Texel Sheep Society Members' Bulletin Autumn 2020

TEXEL The bulletin for all

Virtual shows a hit p10

Breeders A Texel Society Publication

OCTOBER 2020

Latest from Society R & D p16 Society Sales see records smashed p6

Keeping it simple at Tynewydd p38

Sportsmans Double Diamond sparkles at

350,000gns In Touch with Texel #addtexeladdvalue

Last date for Christmas orders 30th November 2020

• FLEECES • TRAVEL MUGS • POLO SHIRTS • HATS • AND MORE

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Register your new stock rams now.

Email registrations@texel.co.uk to request a DNA kit, ensuring you include the ram’s ID, your flock code and proof of purchase for bought in rams

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Autumn 2020

texel.uk

TEXEL

Overcoming adversity, a year to Breeders Bulletin remember for many reasons! texel.uk

Texel Bulletin is published by the Texel Sheep Society Ltd twice a year in Spring and Autumn.

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 and texelplus registrations@texel.co.uk cataloguing@texel.uk Accounts accounts@texel.co.uk Society Governance Chief Executive John Yates Chairman Roy Campbell Cowal and Royel flocks Vice Chairman Jeff Aiken Procters and Tatham Hall flocks Treasurer Andy Barr Parkhouse flock Contributors Jonathan Long, Lynsey Clark and Society staff Photography Country Girl Media, MacGregor Photography, Tim Scrivener, Alfie Shaw, 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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W

elcome to the Autumn edition of the Society Bulletin, after what has been an extraordinary spring and summer it was great to get some normality back in to Society activities with National and Club Sales.

The Society is grateful to all members for their assistance and understanding in working within the guidelines and restrictions which were in place at these sales and making them such a success.

Prime lamb trade through the summer months has once again shown the value that Texel sires can add to their progeny, with Texel cross lambs often to be found achieving top prices both per head and on a p/kg basis across the UK. This gave commercial producers a welcome confidence boost and resulted in them investing heavily in Texel sires at sales in every corner of the country. It was not uncommon to see commercial buyers competing with pedigree breeders for the rams on offer, particularly in shearling ram rings.

Texel cross females have also been in great demand and the versatile nature of the breed as both a terminal and maternal sire continues to attract new buyers and breeders.

The launch of the Society’s new iTexel database earlier in the year has been a welcome addition to the Society’s resources and enabled breeders quicker, more intuitive access to their flock records and made the sales entry procedure a much more seamless, straightforward process for all involved.

A number of additional resources within iTexel are still in development and will be rolled out over the coming months, further increasing the offering to members.

I would, though, remind members of the need for them to maintain accuracy within their flock records and ensure ewe lists are up to date at all times. This improves the use of

iTexel for all concerned, removing out old data from flock records, enabling quicker and easier searching of information.

On top of iTexel, Society staff have also been busy with texelplus this summer and the changes made to the service over the last 12 months have started to bear fruit.

With all the uncertainty of the last six months it is important to recognise the crucial role played in the Society by both the board of directors and the small, but dedicated team of Society staff.

Special thanks also go to two stalwarts of the Society, David McKerrow and Steve Richardson, who have both served terms as chairman along with many years of dedicated service on the board.

This year has been one of immense challenges and it is likely 2021 will be another unprecedented year too. The dedication and versatility shown by the board and staff has been exceptional and allowed the Society to continue operating, on a day to day basis, very much as usual.

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 2020

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October 2020 6

18

National Sales break records

8

10

Latest Society R&D news

New 50,000gns female record

Virtual Shows prove a hit

NEWS

TECHNICAL CORNER

6

National Sales success despite Covid-19

16 R&D exploitation supports texelplus

7

New board members elected

18 Update on novel R&D programme supporting genetic improvement

10 Virtual Shows prove popular 14 Education awards reward students

4

Autumn 2020

texel.uk

20

Record average at Lanark

36

Correctness counts at Drumbreddan

28

38

High clearance at Welsh National Sale

Simplicity key for Tynewydd

SALES

LIFESTYLE

20 Double Diamond proves a cut above at Lanark 23 Lanark gimmers sell to 5800gns

36 Females are centre of attention at Drumbreddan

24 Double Trouble tops English National

38 Simple system suits Tynewydd

25 Class Act plays lead role Worcester 28 Class leads Welsh National 30 Denzil’s day at Ballymena 32 Kelso replacement sees £12,000 topper 34 Strong trading at Hereford and Llandovery

texel.uk

Autumn 2020

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News

Society Matters

National Sales gross more than £2m

Following a summer of uncertainty when their very existence was in doubt, the Society’s National Sales delivered 10 days of fireworks for breeders the length and breadth of the UK. Despite the Society choosing to reduce entry levels, with numbers reduced by 20-30% at all four National Sales to assist and safeguard members due to Covid-19 restrictions, the four National Sales grossed a new record of £2,047,433, with all of them increasing revenues compared to 2019 figures, as well as increasing averages and clearance rates at many of the sales.

Online bidding added an additional, successful dimension to both the Scottish and Northern Irish National Sales, with a significant number of sheep being sold this way while online bids also bolstered prices for sheep sold ringside.

However, no one connected to the Texel breed can have failed to hear about Sportsmans Double Diamond, the new world record priced sheep sold by Charlie Boden and family for 350,000gns which made headlines across the world.

This lamb led an exceptional sales season for the Bodens which saw their seven lambs from the Sportmans flock at Lanark average more than £76,500, with a further three from the Mellor Vale flock levelling at £18,322. In addition, the Sportsmans flock topped Worcester at 16,000gns.

The success of Double Diamond earned the Sportsmans flock another record when it made the Boden family the first breeder of any species of farmed livestock in the UK to sell three animals at six figure prices, having previously sold Sportsmans A Star for 130,000gns and Sportsmans Batman for 100,000gns.

However, while the Sportsmans flock has been grabbing the headlines, the success was well spread at all the sales, with a record ram lamb average at Lanark and a record shearling ram average at Worcester, providing further evidence of the effort all members have achieved in turning out a high standard of stock.

buyers for their support during these challenging times, as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

“The team at the Society put in an extraordinary effort to help support the success of the National sales, it is a relief to have them completed so successfully for all involved.

The Board’s focus on constant review and improvement has also provided new investment in many areas of Society services with the launch of the new iTexel database proving popular.

“This has proved particularly important during the sales season with the introduction of the online sales entry system. This has supported the cataloguing of more than 40 sales and 10,000 sheep. Removing the need for unnecessary posting and mailing has been critical, particularly during the pandemic.

These successes were backed up by exceptional clearance rates across all four National Sales, the highlights being an 80% clearance in the gimmers at Welshpool and a 90% clearance in the ram lambs at Ballymena, as well as a 96% clearance in the shearling rams at the same venue.

“The strong prime sheep trade throughout the last 12 months and particularly the strong trade seen for prime lambs throughout the summer months has given both pedigree and commercial buyers a welcome confidence boost and this was reflected in trade at all four sales.

Society chief executive John Yates said the success of the National Sales in these unprecedented times was thanks to the support of the auctioneers at all four venues and thanked both vendors and

“Commercial buyers were regularly competing with pedigree buyers for the rams they wanted and the demand for gimmers from both new and established breeders was resolute at both National and Club sales,” he added.

News

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Autumn 2020

texel.uk

Society Matters

Exports head to the Continent A small number of exports that have been reported to the Society, have taken place over the summer months, with both the Ettrick and Lintalee flocks exporting animals to the Netherlands and the Aman flock sending a ram lamb to France.

From the Ettrick flock Gordon Gray exported GGH1909210 to Hans Kolk, Netherlands.

He is by the £29,000 Garngour Awesome and out of a dam which is an ET sister to the 11,000gns Clinterty Yuga Khan daughter that sold at the Select Seven Sale in 2018.

Meanwhile, Maurice HardyBishop has exported two ram lambs and a shearling ram to join Herman Aa’s flock.

Society Matters

iTexel records Following the introduction of iTexel the Society will no longer be issuing the annual flock census forms. Members are required to keep their flock records up to date to ensure accurate record keeping. Flock records can be quickly and simply updated using iTexel and accessing the ‘Flock Admin’ pages. Anyone without an iTexel login should contact the office by emailing registrations@texel.co.uk

Society Matters

Board elections Following elections in four regions this summer three new board members have been elected unopposed, with a ballot taking place in the East and South East of England region.

Elected unopposed were Bridget Booker of the Towy flock for the two-year vacancy in the South Wales and Borders region, Sam Beachell of the Samsar flock for the seat in the North East of England region and John Elliot of the Roxburgh flock in the South East of Scotland region, with both of these being four year terms.

Following a ballot Steve Martin retained his seat in the East and South East of England region.

Board chairman Roy Campbell congratulated those newly elected board members and thanked their predecessors for the time they had given to the Society, particularly Steve Richardson and David McKerrow, both of whom had given many years of service and had occupied the chair during their terms on the board.

“The dedication given by all board members to Society affairs often goes unseen by the wider membership. However, it should never be underestimated, particularly in years such as this when plans are constantly changed due to circumstances beyond the Society’s control.”

The shearling ram, Lintalee Charlie Brown, is by Ettrick Aerosmith and out of a dam

by Alwent Wedger.

Meanwhile, the first of the ram lambs is Lintalee Da Vinci, a Garngour Alabama son out of another dam by Aerosmith.

The second lamb is Lintalee Douwe Aabbert. He’s again

by Alabama and is out of another Aerosmith daughter.

John and Gloria Davies enjoyed export success when selling Aman Dihafal. Sired by the £30,000 Midcombe Brigadier, he is out of a homebred dam by Steddfa Ultimate.

He sold to join French breeders Christophe Pery and Guillaume Dufour in Picardy, Northern France.

Obituaries

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

David Melling - Maddocks September 2020

Margaret Hartwright Whitehart - July 2020

Freda Cockerill - Ryerigg September 2020

Michelle Moore – Millennium - June 2020

Christine Martyn - Barnage - August 2020

SHROPSHIRE & BORDERS CLUB Evening Sale of In-Lamb Females

on Thursday 17th December 2020 at Welshpool Market Call Welshpool Livestock Sales

on 01938 553 438

News texel.uk

Autumn 2020

7

2021 NATIONAL SHOW & SALE DATES

Society Matters

Scottish National LANARK 25th - 26th August Judge Andrew Clark - Teiglum Welsh National WELSHPOOL 28th August Judge Naomi O’ Hare - Millburn English National WORCESTER 30th August - 31st August Judge James Draper - Claybury Northern Irish National BALLYMENA 4th September Judge Geraint Williams - Dragon

Society Matters

Ram registrations Members are reminded to register rams as early as possible to avoid late fees. In all cases the Society must have the ID of the animal (flockbook number, or UK number) and the flock code of the member requesting the DNA kit.

For bought-in rams the Society needs to see proof of purchase before sending out a DNA kit. For homebred animals, the member just needs to request a kit.

Glanllyn gimmer sets 50,000gns female record A blistering female trade for the gimmer draft from Edward Pugh’s Glanllyn flock saw a new Texel breed female record price of 50,000gns set at the Solway and Tyne Sale.

Setting the new mark was the much admired and equally hard fought for PUG1901032, an Eden Valley Wiz Kid daughter out of a dam by the 145,000gns Knap Vicious Sid. She goes back to a 7500gns Sportsmans gimmer and sold in a two-way split to Charlie Boden for the Sportsmans flock and Robert Cockburn for the Knap flock.

Such was the demand for the Glanllyn gimmers that the 12 sold averaged an impressive £13,300, believed to be a new record average for a pen of gimmers.

Society Matters

Dayna bids farewell The Society this autumn says goodbye to long-standing member of staff Dayna Zambelis.

For many, a regular point of contact when it came to registering stock or entering animals for Society sales, Dayna has been with the Society for more than 16 years.

Dayna started work at the Society in 2004 during Keith Campbell’s chairmanship and was instrumental in the roll out and management of the Basco database.

Birth notifications cannot be processed without a sire DNA sample.

Ironically her retirement comes during Roy Campbell’s chairmanship and following the launch of the replacement to the Basco database with iTexel.

Society chief executive John Yates said Dayna’s dedication to the Society and its membership over many years had helped ensure the smooth management of both registrations and cataloguing to the benefit of all involved.

“Dayna is much loved by many of the members and I know many of them will join me in wishing her well in her retirement from the Society. Everyone at the Society office and on the Society board is extremely grateful for all Dayna has done for the Society throughout the time she has been there.”

News

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Autumn 2020

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Society Matters

Society Matters

Go online for cheaper fees Members are reminded that significant savings can be made by using the Society’s online facilities to undertake birth notifications and registrations, with savings of about 30% compared with continuing to birth notify or register via the paper system.

stock in demand Texelplus ram lambs at the English National levelled the day at £1371, with a 73% clearance rate, while non-recorded ram lambs saw an average of £1004, with a clearance rate 6% lower.

The value of texelplus recording shone through again at the Society’s National Sales, with recorded ram lambs in strong demand at many sales, notably the flagship Scottish National Sale, Lanark.

Texelplus ram lambs averaged £8863 for those sold at Lanark, while non-recorded ram lambs levelled the sale at £2580.

Admittedly, the texelplus figure includes the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond. However, even with this record-breaking lamb removed the average for texelplus ram lambs still sits at £4942, more than £2300 higher than the non-recorded ram lambs.

Tellingly, it was lambs in the upper echelons of texelplus figures which recorded the best averages, with those below average struggling to average above the £1100 mark.

Recorded shearling ewes were similarly well sought after, averaging £1646, some £525 higher than non-texelplus gimmers.

It was a similar story at the English National where texelplus gimmers achieved an average of £1560, more than £550 higher than their non-texelplus counterparts.

And at the Welsh National both texelplus shearling rams and ram lambs were well sought after, with texelplus shearlings ending the day with an average of £1259, while non-texelplus shearlings sold to level at £1075.

In the ram lambs the non-recorded entries sold to an average of £630, some £45 behind their texeplus counterparts, with a clearance rate 8% behind texelplus ram lambs too.

Ed Smith the Society’s data and technical services manager said the performance of texelplus sheep at these sales demonstrated the value which breeders and commercial buyers placed on the extra insight which recording can give them.

“Evidence from commercial sales and feedback from texelplus recorders across the country backs this up, with commercial sheep farmers keen to use every tool available when selecting rams for their flocks,” he added.

Society Matters

Names for 2021 born lambs begin with the letter…

E

On top of that, being a digital member and making full use of iTexel means members can have finger tip access to their latest flock information via their smartphone, tablet or desktop computer and make changes wherever they are.

Society Matters

Parentage requests The Society manages a small number of parentage requests each year. Where a member requests a parentage check a sample is required from the animal being tested and at least one parent.

DNA samples collected as part of the Society’s ram registration process are currently only collected for research (not commercial) reasons, so are only used in exceptional circumstances following approval from the Society.

Society Matters

Buying and selling females Members selling females for pedigree breeding should remember that they must be fully registered prior to sale and transfer. It should be noted that the registration of females is the responsibility of the breeder, not the new owner.

News texel.uk

Autumn 2020

9

Society Matters

Virtual shows prove a hit The absence of summer shows during 2020 led to a number of regional breeders’ clubs taking a creative approach and hosting their own virtual shows via social media.

Congratulations to all those members who took part in these shows and to the winners of each competition.

Scottish Texel Breeders Club

North West Texel Breeders Club

In the Scottish Texel Breeders Club Sale the overall champion was a ewe lamb from the MacGregor family’s Allanfauld flock, XMM2019396.

Then in the North West Texel Breeders Club Show the top spot went to Ben Lowe with his ewe lamb LWE2000235, with this one being by the 70,000gns Teiglum Younggun and out of a Bryn-Y-Coed Yogi Bear.

Sired by Teiglum Brave, she is out of a homebred dam by Garngour Yeltsin.

Reserve champion in this show was Garngour Draycote, a ram lamb from J & H Clark’s Garngour flock. He’s by Procters Chumba Wumba and out of a dam by Crailloch Ammunition.

Northern Irish Texel Breeders Club Across in Northern Ireland the Northern Irish Texel Breeders Club held their annual Volac Show Awards as an online competition.

Taking the championship here was Roger Strawbridge with a gimmer from the Tamnamoney flock, SRY1901969. She’s

by Clark’s Bolt and out of a Duncryne Uber Cool-sired dam.

Following her in reserve was Jennifer Aiken’s gimmer from the Coniston flock, AXC1900105. She’s a daughter of the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman and is out of an Annan ewe

by Procters Vagabond.

Dyfed Texel Breeders Club In Wales the Dyfed Club’s show was won by Steve Lewis’ Karven flock with a shearling ram, Karven Class Act. He’s by Strathbogie Youie and out of a dam by Knock Firefly.

Reserve to him was a gimmer from John and Gloria Davies’ Aman flock, DYA1900716. She is by Knap Angus Oag and out of a homebred dam by the 10,000gns Glenside Ring A Ding.

In reserve spot was the Mullan family with their one-crop ewe MUC1800510. This one is a daughter of Drumgooland Aga Khan out of a homebred dam by Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold.

News

10 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

Society Matters

Society AGM The 2020 AGM of the Texel Sheep Society will be held at 17.00 on Wednesday 11th November at the Woodland Grange Business and Conferencing Centre, Old Milverton Lane, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 6RN. All those planning to attend must register their intention by emailing office@texel. co.uk. Pre-registration is required to ensure adherence to Covid-19 restrictions in place at the venue.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the forty eighth Annual General Meeting of the British Texel Sheep Society Limited will be held at Woodland Grange Conference Centre, Old Milverton Lane, Royal Leamington Spa CV32 6RN, on Wednesday 11th November 2020 at 17.00 for the following purposes.

1.

To Receive apologies for absence

2.

RESOLUTION: Approval of the minutes and Matters Arising of the AGM which took place on 8th November 2019, at the Dunadry Hotel, Co Antrim.

3.

To receive the Chairman’s report

4.

To receive the Chief Executives report

5.

If thought fit, pass the following as a SPECIAL RESOLUTION: That Part 2 of the Articles of Association of the Society be amended by way of the insertion of the following definition in paragraph 1 of Part 2: after the definition of “The Board of Directors” and before the definition of “The Flock Book”: “Electronic Form. A document or information is sent or supplied in electronic form if it is sent or supplied: • electronically (for example, by email); or • in any other way while in an electronic form (for example, by posting on the website of the Society)”

Society Matters

Go Cardless The Society now uses the ‘GoCardless’ service to manage Direct Debits. New members will have received an email generated by the Society using GoCardless to register their DD mandates.

Existing members’ mandates will be transferred over to GoCardless over the coming months.

This provides improved cybersecurity and GDPR protection, removing the need for the Society to store members’ bank details. It also provides a seamless integration into the Society finance software ‘Xero’ providing further efficiencies in member management. * Members who have existing Direct Debit mandates will receive an email from GoCardless, with details on how to convert their mandate.

Please contact the Society if you are unsure what to do if you receive the request from GoCardless.

and by way of the deletion of Articles 35 and 36 in their entirety and their replacement by the wording as shown in full on page 4 & 5 of the AGM booklet and on the Society website at texel.uk/agm 6.

RESOLUTION: To receive, consider and adopt the income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2020 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 2020.

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.

8.

Announcement of Board of Directors election results Area 3 - East of Scotland - John Elliot - Roxburgh - unopposed Area 5 - Northern England - Sam Beachell - Samsar - unopposed Area 7 - East & South East of England - Steve Martin - Broomhall - by ballot Area 11 - South Wales & Borders - Bridget Booker - Towy Texels - 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 2020 The Mechanics Workshop, New Lanark, Lanark, ML11 9DB

Special Resolution Part 2 of the Articles of Association of the Society is to be amended to allow election of the Board of Directors to include electronic forms and emails, and to support this aim by way of the deletion of Articles 35 and 36 in their entirety and their replacement by the wording as shown in full on page 4 & 5 of the AGM booklet and on the Society website at texel.uk/agm

xero accounts Members using Xero to manage their accounts should let the Society know as links can then be provided to enable any invoices to be directly embedded in their accounts system, simplifying accounts management.

Additionally, with all invoices issued by email, members should remember to inform the Society if their email address changes. This will ensure invoices continue to be received. It is also important to check that the Society’s Xero email address is a safe sender in members’ email software.

When you think you should have received an invoice, but haven’t please check your junk email folders.

News texel.uk

Autumn 2020

11

Society Matters

Society Matters

Pedigree certificates

‘How To’ videos

In addition, for texelplus members there are videos on how to use flock reports and how to add weights.

The Society no longer sends out female and male registration certificates. Members are now able to download and save or print certificates for registered animals in their flock through iTexel. The certificates meet the new legislation requirements for Zootechnical certificates and so can be used for exports too.

To download a certificate, go to the ‘Reports’ tab on iTexel, then select Choose Animal from the top of the screen. In the box that opens, start to type in the flockbook number of the animal you need a certificate for, then select the animal from the dropdown list that appears.

To see the videos click the YouTube link from the Society website homepage or go to www.youtube.com/ TexelSheepSociety

Once you’ve selected an animal, press the red Download button and the certificate will download to your device and can be saved and/or printed.

To help members make the most of the Society’s iTexel database and the facilities it offers, a number of ‘How To’ videos are available on the Society’s YouTube channel.

Each video details, step-by-step, how to undertake certain actions using iTexel to manage your flock and ensure your flock data is up to date and accurate.

Videos include; sale entries, how to use flock admin to amend records, how to register females, how to add birth notifications and how to view and download a pedigree certificate.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Friday 18th December 2020 @ 6.30pm Hilltown Livestock Mart BT34 5YN Tel: 028406 30287 / 07707811818

Main consignors: Tullagh, Braehead, Springwell, Blackstown, Mullan, Strathbogie Blackstown gimmer 5000gns Lanark 2020

News

12 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

TEXEL IN-LAMB SALE ALLANFAULD, BRACKENRIDGE, CAIRNAM, DUNCRYNE, FOREMAN HILL, FORKINS, HADDO, HARESTONE, HARTSIDE, HEXEL, MULLAN, NOCHNARY, RHAEADR & STRAWFRANK

IN-LAMB GIMMERS & EWE LAMBS

lawrieandsymington.com

7PM FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2020

TEX EL I N-LAM B SAL E FEATURING: ALDERVIEW, BALLYGROOGAN, BELLEFIELD, DRUMDERG, MAINEVIEW, MILLARS, ROHAN & ROWANDALE

SATURDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2020 12:30PM BALLYMENA LIVESTOCK MART

texel.uk

Autumn 2020

13

Education awards recognise top sheep students

E

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

SRUC

WINNER

GREENMOUNT

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.

WINNER

HARPER ADAMS

The Society’s chairman Roy Campbell says the future of the sheep industry depends on knowledgeable, educated and inspired young people and the Society’s support of these awards is aimed at encouraging students with the ability and passion to drive the sheep industry forward.

ABERYSTWYTH

WINNER

WINNER

At SRUC the 2020 winner was Jack Adkin who investigated the performance of different pure and crossbred animals in terms of lamb survival and growth in an extensive environment.

“The Society’s Educational Awards are unique in the sheep sector and reward the hard work and dedication of students.

They are a core part of the Society’s promotional work to engage with the next generation of sheep producers and decision makers in the sheep sector.”

The Greenmount winner for 2020 was Rachael Jordan for her project investigating faecal egg counts in sheep dung samples in relation to anthelmintic treatment and the lifecycle of Calicophoron daubneyi.

The 2020 winner of the award at Aberystwyth University was Dafydd Roberts for his research project ‘Assessing the impact of adapting drug administration strategies on anthelmintic efficacy and use in lambs.’

At Harper Adams this year’s Educational Award winner was Rebecca Rainey for her dissertation which delved in to the relationship between ewe foot health, body condition score and scanning percentage.

TEXEL IN-LAMB SALE GIMMERS AND EWE LAMBS ALDAN, AULDHOUSEBURN, BALLYGROOGAN, BRADLEYS & FAR HEY, CHARBEN, CHEDWORTH, CLANFIELD, CORSKIE, DROMONBY, EDEN VALLEY, HALBEATH, HAYMOUNT, HOPE VALLEY, MILLARS, ORCHILMORE, PENPARC, PLASUCHA, THORNBURY, YNYSTODDEB

6PM FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2020 BORDERWAY MART, CARLISLE, CA1 2RS

Youth Focus

14 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Club host their female

FARMGENE artificial breeding services

Sale of Pedigree Texel Sheep at CCM SKIPTON

SERVICES FOR THE PEDIGREE SHEEP FARMER On CENTRE and On Farm

Thursday 7th January 2021

Sale of In-Lamb Ewes, Shearling Ewes and Empty Gimmer Lambs OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEXEL SHEEP SOCIETY



Embryo Transfer



ET Flush and Freeze



Artificial Insemination



Semen Freezing



Semen evaluation using Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA)





 

Semen freezing in single dose straws for domestic and/or export use ET donor frozen semen Semen selection and freezing for improved ET outcomes Ram Fertility Testing Export Accredited AI/ET Centre

Sale to commence 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 04.12.20

texel.uk

AI CENTRE ADDRESS: Ensdon House Montford Bridge Shrewsbury SY4 1EJ

Contact details:

Tel: 07813 010386 Email: Ian@farmgene.com f www.facebook.com/FGSheepGoat

www.farmgene.com

Autumn 2020

15

Outputs from the VIA project

T

he VIA project ended in March this year and a successful Project Close Meeting was held remotely to allow interested stakeholders to attend.

The project aimed to deliver novel phenotypes for animal health and carcass merit with a view to integrating them into the Texel breeding programme. Health and performance data from the nucleus pedigree Texel Phenotype Farm Initiative and thousands of related crossbred animals, sourced from commercial flocks, were combined with new, innovative video imaging (VIA) technology and meat hygiene data. Commercial flocks were specifically contracted to use sires in single sire mating groups to create lambs by known sires to go through ABP’s VIA scanner when slaughtered.

As part of the research, genomic breeding values (GEBVs) were produced for more than 50,000 pedigree Texel animals, including those that were genotyped and phenotyped in the Texel Phenotype Farm Initiative flocks and their ancestors. These research values have been provided to the 23 participating flocks along with an analysis of the variation in performance of individual flock animals and the flocks in general.

Mastitis GEBV value

Figure 1. Comparison of the range of GBEV values in Phenotype Farm Initiative flocks for mastitis (upper chart) and footrot (lower chart)

Footrot GEBV value

01 02 04 05 06 09 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29

In addition to the health breeding values produced, the project also developed 15 individual ‘VIA’ breeding values that predict yields of muscle, fat and bone within primal cuts and a whole lamb carcass. Future work will aim to combine this large amount of information into a single index value.

Texel Society CPT to support novel trait data collection To continue the collection of VIA trait data, the Society has developed its own Commercial Progeny Test by initially working with two commercial lamb producers, with the aim to significantly grow this number over the coming years. Sires have been sourced from the membership and provided to commercial producers to produce lambs by known sires.

Lambs produced this spring, from the sires purchased last year, have been sent to ABP throughout the summer and have graded well. This year a further 12 sires have been purchased and their lambs will be followed next year as the Society continues to grow this supply chain to provide increasing volumes of quality slaughter lamb data that will support the evaluations.

Collection of novel heath phenotypes While the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the collection of any phenotypes this year, the Society continually reviews its phenotyping procedures to maximise benefit and minimise disruption. After the first two years of data collection the number and timing of mastitis and footrot phenotypes was refined; and similarly, last year the team again refined the number of measurements to reduce both the time and cost of their collection, while continuing to collect high quality hard-tomeasure phenotypic trait data.

In the coming years the mastitis and footrot programme enters a new stage, supported wholly by the Society. The long-term vision remains to collect health and genotype data from specific flocks, representative of the whole breed, every other year; visiting about half the current flocks in one year and the other half the following year.

This will mean the optimum volume of information can be collected on an annual basis to maintain the breeding values while reducing the impact on participating flocks and ensuring a financially sustainable model is adopted.

Figure 2. Scatter plots identifying the top and bottom 10% of animals with resilience to both mastitis and footrot within a flock 0.3000

0.2000

Genomic reference population to inform future developments and use of genomics in Texel

Mastitis GEBV

0.1000

-0.3000

-0.2000

-0.1000

0.0000 0.0000

0.1000

0.2000

0.3000

-0.1000

Initial studies of Texel ewes’ udder health began in 2012 and in 2015 the Society developed its Pedigree Phenotype Farm Initiative.

This initiative coupled phenotypic with genomic data collection from a range of flocks, representative of the breed population throughout the UK.

-0.2000

-0.3000

Footrot GEBV

Bottom 10% TXL1504840

-0.0856

Mastitis GEBV

-0.1056 -0.1256

TXL1600639 TXL1308471

-0.1456

TXL1700729

-0.1656

TXL1500527

-0.1856 -0.2056 -0.2256 -0.1987

TXL1500510

-0.1487

Footrot GEBV

-0.0987

Top 10%

0.1932

TXL1500526 TXL1400383

TXL1300287 TXL1700659

0.1732

Mastitis GEBV

-0.0656

0.1532 0.1332 0.1132 0.0932

TXL1600578 TXL1800761 TXL1300308 TXL1300359

TXL1300358 TXL1600581

TXL1200206 TXL1500520 TXL1200208 TXL1100331 TXL1500519 TXL1400392 TXL08508

0.0732 0.0636

0.1136

0.1636

0.2136

Footrot GEBV

0.2636

0.3136

At the time there was no standardised method of data collection for hard-to-measure traits, nor a database of phenotyped and genotyped pedigree animals of any sheep breed in the UK. Technical Corner

16 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

Over the last five years, the pioneering efforts of the Society, with support from the SRUC research team, have ensured that more than 4500 Texel ewes have been genotyped using the very latest genomic SNP chips and have had their feet and udders phenotyped up to six times.

This has resulted in more than 7000 hard-to-measure mastitis phenotypes and more than 9000 footrot phenotypes. In this time, the Society, in co-operation with the research team has designed scoring methods for hard-to-measure disease traits to ensure reliable phenotypes are collected and importantly ensured they are proven and effective for use in Texel sheep.

As the Phenotype Farm Initiative transitions, the Society is looking to sustain its genomic reference population to benefit all members that choose to use the information and service.

This reference population comprises both phenotypes and genotypes and means that the Society-supported cohort of Phenotype Farms enables whole-breed development, providing benefits for all stakeholders that rely on Texel.

This reference population also means that GEBVS can accurately be provided for any animal, irrespective of the individual animal having any measurements (phenotypes) taken by genotyping it and applying the prediction equations.

The Society has major plans for developing its commercial services, incorporating novel breeding values into the routine evaluations.

Figure 3. How a Reference Population can be used to predict genomic breeding values for the wider population

Reference population

Phenotypes + Genotypes

Relationship between measurements and genetic markers Prediction equations

Genetic relationships Genotypes +

Genomic predictions

Prediction equations Main population Glossary

PHENOTYPE FARM INITIATIVE A cohort of texelplus member flocks that form the basis of the Society’s reference population. Additional phenotype and genotype data are collected from these flocks by the Society.

GENOMIC BREEDING VALUES (GEBVS) The prediction of an animal’s genetic merit using information gained from both the animal’s genotype and its phenotypic data GENOTYPING Carried out in a lab, isolated DNA is processed to reveal individual genomic information HARD-TO-MEASURE TRAITS Traits that breeders struggle to collect reliable data for, based on the nature of the trait.

Disease resistance, longevity and meat quality are some of the traits considered to be ‘hard-to-measure’ PHENOTYPING Carried out on-farm, scoring the observable characteristics of an individual animal REFERENCE POPULATION A cohort of animals used to collect phenotypic and genotypic information to generate genomic breeding values. The reference population is critical for the execution of robust estimates of GEBVs (see diagram) SNP [pronounced snip] Single nucleotide polymorphism is a form of variation within a DNA sequence. These variations act as markers to help geneticists locate genomic regions of interest

Technical Corner texel.uk

Autumn 2020

17

ONGOING RESEARCH

GrassToGas: Strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from pasture-based sheep systems [G2G]

T

he Society is excited to be included in one of the most novel research projects involving GHG studies in the UK industry.

The Texel Society is working with its long-term research partner, SRUC in this project that also involves organisations from France, Ireland, Turkey, Norway, New Zealand and Uruguay. Collectively the G2G project combines international scientific and industry expertise to measure two key factors that affect the environmental impact of sheep: feed efficiency – the amount of feed required to produce one unit of meat or milk and methane emissions.

The research at SRUC will use slaughter lambs bred from sires sourced from the Texel Sheep Society’s programme, to investigate the effects of sire and breeding values on these measurements.

The data will be analysed to quantify the economic and environmental benefits of improvements in feed efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The work for the GrassToGas project was suspended this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Society has already sourced new sires for the project and delivered them to SRUC to produce the first batches of lambs that will be put through SRUC’s state-of-the-art feed intake measuring equipment next spring.

Detection of deficit of homozygous regions in Texel population Researchers at INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), the French agricultural research institute, have developed a method to identify potentially recessive lethal genes within sheep populations.

If a genetic variant is recessive and lethal, an animal with two copies of it [homozygous] will not survive and, therefore, is never genotyped. It is this *lack* of animals with the recessive variants that they look for.

Having identified the presence of the recessive variant within a pedigree, they will then look for genotyped trios of sire/dam/offspring to confirm its presence and that no animals survive with two copies of it.

The Texel Society has granted access to the Society dataset, the largest database of pedigree sheep genotypes in UK industry, to permit the analysis of the UK Texel population for potentially lethal recessive variants.

From this analysis they aim to derive a list of SNPs that are potentially recessive lethal and subsequently assist the Society to identify animals that have these recessive variants.

The first lambs will be put through SRUC’s feed intake equipment next spring.

Smarter

As was the case with many research projects this year, work on the Smarter project by many partners was also suspended by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The project plans and deliverables were previously reported in Society bulletins. The Society continues to engage with all partners and is aiming to collect extra data on the hard-to-measure footrot and mastitis health traits next year to make up for the shortfall experienced this year.

Animals with the variants would likely have a reduction in fertility compared to non-carrier animals, as some of the offspring of that sire (or dam) are never born (absorbed) or stillborn.

Therefore, this work has the potential to be very exploitable in UK Texel populations to improve reproductive capability. Initial studies by INRA in other sheep populations have already identified genomic regions which might have significant impact for sire selection.

Technical Corner

18 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

texel.uk

Autumn 2020

19

350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond

Sportsmans Double Diamond sparkles at 350,000gns

A

flying trade at the Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, saw a new World record price for a sheep at 350,000gns when Charlie Boden and family sold their pen leader Sportsmans Double Diamond from their Sportsmans flock, Stockport, Cheshire.

65,000gns Hexel Django

This lamb, one of 19 to make 10,000gns or more, is sired by the 65,000gns Lanark champion from last year when judged

by Charlie Boden, Garngour Craftsman, and is an embryo-bred lamb from a ewe lamb flushed last year and sired by the 32,000gns Plasucha Big Gun. The subject of much pre-sale speculation and a crowd puller from the moment he set foot in the market, Double Diamond carries an index in the top 1% of the breed and was met with an opening bid of 10,000gns. The price quickly escalated, with a rarely seen bidding war between a brace of consortiums, resulting in Brian Ross’ hammer finally falling in favour of a three-way partnership between Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk, Procters Farm, Procters, Lancashire and Messrs Teward, New View, Darlington.

Second best of the day at 65,000gns was Hexel Django from Donald and Sarah MacPherson. This son of Procters Chumba Wumba, himself a son of the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman, is out of a dam by Duncryne Uber Cool and was another for whom the bids quickly flew in.

Taking this lamb was another threeway syndicate, comprising the Knox

family, Haddo, Turriff, Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell, Cowal, Lochgoilhead and the Wight family, Midlock, Lanark.

Then at 50,000gns was another from the same pen as the sale topper in the form of Sportsmans Dirty Harry. This lamb by Garngour Craftsman is out of a dam by the homebred Sportsmans A Star and heads away to a five leg partnership.

Shares in him were taken by Robbie

Sales

20 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

34,000gns Haddo Dynamite

50,000gns Sportsmans Dirty Harry 34,000gns Claybury Dunkirk

32,000gns Haymount Divine

40,000gns Mellor Vale Déjà vu

Wilson, Milnbank, Turriff, the Nicholson family, Knockem, Scottish Borders, Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn, Scottish Borders, Donald and Sarah MacPherson, Hexel, Berwick-On-Tweed and the Arnott family, Haymount, Kelso.

Another from Charlie Boden, this time from the Mellor Vale flock then followed that at 40,000gns, with this being Mellor Vale Déjà Vu. Again by the 65,000gns Craftsman, he is out of a dam by Garngour Alabama and is another with an index in the top 1% of the breed. He was shared by Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Aberdeenshire and John Forsyth, Glenside, Maybole.

Two then traded at 34,000gns, with the first of these being early in the day from the Knox family. This was Haddo Dynamite, a Hexel Born To Be Wild son out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan which is maternal sister to the 24,000gns Haddo Breadwinner. He has an index in the top 1% and sold to George Howie,

Knock, Mintlaw and Brian Buchan, Clinterty, Fraserburgh.

30,000gns Teiglum Dancing Brave

The other to make this price was Claybury Dunkirk from the Draper family’s Shropshire-based flock. This son of Strathbogie Cannonball is out of a dam by Scholars Yahoo and was another to attract strong bidding before being knocked down in a split deal to the Wight family, Midlock, Lanark, Gordon Gray, Ettrick, Selkirk, and Messrs MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth.

28,000gns Sportsmans Deal Breaker

Following him at 32,000gns was Haymount Divine King from Jack Arnott and family. This one was from a pen which attracted plenty of attention ahead of the sale and is by Usk Vale Crackerjack and out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan.

He sold back to his sire’s breeder, Willy Davis, Usk Vale, Pontypool.

And then at 30,000gns was Teiglum Dancing Brave from Andrew Clark, Clark Farms. He’s by Procters Chumba Wumba

and out of a dam by Knock Yardsman, with an index in the top 5%. He was taken by Robbie Wilson, Milnbank.

Just shy of that at 28,000gns was another of the Sportsmans lambs from the Boden family. Sportsmans Deal Breaker is another by Garngour Craftsman and is out of another Plasucha Big Gun daughter. He carries an index in the top 10% of the breed and was taken by Robert Cockburn, Knap, Crieff.

Sales texel.uk

Autumn 2020

21

Charlie Boden then spent some of his earnings when buying a lamb from the Wight family, Midlock, at 26,000gns. This was the Sportsmans Cannon Ball son Midlock De Niro which is out of a dam

by Clinterty Yuga Khan.

Sportsmans Dream Big then followed that at 24,000gns. He’s by Craftsman again and out of a dam by Sportsmans A Star and is another with an index in the top 1% of the breed. He was the pick of Willie Dunlop, Elmscleugh, A 20,000gns bid then claimed Plasucha Davinci Code from Robert Bennett, Welshpool. This son of the homebred Plasucha All Star is out of a dam by Strathbogie Your the One. He sold to the Mullan family, Blue Gates, Northern Ireland, Adrian Liggett, Corbo, Northern Ireland, Stephen McNeilly, Drumadowney, Northern Ireland and John McFeely, Foreglen, Northern Ireland.

Adding further to the Boden family’s tally and helping them to a pen average of £75,655 was Sportsmans Desert Star at 17,000gns. Again by Craftsman, he’s out of a Fordafourie Amalert daughter and sold in a six-way partnership. Taking shares in this one were Rob Evans, Hope Valley, Minsterley, David Houghton, Tophill, Bury, James Theyer, Clanfield, Oxfordshire, Jeremy Theyer, Chedworth, Cheltenham, Robert Jones, Dromonby, Stokesley and Carl Henry Bellis, Cosyn, Holywell.

Donald and Sarah MacPherson were then back in the money, taking 14,000gns for Hexel Diamond Joe. Sired by Procters Chumba Wumba, he is a full ET brother to the 65,000gns lamb from the same home and was taken by James Wilkinson, Ballygroogan, Northern Ireland.

Back with the day’s big earners, the Boden family took 12,000gns for Mellor Vale Dakota. Once again by the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman, he’s out of a Teiglum Younggun daughter and has an index in the top 5% of the breed. This one heads to the Holtridge flock of the Dunlop family, Whitchurch, Ben Lowe, Rue Wood, Shrewsbury, Messrs Ellis, Cressage, Shrewsbury, Claybury Texels, Shrewsbury and Oldford Texels, Chester.

And four then found their level at 10,000gns. The first of these was Brian MacTaggart’s Douganhill Desperado, a Procters U.S President son out of a dam by Younggun, with this one being bought by Gordon Gray, Ettrick, Messrs

MacGregor, Allanfauld, and Hartside Farms, Hartside, Biggar.

Second to make this price was Craig Douglas Dancer from Steven Renwick.

Sired by Sportsmans Cannon Ball, he is out of a dam by Mullan Amigo and was split by Peter Woof, Stainton, Penrith, the Riby family, Stonehills, Bridlington, Spiros Spyrou, Gib Farm, Hebden Bridge, James Porter, Saltcotes, Appleby and the Bradley family, Far Hey, Lancashire.

Also at 10,000gns was Cambwell Dynamite from Robert Laird and family.

This Cressage Blockbuster son is out of a Fordafourie Young Star daughter and has an index in the top 1%. Taking him were Ian Murray, Glenway, Berwick Upon Tweed and Malcolm Sym, Callerton, Ponteland.

26,000gns Midlock De Niro

24,000gns Sportsmans Dream Big

The final five figure sale came for Midlock Dizzee Rascal from the Wight family. This is another by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and is out of a dam by Knock Bantastic, sire of last year’s sale topping Midlock Capaldi. He sold to Steve Lewis, Karven, Haverfordwest.

Other leading prices 8500gns – Claybury Dublin from Claybury Texels to David Morrison, Dalwyne.

Knap Don Diablo from Robert Cockburn to James Innes and Graham Morrison.

8000gns – Tamnamoney Dodger from Roger Strawbridge to Messrs Campbell, Cowal.

Tamnamoney Decimus from Roger Strawbridge to L Linton, Martin Warnock and Andrew Kennedy.

Kingspark Dynamite from Vaughan Farms to Mark Patterson, Alderview.

7500gns – Hexel Dallas from Donald and Sarah MacPherson to Andrew Fyffe and John and Richard Currie.

Castlecairn DJ Bad Boy from Legars Ltd to D L Jones, E Jones, D G Jones and O E M Roberts.

7200gns – Allanfauld Dizzee Rascal from Allanfauld Ltd to Allan Campbell, Strawfrank.

7000gns – Haymount Dallas Cowboy from Messrs Arnott to Matthew MacTaggart, Rascarrel.

Corskie Dynamite from Jemma Green to Danny McKay, Rohan.

Midcombe Dazzler from Adam Mawson to Idris Morris Ltd, Fachell and H G and I E Williams, Llyfni.

Average; 283 ram lambs £4702.78 (Lawrie and Symington).

20,000gns Plasucha Davinci Code

17,000gns Sportsmans Desert Star

14,000gns Hexel Diamond Joe

12,000gns Mellor Vale Dakota

Sales

22 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

Knap gimmer leads Lanark at 5800gns

R

obert Cockburn’s Knap flock enjoyed the pick of the gimmer trade when an Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid daughter sold for 5800gns.

5800gns Knap gimmer

This gimmer, CKP1903831, is out of a dam by Charben Valentine which also bred Robert’s 6000gns gimmer at the English National Sale last year. Buying this one was Eamonn Vaughan for the Partridge Nest flock, Staffordshire.

Second best of the evening which saw an 83% clearance rate was a 5000gns call for a Blackstown gimmer across from Northern Irish breeders Messrs Wilson and Wilson Moses.

This was WWB1901370 a daughter of Auldhouseburn Black Magic out of a dam by Eglur Viscount, with this one also heading south when bought by Charlie Boden for the Sportsmans flock.

5000gns Blackstown gimmer

The same buyer then paid 4200gns for one from the Procters flock of Procters Farm. This was PFD1903439, a Fordafourie Balvenie daughter out of a dam by Glenside Whiskey Galore and with a texelplus index in the top 25% of the breed.

After that at 3800gns was the best of the sale from the Plasucha flock of Robert Bennett. This was BFE1909101, a Donrho Aristocrat daughter out of an Auldhouseburn-bred dam by Glenside Willie Winkie. She was knocked down to Susan Campbell and Cameron Jackson for the Damside flock, Lochgoilhead.

Following at 2700gns was Carl Henry Bellis’ gimmer from the Cosyn flock, BCY1900963, a Lower Reiss Blackjack daughter out of a dam by Milnbank Van Wilder, with this one selling to Adam and Jessica Neachell, Staffordshire, for the Cromwell flock.

Close behind at 2500gns was the Herdman family’s gimmer, HKP1901765, from the Templepark flock. This daughter of homebred sire, Templepark Bulldozer is out of a dam by Strathbogie Python and sold to Gary Scott, for the Bryn-YCoed flock, Maeshafn.

And then making 2300gns was Peter Woof’s Stainton gimmer, WPS1901450, an Auldhouseburn Bolt daughter out of a dam by Knock Yankee. She found a new home with Sean Loughran, Cookstown.

pen. This was ENM1902197, a Garngour Alabama daughter out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan, with this one selling to Messrs Hepworth, Ashgate.

After that came a 2100gns bid for Matthew MacTaggart’s first of the sale from Rascarrel, MTR1901229. Sired by Douganhill Bees Knees, she is out of a dam by Rascarrel Vidic and sold to Aled Jones, Meddiant Isaf.

The other at this price was from the Dunlop family’s Holtridge flock in the form of DJJ1900077, a Mullan Armani daughter out of a dam by Glenside Valhalla. She was taken by David McCreery, for the Topped flock, Enniskillen.

Two then sold at 2000gns with the first of these being from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr

Averages; 52 gimmers £1346.83 (Lawrie and Symington).

Sales texel.uk

Autumn 2020

23

Double Trouble gives Sportsmans double top

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harlie Boden and family continued their exceptional run of form at this year’s National Texel Sales, taking the top spot at their second sale in the space of a week when selling Sportsmans Double Trouble for 16,000gns at the English National Sale, Worcester.

Their sale leader, another son of the sire of the moment, Garngour Craftsman, is out of a Stainton-bred dam which was bought for 3000gns and is herself

by Eden Valley Warrior King. This lamb, with an index in the top 1% of the breed, drew plenty of strong bidding from the ringside before eventually falling to Staffordshire-based Paul and Anna Johnson for their Corriecravie flock, Stoke On Trent.

16,000gns Sportsmans Double Trouble

5200gns Sportmans Deisel

Second best at 5200gns was another from the same pen, Sportsmans Deisel.

Again by Craftsman and this time out of a Teiglum Younggun daughter he sold with a texelplus index in the top 1% of the breed when bought by Stephen and Carolynne Williams, for the Wollascott flock, Shrewsbury.

The Bodens then took 4500gns for Sportsmans Detroit, again by the seemingly unbeatable Craftsman and out of a Garngour Alabama daughter. This lamb has an index in the top 1% of the breed and was taken by R S Young, Perth.

Breaking the Sportsmans flock’s dominance of the lamb trade was a 3600gns sale for Willy Davis’ Usk Vale flock, with Usk Vale Danger Man taking this money when finding favour with Esmor Evans, Maerdy, Mold. This son of Hope Valley C The Stars is out of a dam

by Strathbogie Ya Belter.

Batman and out of a dam by Strathbogie Ya Belter. He sold to the Morgan family, for the Blaencar flock, Sennybridge.

Then at 3000gns was Hope Valley Dazzler from Robert Evans. He’s by Sportsmans Belter and out of a Garngour Alabama daughter and sold to Gordon Gray for the Ettrick flock, Selkirk.

Back with the Bodens and a 3500gns call secured their first from the Sportsmans pen, Sportsmans Dreadnought. Sired

by Craftsman and out of a Younggun daughter, this one again has an index in the top 1% and was taken by previous buyers Stephen and Carolynne Williams.

And it was back with the Bodens for the next best when they sold Sportsmans Dundee at 2800gns. This one is out of a Garngour Alabama daughter and is another by Craftsman and with an index in the top 1% of the breed. He headed away to South Wales with Tomos and Selwyn Evans for the Welsh flock.

Next best after that was a 3200gns sale for Carl Henry Bellis’ Cosyn Texels Dynamic, a Procters Candycrush son going back to the 100,000gns Sportsmans

Robert Cockburn, Knap, then got in on the action when selling Knap Dark Destroyer at 2600gns. A son of Sportsmans Cannon Ball, he is out of a

3500gns Sportsmans Dreadnought

Procters Yankee-sired dam and sold to J Green, Melrose.

Close behind that at 2500gns was Alastair Gault’s Forkins Dalglish over from Northern Ireland. He’s by Procters Cocktail and out of a dam by Halbeath Woody. This one was the pick of Tina Blythe, Boston, for the Lincs flock.

Averages; 116 ram lambs £1227.41 (McCartneys).

Sales

24 Autumn 2020

texel.uk

Class Act plays the part at 8200gns

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hitehart Class Act from Jim and Nicky Hartwright led the shearling ram trade at the English National Sale, Worcester, when he made 8200gns on a flying shearling trade which saw a new centre record average set at £1905.31.

8200gns Whitehart Class Act

Sired by Blackadder Weaver and out of a Loosebeare Voomer daughter, this one headed to the South West with the Devon-based Quick family for their Loosebeare flock, Crediton.

The Quicks then recouped some of their outlay when taking 7200gns for their pen leader Loosebeare Champion. He’s by Brijon Youre The Boy and out of a dam

by Whitehart Taylor Made and sold to James Whiteford and family, Brampton, Cumbria.

7200gns Loosebeare Champion

After that came a 7000gns call for Granite Clansman from Gregor and Bruce Ingram, Aberdeenshire. This son of Logie Durno Braveheart is out of a Granite Untouchable daughter. Selling with an index in the top 5% he found a new home with the Priestley family, also Brampton, Cumbria.

Then at 6600gns was another from the Hartwrights, Whitehart Clean Cut. This son of Sportsmans Bulletproof is out of a Humeston River Dance daughter. He sold in a two-way split to Sioned Thomas, Whitland and R and B James, Fishguard.

A 5400gns sale saw the Ingrams back in action when selling Granite Cracker. This full brother to their 7000gns pen leader also has an index in the top 5% and was bought by Andrew Baillie, Carstairs, Lanark.

Next up at 4300gns was Scolton Corker from the Reed family, South Wales. This son of Wilodge Bravo is out of a dam

by Caereinion Rocket and sold to Geoff Probert and family for the Mortimer flock, Worcester.

Close on that at 4200gns was another of the Whitehart shearlings, Whitehart Classic. He’s by Loosebeare Voomer and is out of a Langside The Gaffer-sired ewe and was the choice of M and A James, Pembrokeshire.

Making 3500gns was John Elliot’s best of the day, Roxburgh Cleveland. This son of Haymount Arnott is out of a dam by Brijon Rocket and sold with an index in the top 5% when bought by Messrs Robinson, Church Stretton.

Cornwall-based Phil Martyn-Uglow maintained his recent strong form when selling Hornacott Commander, a Beautry Achilles son out of a Badharlick Walter daughter and sold to Phil Weaver, Newark, for the Empire flock.

Another then made the same money when Eve Hodge sold Greenarch Captain Caveman in a two-way split to J E and S L James, for the Duhonw flock, Builth Wells

7000gns Granite Clansman

and D J Abberley, Brecon, for the Old Hemley flock. He is by Midlock Youre The One and out of a Craig Farm Wizard daughter and has an index in the top 1%.

Averages; 60 shearling rams £1905.31 (McCartneys).

Sales texel.uk

Autumn 2020

25

Debutants lead Worcester gimmer trade

F

irst time vendors Gregor and Bruce Ingram enjoyed a flying debut at the English National Texel Sale, Worcester, selling their first gimmer in the ring at 13,000gns.

IGM1927511 topped trade at 13,000gns

Their sale leader IGM1927511 is a daughter of the 60,000gns Clinterty Yuga Khan out of a dam by Deveronvale Warrior and sold with an index in the top 10% of the breed. She was shared by three breeders; James Theyer, Clanfield, Oxfordshire, Jeremy Theyer, Chedworth, Cheltenham and Robert Evans, Hope Valley, Minsterley.

Second top at 5000gns was Charlie Boden’s pen leader from the Sportsmans flock, BGS1903873. Sired by Plasucha Big Gun, she’s out of a 16,000gns Glenside Wild Boy daughter. She sold to Messrs Dunlop for the Holtridge flock, Whitchurch and Eamonn Vaughan for the Partidge Nest flock, Stoke On Trent.

At 5000gns was BGS1903873

Following her when making 4800gns was one from the Bradley family’s Far Hey flock, BRF1900411, an Auldhouseburn Bolt daughter out of a ewe by Teiglum Younggun which was second as a gimmer at Great Yorkshire last year. She found a new home with Monnow Marquees, Monmouth.

Then came a 3100gns call for Robert Laird’s first gimmer, LTC1904461, a Langford Adder Again daughter out of a dam by Cambwell Trademark. She’s a full sister to the 5000gns Cambwell Chieftan and sold to Adam and Jessica Neachell, Cromwell, Staffordshire.

Close behind at 3000gns was Robert Cockburn’s gimmer, CKP1903798. Sired

by Knock Banker and out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan. Buying this one was Mark Preistley, for the Seaforde flock, Northern Ireland.

Selling at 2400gns was another from the same pen as the sale leader, IGM1927943.

This twin-born daughter of Clinterty Yuga Khan is a full sister to the sale topper and was claimed by Osian Rhys, Caernarfon.

Also at this price was the best of the evening from Alastair Gault, GAF1902431. Sired by Scotsman Avicii and out of a Duncryne Uber Cool daughter, the hammer fell in favour of John Sherratt, Wem, Shropshire.

The same money was enough to secure Richard Wilson’s first in the ring from the Eden Valley flock, WEV1901344, another

by Bolt and out of a dam by Sportsmans Tremendous II. She was taken by G W Jones, Caereinion, Powys.

And making 2000gns was Ryan Bradley’s BYK1900298, an Auldhouseburn Boltsired gimmer out of a dam by Halbeath VIP and bought by Andy Keedwell, Priddy, Somerset.

Averages; 67 gimmers £1278.81 (McCartneys).

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Sat. 5th December at 11am

~ Texel in Lamb Gimmers ~ Annan • Clinterty • Cowal • Craig Douglas • Deveronvale • Fordafourie • Glenside Hilltop • Knap • Mellor Vale • Midlock • Milnbank • Sportsman’s • Strathbogie Harrison & Hetherington - Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2RS Call us on 01228 406 230 (Catalogues available from Auctioneers)

texel.uk

Autumn 2020

27

Class leads Welsh National

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he Society’s Welsh National Sale peaked at 5800gns when Cefyn Pryce sold his shearling ram Caereinion Class.

Leading the way was Caereinion Class at 5800gns

This Kimbolton Ace son is out of a dam by the noted homebred sire Caereinion Number One which is also dam to rams at 5000gns and 4000gns. Selling with a texeplus index in the top 1% of the breed, he was knocked down to David Williams, Abermule, Powys.

Next best in the shearlings was a 2600gns call for the best of the day from Elgan Davies’ Llwyngan flock in the shape for Llwyngan Concorde, a son of the £30,000 Midlock Youre The One out of a Hollyford Thunderbolt daughter. He was the pick of Messrs Davies Bros of the Trefere flock, Penparc, Ceredigion.

Llwyngan Concorde sold at 2600gns

Selling at 2300gns was Dragon Champion from the Williams family, with this Strathbogie Yes Sir son being out of a dam by Aman Vyrnwy. He sold to Michael and Heulwen Owens, Pont Sian, Ceredigion.

And close behind at 2200gns was the Robinson family’s Preenbank Carismo, an Arkle Batman son out of a dam by Talcoed Wildfire. He found a new home with Jonathan and Linda Phillips for the Faerdref flock, Glanyrafon.

And taking 1800gns was another from Cefyn Pryce. This was Caereinion Cef, a Langford Adder Again son out of a dam by Kimbolton Venturer. He sold to G Davies for the Caebetran flock, Felin Fach.

A 2300gns call secured Dragon Champion

At the same money was the pen topper from the Davies family’s Canllefaes flock, Canllefaes Chief. Sired by Curley Big Mac and out of a dam by Talcoed You Know, he headed away with I H Hughes, Pontllyfni.

And the Canllefaes flock then took 1700gns for Canllefaes Cracker. This one is by Talcoed You Know and out of a Scolton Uranium daughter and was taken by the Vaughan family, Machynlleth, for the Dolcorsllwyn flock.

Ram Lambs

Best of the day in the tup lambs was a 2000gns bid for Plasucha Diamond from local vendor Robert Bennett. This Plasucha Corker son is out of a dam by

Knock Yankee which is also dam to the 20,000gns Plasucha Bossman. He sold with an index in the top 5% of the breed and was taken by R Brown, Rushbury.

Second top here was Rob Evans’ lamb, Hope Valley Dynamo. Sired by Sportsmans Belter, he is out of a Knap Vicious Sid daughter and was bought by S and G Mellor, Cellarhead.

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the top 1% of the breed he was bought

by A T Ridge, Little Stretton.

Topping the ram lambs was Plasucha Diamond

And Mike Turner then sold Okehall Dante at 1200gns, with this lamb being by Strathbogie Boombastic and out of a dam

by Garngour Alabama. Buying him were I and J Evans, Llanilar, Denbigh.

Gimmers

A searing demand for gimmers saw the average rise by £85 on the year, with 48 selling to level at £663.47. Topping the prices here was Robert Bennett again, with a Cambwell Boss Hogg daughter from the Plasucha flock, BFE1909184.

This gimmer is out of a Knock Yankee dam and was taken by Mark and Val Collins for the Logram flock.

Following her was another from the same home, BFE1909248. Again by Boss Hogg, she is out of a Connachan Sharky-sired dam and was the pick of Jeremy Theyer for the Chedworth flock, Cheltenham.

At 1800gns was Hope Valley Dynamo

Robert Cockburn then enjoyed further success when selling one from the Knap flock, CKP1903897. She’s by Mullan Amigo and out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan daughter. She sold to local breeders Steve and Helen Smith for the Penparc flock.

Robert Cockburn’s journey from Crieff was then rewarded with a 1400gns sale for Knap Darth Vader. This Sportmans Cannon Ball son is out of a Mullan Amigo-sired dam and joins Wyn Jones’ Fferwd flock, Denbigh.

Lead gimmer at 2100gns from Plasucha

Charlie Boden, fresh from his Lanark success then took the same money for Mellor Vale Drax, a son of the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman and out of a dam by Teigulm Younggun. Sold with an index in

And making 1250gns was Myfyr Evans gimmer ENM1902224 from the Rhaeadr flock. She’s by Garngour Alabama and out of an ET sister to the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best. Buying her was Red House Farm, Newtown.

Robert Bennett then sold another at 1200gns, with this being BFE1909226.

Sired by Boss Hogg again, this one is out of an Eden Valley Wiz Kid daughter and was taken by previous buyers Michael and Heulwen Owens.

A brace then traded at 1000gns, the first being DHL1901483 from Claybury Texels. She’s by Wilodge Bravo and out of a Stainton Voyager II daughter. With an index in the top 1% she sold to I and J Evans, Llanilar, Denbigh.

The other at this money came from the Dunlop family’s Holtridge flock, DJJ1900090. A daughter of Plasucha All Star, she’s out of a Castlecairn Vavavoom daughter and was bought by previous buyer A T Ridge.

Averages; 48 gimmers £663.47, 45 shearling rams £1191.17, 60 ram lambs £678.83 (Welshpool Livestock Sales).

Sales texel.uk

Autumn 2020

29

Denzil’s day as NI National hits 6000gns

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his year’s Northern Irish National Texel Sale, Ballymena, saw a top of 6000gns and a ram lamb average of £805.10, up by just shy of £200 on the year with 15 more sold than last year.

Tamnamoney Denzil made 6000gns

Leading trade was Tamnamoney Denzil from Roger Strawbridge and family, Coleraine, Co Londonderry. This son of Procters Cocktail, himself a son of the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman, is out of a dam by Scotsman Ace and sold to Pat and Barry Farrell for the Oberstown flock, Co Meath, Eire.

Second top of 4400gns came for Gary Beacom’s best of the day, Lakeview Duke. Sired by the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman, the sire of the new world record priced Sportsmans Double Diamond and a host of other five figure sheep in recent weeks, he is out of a Sportsmans ewe by Fordafourie Amalert and was bought in the belly of his dam at the Christmas Stars Sale, last December.

Buying this one was John Leitch, Castlederg, Co Tyrone.

Second best was Lakeview Duke at 4400gns

Another Tamnamoney lamb then followed at 3500gns for the Strawbridge family. This was Tamnamoney Double Barrel. Again by Procters Cocktail, he’s out of another Ace-sired dam and was bought by Neil McIlwaine, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone, for the Corrick flock.

Gary Beacom followed close behind when taking 3200gns for Lakeview Dirty Dancer, a son of the 15,000gns Harestone Commander out of a Plasucha-bred dam by Plasucha All Star.

He sold to Alastair Gault for the Forkins flock, Newtonabbey.

After that came a 3000gns call for one from John and Richard Currie in the form of Tullagh Dragon, a Teiglum Braveheart son out of a dam by Mossvale Visa. He was snapped up by Sam Mcauley for the Whitepark flock, Bushmills.

Martin McConville then took 2200gns for Glenhone Darby, a son of Mullan Awesome out of a Plasucha dam by Plasucha All Star. Buying this one were

R T and R S Robinson for their Cloughbane flock, Dungannon.

Two then sold at the next best mark of 1600gns, with the first of these being Millburn Dapper from Naomi and Rian O’Hare. Sired by Teiglum Braveheart and out of a dam by Usk Vale Yankee, he was the pick of James Hepburn, for his Sandy Lane flock, Draperstown.

Second to make this price was Robbie Mulligan and family’s Brague Dubarry. This Donhro Carlos son is out of a Llangwm Yorkie daughter and found a new home with Bernard O’Donnel, Buncrana, Co Donegal.

Alderview Dyson followed that at 1500gns for Mark Patterson. Sired by Arkle Awesome, he is out of a maternal

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At 3500gns was Tamnamoney Double Barrel

Making 3000gns was Tullagh Dragon

Best of the gimmers at 2300gns was GAF1902421

The same money then secured another from John Watson, Duvarren Carlo. This one is sired by Brackenridge Strongbow and out of a Botera Wingman daughter.

He was the pick of J Killen, Hilltown, Co Down.

Selling at 3200gns was Lakeview Dirty Dancer

Finally at 1500gns was another which sold to previous buyers Messrs Hanna.

This was Gareth Tumelty’s Aideshill Candy Man, a Crailloch Your The Boy son out of a dam by Glenside Royal Welsh.

Gimmers

Alastair Gault’s Forkins flock took the top call of 2300gns in the gimmers for GAF1902421, a Scotsman Avicii daughter out of a dam by Glenside Valhalla. She sold to Sean Burns, Rathfriland, Co Down.

sister to the 17,000gns Alderview Barrister by Midlock Yorkie. Buying this one was James Kane, Castlewellan, for the Stangmoy flock.

Also taking a 1500gns bid was Cathal Harkin’s Loughash Dewalt, a Procters Class Act son out of an Ettrick ewe by Ettrick Yager Bomb. Buying this one was Danny Creer, Ballaglonney, Isle Of Man.

Shearling Rams

Topping the shearling rams at 2000gns on a trade which saw the average jump £220, was John Watson’s Duvarren Cantona, a son of the homebred Duvarren Aston Martin out of a dam by Duvarren Testarossa. He was knocked down to Fraser Tweed, Glenarm, Co Antrim.

Next to take the money here was Adrian Liggett’s Corbo Co Pilot at 1900gns. This Strathbogie Best Bet son is out of a dam

by Springwell Viera and sold to J and R Hynes, Rathfriland.

The same buyers then paid 1700gns for Hillhead Charlie from M and J Watson.

He’s by Kiltariff Bastareaud and out of a Fairmount Superman daughter.

Three then made 1500gns, with the first of these being James Wilkinson’s Ballygroogan Cannon Ball, another by Strathbogie Best Bet and this time out of a Garngour Vertigo daughter. Taking him home were W and I Hanna, Dromore, Co Down.

A 1400gns sale followed that for John Trimble, with his Curley gimmer selling to G Murphy, Clogherhead, Drogheda.

This was TYC1900878, a Mullan Armani daughter out of a dam by Holylee Volcano.

Michael Tumelty then took 1300gns for TNJ1901481 from his Castlecor flock.

She’s by Halbeath VIP and out of a dam by former sire of the year Oberstown Usain Bolt. Taking her home was Ryan Cunningham, Kilkeel, Co Down.

Early in the sale Messrs Wilson and Wilson Moses sold WWB1901366 for 1100gns, with this gimmer being by Auldhouseburn Black Magic and out of a dam by Hull House Wing Commander.

She was bought by G Murphy, Drogheda.

Averages; 145 ram lambs £805.10, 46 shearling rams £919.89, 23 gimmers £801.20 (J A McClelland and Son).

Sales texel.uk

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Selling at £12,000 was the best form the Orr family’s Walston flock

Kelso replacement sees £12,000 topper

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exel rams made a solid trade at the replacement Kelso sale held at Lanark by Lawrie and Symington, in conjunction with Hexham and Northern Marts, with three hitting fivefigures and a strong average throughout.

Gordon Gray took £11,000 for Ettrick Cocky Bob

Sale topper, at £12,000, was a shearling ram from the Orr family’s Walston flock, from Wester Walston, Carnwath, Lanark.

Making the flock’s best price to-date, was one of the first sons to be sold off the £16,000 Blackadder Albertz, a ram shared with Jim Gibb and Iain Minto. Out of a home-bred ewe by Scrogtonhead Yer Man, he sold in a two-way split to John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, and Ken Hodge, for the Greenarch flock at Huntlywood, Earlston.

The Orrs sold 10 tups to average £2909, with another son of Blackadder Albertz selling at £8200, to the Ellis’ Cressage flock in Shropshire. His dam is a daughter of Scrogtonhead Uproar.

Gordon and David Gray received a strong trade for their Ettrick pen of shearlings, peaking at £11,000 for Ettrick Cocky Bob, a son of the £29,000 Garngour Awesome. A twin brother to the 5500gns Ettrick Cockney Rebel, he is

out of a ewe by Castlecairn Vital Spark.

He sold north, to Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, and James and Sandy Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly.

Later in the day, Steven Renwick sold the best from his Peebles-based Craig Douglas flock at £10,000, to the Whitefords, Tercrosset, Brampton. He’s by 2019 Sire of the Year, Knock Bantastic and out of a daughter of Haddo Whisky Galore.

Another from Craig Douglas, also

by Bantastic and out of a ewe by Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold, made £5200, to Robin Ellis, Gwern-Y-Marl, Ffordd, Flintshire.

Best for the Wight family’s Midlock consignment was a £9000 bid for a Bantastic son, out of a ewe by Deveronvale Warrior, which is a full sister to Midlock Yorkie. He sold to Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Esmor Evans, Maerdy and Ben Marsden, Liley.

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Sportsmans Tremendous son, Gyrhos Bulb, which sold to Neil Harvey, Blackadder Mains.

At £10,000 was Steven Renwick’s best

Alex and Russell Gray sold a son of Lamb Bros Unbeatable, from their Langside pen, for £4000. Out of a ewe by Peacehay Ya Belter, he sold to Sharplaw Farms, Kelso.

The lamb trade peaked at £3100, for one from Robbie Wilson’s Milnbank flock – a son of Knock Yardsman, which sold jointly to Northern Ireland buyers, Alastair Gault, Forkins, and the McAllisters, Artnagullion.

Second best in the lambs was £2100, for an Ettrick son of Brackenridge Commander, which went to Paul Quick, Loosebeare, Devon and Nicky Hartwright, Whitehart, Herefordshire.

Also from the Midlock pen, shepherd Brian Gilchrist’s own Dundas shearling sold at £7000 to Russel and Gill Watkins, Upper Cwm, Craswall. He’s a son of Mitchellhill Actionman, out of a ewe by Deveronvale Warrior.

Selling at £8000 was the best from Archie and John MacGregor’s Allanfauld pen, Kilsyth. Sired by Knap You’re The Man and out of a ewe by Garngour Ultimatum, he sold to three Lanarkshire buyers, Meikle Jackson, Wolfclyde, Blair Cockburn, Kingside and David MacArthur, Nunnerie.

A Knock Yardsman son from the Allanfauld consignment made £4200, selling to J B Pate and Son, Toxside, Gorebridge. His dam is by Teiglum Wiseguy.

Leading the way for the Dunlop family, Elmscleugh, Dunbar, was a son of Plasucha All In One, which sold at £7500 to Steven Renwick’s Craig Douglas flock. His dam is a daughter of Milnbank Wisconsin.

Another hitting the £7500 mark was one from Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Biggar, which sold to G V and J A Hardman, The Clamp, Shrewsbury. He is sired by Halbeath VIP and out of a ewe

by Sportsmans Unbeatable.

The Procters Farm consignment enjoyed a steady trade, selling to a top of £6200, for a shearling son of the 9000gns Thrunton Younique, out of a ewe by Scrogtonhead You Stoater. He was knocked down to Dougie Fleming, for the Burnhead flock at The Cottage, Nisbet, Biggar and J and W Bell, Highfield, Carnwath.

Second top from Procters was £4600, for another by Thrunton Younique, out of a Whitehart Woody daughter, which sold to John Gray, Unthank, Alnwick.

Jonathan Watson’s Brijon consignment from Bowsden Moor, Berwick-UponTweed, realised a top of £5200, for a son of Midlock Youre The One, out of a College ewe by Brackenridge Strongbow.

He sold jointly to Robin and Caroline Orr, Halbeath, Dunfermline and Matthew Jack, Carriston, Glenrothes.

Ring 1 (Ex Ring 9 – Lawrie & Symington) – 168 shearling rams, £1297.80; 35 ram lambs, £526.57.

Ring 3 (Ex Ring 7 – Lawrie & Symington) – 142 shearling rams and one aged ram, £1101.69; 75 ram lambs, £510.53.

Ring 2 (Ex Ring 5 – Hexham and Northern) – 219 shearling rams, £839.36.

Midlock sold at £9000

Andrew Proven’s Prime Star pen, from Lanark, proved popular early on in the sale, reaching a top of £4800 for a son of Craig Douglas Braveheart, bought at the Scottish Club sale at Lanark two years ago. Out of a ewe by Lower Reiss Warlord, he sold to Welsh buyers Gary and Meinir Howells, Shadog, Llandysul.

From the same pen, another by the Craig Douglas sire, out of a ewe by Claybury War God, made £4600, to B and W McAllister’s Artnagullion flock at Kells, Ballymena.

Matthew Seed’s Auchry shearlings from Cuminestown, Turriff, sold to a top of £4800, for one by the Builth-bought Canllefaes You Are The One, out of a ewe by Stainton Yes Sir. He went to C Cornthwaite, Closes Hall, Clitheroe.

At £8200 was another from the Orr family The MacGregors sold at £8000

Leading the Douganhill entry from Castle Douglas, was a £4200 seller, a shearling

by Glenside King II, out of a daughter of Glenside Razzle Dazzle. He went to Jack and Tom Arnott, Haymount, Kelso.

Andrew Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, sold to £4000, for a shearling by the

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Autumn 2020

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Replacement sales provided at Hereford and Llandovery Following the cancellation of the Main NSA Sale at Builth Wells due to Covid-19 the Society organised a brace of commercially focussed sales in the region at Hereford and Llandovery to provide Society members with outlets for their stock.

Both of these sales were well supported by breeders and saw regular buyers bidding strongly for the best of the rams on offer.

Heading the list at Hereford was Cennen Chad at 4300gns

Hereford A 4300gns call topped the Texel trade at the Hereford Main Sale, with this money paid by Welsh duo Paul Curran and Adrian Davies for Cennen Chad from Hywel Thomas, Llandeilo.

Sired by Knock Yardsman, he is out of a dam by the homebred Cennen Yellowstone and attracted attention from both those present and telephone bidders.

Second best at 1950gns was Canllefaes Charming from the Davies family. He’s a son of Curley Big Mac and out of a dam by the noted breeder Talcoed You Know.

This one found a new home with J R Joseph and Co, LLyswen.

Two then sold at 1400gns, with the first of these being Tynewydd Coolio from Deri Morgan. He’s by Crannog Browser and out of a Kimbolton Wayfarer daughter. He sold with an index in the top 5% of the breed to Messrs Tamplin, Machen.

The other to make this money was Millend Cantona from Russel and Gill Watkins and family. This Strawfrank

Top female at Llandovery was this Blaencar gimmer at 1700gns

Autumn Glory son is out of dam by Drumgooland Van Dal. Buying him was H C Davies, St Armans.

Plasucha Big Gun and out of a Tullylagan Tonka daughter and sold to A U Farms, Plas Gogerddan.

Close behind at 1300gns was Paul Johnson’s Corricravie Clansman, a Blaencar Waratah son out of a Haddo William Knox Again daughter and with an index in the top 25% of the breed. He sold to A J Tortoriello, Llanbister.

Selling for 1000gns was M Hughes’ Vale Doctor Who. Sired by Arkle Undercover, he is out of a Duhonw Wildcard ewe and has an index in the top 5% of the breed.

Buying him were P L J and A Howells, Llanwenog.

And then at 1100gns was Millend Contender from the Watkins’ pen. He’s a Peacehay At Your Service son out of a dam by Tumble Tye Volt. Taking this one home was C Gittoes, Bleddfa.

Averages; 112 shearling rams £736.74, 69 ram lambs £401.35 (Hereford Market Auctioneers).

In the lambs it was Nick Legge who took the top two sales when Thornbury Dazzler found a new home at 1700gns.

He’s by Plasucha All Star and out of a Cambwell Boss Hogg daughter and was bought by J W Lea, Hales.

A couple of days later at Llandovery the top price of 2600gns was given for a shearling ram from Russel and Gill Watkins and family.

Second best and from the same pen and selling to the same buyer at 1450gns was Thornbury Double Trouble an Usk Vale Champagne Charlie son out of a Plasucha dam by Eden Valley Wiz Kid. A 1200gns bid then secured Sportsmans Drambuie from Charlie Boden. He’s by

Llandovery

Leading the roll call was Millend Casino, a Peacehay At Your Service son out of a dam by Loosebeare Yellowhammer. After spirited bidding he fell to G L Watkins, Oswestry, for the Lawnt flock.

Next best when selling at 1650gns was Whitehart Culture from Jim Hartwright and daughter, Nicky. Their pen topper is a Loosebeare Voomer son out of a

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Loosebeare Wurzel daughter and was the pick of Price Bros, Knighton.

Headline seller at Llandovery was Millend Casino

Another from the same home and the first of the day from the Hartwrights, Whitehart Captain then followed at 1600gns. He’s another by Voomer and is out of a daughter of the homebred Whitehart Ultimate. Buying this one were Brobury Farm, Brobury.

At the same money was Whitehart Ciderman. Sired by Cherryvale Shergar, he’s out of a Voomer daughter and was knocked down to T H and P M Bolt, Huntsham.

Then at 1500gns was Stonegrove Charlie from young breeders William and Archie Dorrell. This son of the 145,000gns Knap Vicious Sid is out of a Whitehart dam by Strawfrank Vital Statistic and sold to D J and G M Davies, Brecon.

The Hartwrights were back in the money, taking 1500gns for Whitehart Commando.

He’s by Rugley Yardstick and out of a Cherryvale Shergar-sired dam and found a new home with B G Greenow, Abergavenny.

And the Watkins completed a trio at 1500gns when they sold Millend Cappacino. Another by Peacehay At Your Service he is out of a Lochar Powerhouse daughter and was taken by J B H Jones, Nantgaredig.

Owen Watkins then took 1400gns for Caenantmelyn Cheeky Chap, a Scrogton Whistleblower son out of a dam by Pant Wolf. This one sold locally to G P and M Jones, Hay on Wye, for the Llanthomas flock.

Two then sold at 1300gns, with the first of these being Whitehart Capri from the Hartwright family. He’s a Brijon You’re The Boy son out of a dam by Blackadder Weaver and was the choice of Stelfox Farm, Haverfordwest.

Second at this level was Clun Cavalier from A E Williams and Son. This son of the homebred sire Clun Athlete is out of a Tatham Hall Ur The One-sired ewe and went home with M Hughes,Vale of Glamorgan.

Ram Lambs Leading the lambs at 1500gns was Vale D-Day from M Hughes, with this one being a Donhro Captain son out of a dam by the homebred Vale Uruguay. He sold with an index in the top 1% and was taken by previous buyers G P and M Jones.

Whitehart Culture sold at 1650gns

Making 1200gns was UVP2004172

Top ram lamb was Vale D-Day at 1500gns

Millend Dare Devil netted 1000gns for the Watkins family

The other to sell at this money was Usk Vale Digger from Will Davis. He’s by Hope Valley C The Stars and out of a Knock dam

by Allanfauld Am The Man. Buying him was E H Jones, Sennybridge.

UVP2004218 sold at 1400gns

Second best here at 1400gns was the best from Will Davis’ Usk Vale pen, UVP2004218. He’s by Hexel Born To Be Wild and out of a Sportsmans Admiral II daughter and sold to E Mackley, Scarborough.

Another lamb from the same home, UVP2004172, then made 1200gns. This is

by Hope Valley C The Stars and out of a Hexel Born To Be Wild daughter. He sold to J D P Thomas, White Mill.

Females Top call at 1700gns among a select offering of gimmers was YME1906950 from the Morgan family’s Blaencar flock. She’s by the homebred Blaencar Bandit and out of a Brackenridge Strongbow daughter. She sold in a three way split to Adrian Davies, Paul Curran and Arwyn Thomas.

Second top here was a 1450gns sale for another from the same pen YME1906931.

She’s again by Bandit and is out of a Cambwell Rob Roy daughter. Buying this one was D S Bowen, Letterston, Powys.

Two then traded at 1000gns, with the first being Millend Dare Devil from the Watkins family.

Leading the ewe lambs at 500gns was N Ellis’ Kauri lamb, JNB2003661, a Scholars Cracker daughter out of a dam by Eden Valley Wiz Kid. She sold to Aled Groucott, Crumlin, Gwent.

He’s a full brother to the sale topper, being by Peacehay At Your Service, and out of the same Loosbeare Yellowhammer daughter. Buying him was W F Gittoes, Llandefalle, Powys.

Averages; 188 shearling rams £639.08, 81 ram lambs £491.43, six gimmers £813.75, six ewe lambs £350 (CleeTomkinson Francis).

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Fundamentals the foundation at Drumbreddan Danny Hair - Stranraer

H

aving successfully used the Texel as a crossing sire for many years previously, in 2010, the Hair family started their own pedigree flock at Drumbreddan, Stranraer – a decision they’ve certainly not regretted over the past decade.

“We’ve used Texels on the cross ewes for as long as I can remember,” says Danny Hair. “We’ve tried various other breeds, but for us, on our exposed ground, nothing has been as successful as the Texel. We were buying four or five tups a year, so we decided it would be worthwhile breeding our own,” he adds.

Danny farms with his father, Lamont, who moved to the Stranraer area from Ayrshire in 1966, initially to High Balyett Farm. They took on Drumbreddan in the late 1980s and now run 1400 acres in all, with the help of three staff. Within that, they grow 300 acres of spring barley, run 350 suckler cows, finishing all the progeny at home, and a flock of 1100 ewes.

“We have 550 Blackface sheep, 300 of which are kept pure and 250 crossed with the Bluefaced Leicester to produce Scotch Mules. Our 550-strong Scotch Mule flock are then put to the Texel, with the April-born lambs all sold direct to Morrisons, through the Wigtownshire Lamb Group,” explains Danny.

The crossbred lambs are all finished off grass, from the beginning of August, with two-thirds of them away by midSeptember.

“From the minute they hit the ground, the Texel lambs are up and sucking.

They are low maintenance and the fact they grow quickly and can be finished off grass, makes them low cost too.”

Danny with wife Sian and children James and Molly

With a busy farming business, Danny says from the offset, he knew the pedigree Texels would also have to look after themselves as much as possible.

“The main aim with the pure Texels was to breed healthy, commercial sheep that would last and that’s what we’ve tried to stick to. The sheep here need to be able to look after themselves and that includes the Texels – they would never be a pampered flock here.

“We’re very selective in which ones we keep to breed from – any with feet or health issues have to go. The fundamental commercial attributes have to be right,” he adds.

With this in mind, the foundation females included two gimmers from Baltier, followed by a Tophill gimmer for 1500gns at Carlisle and a Millar’s ewe for 600gns at the flock reduction in Carlisle.

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“We looked for females that were correct on their legs, with good tops and backends and plenty of width through them. If we could get a breedy head on our budget, then that too, but the basics had to be right,” explains Danny.

“The Tophill and Millar’s ewes went on to breed very well – all the best tups we’ve sold go back to the Tophill ewe and our best females go back to the Millar’s ewe. Both those lines are very healthy too, with no mastitis problems or breathing issues.”

In fact, Danny’s superstar last year, Drumbreddan Centre of Attention, which made 32,000gns at Lanark, goes back to the Tophill ewe.

“That was an amazing trade last year, our top price before that had been 3800gns. However, we obviously can’t depend on a five-figure price every year and it doesn’t do any good to put yourself under pressure to try and achieve those kinds of prices. If we can produce a consistent pen each year and a good average, then we’re doing well,” he adds.

and Halbeath. He bred really well for us – some of the nicest females we have are by him,” he adds.

“I always have a budget in mind when buying stock tups, but it’s not always easy to find what I’m looking for within that budget and especially difficult to find one with different bloodlines.

“I always look into the back-breeding of a ram and study it’s dam line. This year’s purchases were Clarks Dynamite and Claddagh Dynamite, both bought at Lanark.”

With the aim of keeping the pedigree ewe numbers to between 15 and 20, gimmers have been sold privately each summer for the past few years. This year, all the gimmers bar four have been sold off the farm.

“The Texels are part of the business and need to be making money, so being able to bring in that extra income from selling females is ideal and helps cover the cost of flushing and stock tups,” says Danny.

To achieve that consistency year on year, Danny says his focus has been on improving the quality of his females, which has been a long-term project.

“This year, we’re flushing eight females, which is the most we’ve ever flushed, but I feel the ewes are now good enough to warrant that. The team includes a gimmer which I think is the best we’ve ever bred, she’s an ET sister to Centre of Attention.”

“With all our sheep, we’ve always taken the approach that if you look after the females, the tups will look after themselves. It’s taken 10 years to get a level of consistency through the females, so that we can now aim to buy stock tups that will suit them all.

You can’t get that consistency by buying in new females all the time, it has to come from years of breeding.”

The embryos are AI’d to lamb around March 10th, which Danny says is the earliest that the weather will allow them to lamb at Drumbreddan, enabling them to get outside a few days later. Tup lambs are normally sold at Lanark, Carlisle and some local sales if numbers allow, although this year, Danny took the chance to sell a few privately, due to the possibility of local lockdowns.

Tups used over the years which have left their stamp on the flock, include Springwell Venom, which Danny says bred a lot of good females, and Midlock Yorkie, the sire of Centre of Attention.

Hopefully next year will see a return to normality, but meanwhile, Danny plans to continue developing his flock by concentrating on the fundamental commercial aspects of the breed.

“I loved Midlock Yorkie when he was sold originally and managed to buy him privately a couple of years later from Arkle

“For me, Texels need to be healthy, commercial sheep that can look after themselves and go on and thrive and that’s the type we’ll continue to strive to produce,” he adds.

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Simplicity the key for Tynewydd F

Deri Morgan - Brecon

rom humble beginnings with just four ewes, Deri Morgan’s Tynewydd flock is now regularly among the big-hitters at commercial sales in the Welsh borders, achieving averages in excess of £1000 for pens of 20 plus rams on several occasions at the NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.

“We’ve bought no more females since those original four, having expanded the flock to its current numbers of about 110 ewes by keeping the best of our own gimmers and working away to improve the quality of what we have by selecting rams with the

traits we needed at the time,” explains Deri who farms with assistance from his mother, Marjory, and sister, Wendy.

Farming 270 acres, much of which is in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the Texel flock runs alongside a flock of 110 Lleyn ewes and a small suckler herd.

“The flock was founded in 1991 and as we started to see success selling rams the Texel flock gradually replaced the farm’s commercial ewe flock. It quickly became clear it would be a better way to go when we sold our first two shearling rams at Builth in 1993 for £500 each,” he adds.

As a keen young breeder Deri says the enjoyment and camaraderie at local shows was a big attraction in the early days of the flock. “We’ve pretty much given up showing these days, but there is still a really good local Texel community with several strong flocks in the area. The willingness to help other breeders hasn’t disappeared and that is one of the great things that stands out in the breed locally.”

Focussed on breeding strong, commercially relevant shearling tups for sale locally the Tynewydd flock has enjoyed success in the South Wales Texel Club flock competition on a number of occasions, first entering in 2005 and standing third in that first year before going on to be champion flock four times after that.

“The great thing about the flock competition is the feedback from the judges over the years. That first year we entered the advice was clear and concise. We had a flock with great conformation, correctness and carcasses, but lacked the extra sparkle and breed character to stand any higher.

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“As a result, we went to Lanark and bought Haddo Lucky Strike for 3800gns. He really moved the flock on and in 2007 with his first crop of gimmers coming into the flock we won the Club flock competition for the first time and were All Wales champion flock too.”

to lamb towards the end of February with the aim of a compact lambing period to tie in with Deri’s off-farm work.

But while there has been an increased focus on breed character Deri says the flock has stayed true to its aims in producing top end commercial tups. “That’s our bread and butter and while we have sold tups up to 4400gns, with others at 3000gns, the aim is to produce a level pen of tups that return a good average.

“We use AI to tighten up lambing as a result have been able to share a few rams with other breeders as we need them for much less time than for natural service. We’ve also used a bit of ET in recent years to expand the best families as a result of the insight we’ve gained with texelplus,” he adds.

“We get a lot of pleasure in seeing our rams go away and do well for their buyers and it was particularly pleasing to see one of our rams sire the champions at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair for Adrian Roberts.

Notable sires in recent years include Arkle Pacific Star who was bought in 2009. “He’d been first the Great Yorkshire Show and really clicked with our females. His first 25 tups sold averaged £1200, really moving the flock up a gear.

“Another of our tups went on to sire a Builth NSA champion for Elgan Jones’ Llwyngan flock and we recently sold a half share in Crannog Browser, a ram bred in my daughters’ flock to the Ballyglonney flock of the Creer family.

“Scolton Unify is another that has left a legacy of strong females which click with a variety of tups. His daughter and granddaughters are proving to be tremendous breeders being productive and milky.

“We have always admired the Creers’ sheep, so to sell them a ram was a notable day for us,” he explains.

“Kimbolton Ba Ba Boom and Crannog Browser are both proving themselves good breeders at the moment and the first Firgrove Class Act lambs born this spring are looking promising too as are lambs by Claybury Churchhill.

Latterly the flock has also made great use of performance recording, taking this tool on board in 2010 and developing the flock further with the aid of the information and insight gained.

“While it is a useful marketing tool and an increasing number of buyers are looking for texelplus information when sourcing rams, the real gain for us is the greater understanding we’ve got of our ewe flock and which ewes are the real performers.

“We’ve identified the lines which are really delivering in terms of their lambs and their own performance and have culled accordingly. Texelplus information allied with the insight we gained into mastitis and feet issues through involvement with the Society’s R&D initiative has made a big difference to the flock in recent years,” says Deri.

“Without a doubt we’ve been able to weed out a few problem ewes and families as a result and now have much fewer feet and udder issues than we used to.”

With the flock run on very commercial lines, all ewes are AI’d

When it comes to flock management Deri aims to keep things simple, with ewes only housed in the last few days before lambing and turned out to grass again with a couple of days of lambing. “Ewes receive homegrown oats through 3-in-1 feeders from three weeks before lambing and lambs don’t receive any creep feed and are run outside all winter on grass and turnips.

Feed is then introduced to ram hoggs in late spring in order to bring them on for the sales.

“This helps keep costs down and ensures the sheep we sell will go on and thrive in any system anywhere,” says Deri.

And with the focus solely on selling shearling rams he believes it is a system which is working well. “We cull ewes hard to keep the flock young and ensure any problem sheep aren’t given a second chance.

“That helps keep flock management requirements low and allows us to enjoy working with the flock,” he adds.

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Proven, Pedigree, Performance