone and privately. There’s always plenty of demand for them, with last year’s Carlisle batch of 11 selling to average £3021 and topping at 9000gns. In 2017, they peaked at 7000gns and averaged £2689 for 13.

Help comes in the form of shepherd/stockman Stuart Hunter, who has encouraged Graham to show his sheep locally, which he’s never had time to do himself. This has reaped rewards in the past two years, winning championships at Grantown, Keith and New Deer.

In a quest to keep the female lines as strong as possible, Graham has splashed out on a few gimmers over the years, many of which have made their mark in the flock.

“Stuart has a lot more patience than me for showing the sheep.

He also helps out with the cattle when I need him, as does local stockman Garry Patterson,” says Graham.

In 2009 he paid 2000gns for an Allanfauld gimmer by Baltier Nailer, which went on to breed daughters that sold at 4000gns and 2100gns. Then there was the Strathbogie gimmer, IJS1300278, bought for 14,000gns in 2014, which produced the 50,000gns Ace of Diamonds and bred the dam of the 15,000gns Braveheart.

One contest that Graham has entered for many years though, is the North East Club’s flock competition, which the Deveronvale flock has won eight times in the past 10 years. And with his attention to detail with the females in the flock, this is certainly one that he hopes to continue to strive in.

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Commercial focus for Canllefaes flock

W T Davies & Co - Cardigan

A

commercial focus dedicated to breeding long, shapey tups with a sharp outlook is the ethos for the brother and sister team behind the increasingly successful Cardigan-based Canllefaes flock.

Established back in 1979 the flock has risen to national prominence over the last few seasons, following high priced sales at the English National Sale, Worcester, and ongoing success at the main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.

Indeed, in only their first year of selling shearling rams at Worcester Euros and Myfanwy Davies saw their pen leader, Canllefaes Bright Spark, sell for the flock’s best price to date of 10,000gns at this year’s fixture.

That followed hot on the heels of their success at the same venue last year with a gimmer which sold for 5500gns to the Sportsmans flock of Messrs Boden and Davies. This was DWC1701470, a Brackenridge Yonder daughter and out of a Scrogtonhead Pioneer daughter.

Bright Spark, meanwhile, is by Talcoed You Know and out of a dam by Young Venture Vantasitc and sold to join Ian Hunter, Dachirla Farms, Perthshire. In a rare occurrence in modernday Texel breeding, his sire, Talcoed You Know was purchased for less than 1000gns, in fact he cost the family less than 700gns when bought as a ram lamb at the Welsh National Sale, Welshpool, in 2016.

“He fitted the bill for us the minute we saw him,” explains Euros. “He had stretch and plenty of shape, for some he maybe lacked a bit of head, but we knew we had ewes that he would work well with.”

And so it has proved, with You Know a prolific sire in the last two years, including last year’s 5200gns NSA Main Ram Sale topper Canllefaes All Rounder, a ram which had stood champion in the pre-sale show at the same event. He is also sire of both the 4000gns Canllefaes Bruno and the 2700gns Canllefaes Bang On sold at Builth this year.

With just a handful of females forming the foundation of the flock back in the late 1970s and few others joining since the family have strived to breed sheep suited to their system and the local environment on a coastal farm which is exposed to the best and worst of the west Wales weather.

“The aim is to breed Texels which thrive off grass with ewes receiving little supplementary feeding and lambs only creep fed for six weeks or so.

“We only creep feed lambs until the grass is well and truly growing. With a 90-cow dairy herd on the farm too we have to Lifestyle

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prioritise grass for cow grazing and ensure a good first cut of silage early in the season, so creep feeding the lambs helps fill that gap,” says Euros.

However, once creep feed is removed then lambs see no more feed until feeding begins for the shearling rams the following June ahead of the autumn sales season, says Myfanwy. “All the lambs are shorn in mid-September and run at grass all winter with the ewe lambs seeing no hard feed until the run up to their first lambing.”

That simple approach to flock management extends to breeding too, with the 110-ewe flock all served naturally with no AI or ET used in the flock. “We have tried AI a couple of times, but it hasn’t worked well for us, so we’ve stuck with natural service. It helps keep costs down too.”

As a result, stock rams are used widely across the flock, with it not uncommon for a ram to be expected to cover 60 or so ewes a season. “Having rams with that ability as our stock rams helps give us the confidence that our breeding can perform in the commercial conditions our customers operate in,” says Myfanwy.

“That sale is our barometer each year. All the time we are achieving an average of £1100-1200 with repeat customers coming back regularly then we know we’re doing things about right.”

With competition in Wales coming from hybrid ram producers both Euros and Myfanwy are confident their type of Texel will stay in demand all the time they can find the right stock rams to move the flock forward each year. “We know our ewes are the right type, it is just a matter of buying the right tup to maximise the potential within them.

“We don’t performance record at the moment, but may well consider it again in the next few years as demand for recorded stock is definitely increasing among our customer base. There is a lot more interest in recording from the younger generation and we know that when we sell rams to recorded flocks they go on and do well,” says Euros.

Looking back on influential stock rams Myfanwy says Scrotgtonhead Pioneer is one of note, being in the back breeding of the 5500gns gimmer and having left many strong females within the flock.

When it comes to selecting stock tups Euros says that since the flock stopped showing in the late 1990s and concentrated on the commercial shearling ram trade the emphasis has been on length, correctness, good skins and shape.

“Ballyglonney Easy Going and Millend Homegrown are another two which have done well for us in the past, with homebred Canllefaes Goldstar and Scolton Uranium also having left good legacies within the flock.

“We have to focus on what the customers want and the commercial market is looking for those attributes with neat heads. They want a ram that looks over the hurdle not through it, but they don’t want oversize heads which could cause lambing issues.

“Easy Going was a game changer for us, he came in to the flock at about the time we were changing our type to stretchier sheep and he did a great job in that era.”

“A lot of our tups go on to breed rams for other breeders, while others go to commercial lamb producers looking to breed premium quality lambs for both the liveweight and deadweight trade,” he says.

And, with a new stock tup purchased from the Scrogton flock at this year’s Kelso Ram Sales, the family are looking to increase flock numbers up to 150 in the coming years to ensure they can continue to serve the demand for tups. “We sell 60-70 shearling tups a year and I think we can probably sell more of the right type,” says Euros who adds that until recent years the flock hasn’t sold females, but demand is growing for those too.

And, while National Sale highlights have come in recent years the family says it is the pen average at the Main NSA Ram Sale which they see as the determining factor in their success each year.

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ET BN fees

£7.16

(£8.60 Inc VAT)

(£2.64 Inc VAT)

(£2.53 Inc VAT)

£7.62

£7.38

(£9.15 Inc VAT)

(£8.85 Inc VAT)

(£2.93 Inc VAT)

£7.86

(£9.43 Inc VAT)

(£12.65 Inc VAT)

£15.80

(£18.96 Inc VAT)

(£14.64 Inc VAT)

£17.62

(£21.14 Inc VAT)

Female Registrations and Import Registrations (having previously been birth notified) By 15th June in Year of Birth (YOB)

Method

16th June YOB - 31st October in year following YOB

Online Online

Tel/Paper

Online Online

Tel/Paper

£5.35 £5.53

£6.41

£6.00

£6.95

(£6.42 (£6.64 Inc IncVAT) VAT)

(£7.69 Inc VAT)

(£7.20 Inc VAT)

(£8.34 Inc VAT)

1st November year following YOB onwards

Online Online

Tel/Paper

£8.96

£10.37

(£10.75 Inc VAT)

(£146.76 Inc VAT)

(£12.44 Inc VAT)

Transfers (only fully registered sheep can be transferred)

Method

Paper £11.65

(£13.98 Inc VAT)

Male Registrations and Import Registrations (having previously been birth notified) 1st July - 31st Oct

1st Nov - 31st Dec

Method

1st Jan - 30th June

Tel/Paper £30.58

£45.87

(£36.70 Inc VAT)

(£55.04 Inc VAT)

£61.15

(£73.38 Inc VAT)

Male registration will only be permitted once a genotype has been issued by the laboratory and has been received by the Society office. For purchased rams that require male registration, the Society requires “proof of purchase” in the form of a “ram docket” or a copy of the “invoice of sale”.

Genetic Improvement Service Flock Fee

Fees £95.00 Additional £/ewe

First 50 ewes

£2.55

51 -150 ewes

£2.05

151 – 400 ewes

£1.00

> 401 ewes

Speak to the society office

Terms of Membership relating to fees Please note ALL new members are required to set up a Direct Debit payment and use our online services. New members pay a joining fee and a subscription fee.

Thereafter an annual subscription fee from 1st October each year.

Adult Joining Fee - £75.00 inc VAT Annual Subscription Fee - £56.00 inc VAT Junior (up to age 21) Joining Fee - £37.50 inc VAT Annual Subscription Fee - £28.00 inc VAT The VAT inclusive prices include VAT at 20% and may be adjusted at any time. (other than the annual subscription which has part VAT relief applied).

Flock size is based on the total number of ewes (including recipients) that have a lambing event recorded on the BASCO database that year.

60 Autumn 2019

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