Texel Primestock 2016

TEXEL

ISSUE 6 SPRING 2016

Primestock A Texel Sheep Society Publication

Texels thriving north to south Texel cross ewes prove adaptable in low input systems

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Ease of finishing suits producers Consider relevant traits in ram selection

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“Increasing numbers of hill producers are turning to Texel rams to add value to their crossbred lambs”

“While in the lowlands more and more flocks of Texels cross ewes are emerging as farmers seek to take advantage of the breeds excellent maternal traits”

Acknowledgement The Society thanks all those who have contributed in the creation of this production.

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of information contained within the Texel Sheep Society publication no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions or any reliance on use of the information to readers. All prices and information is correct at time of going to press.

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Texels offer added value option both now and for the future Welcome to the 2016 edition of Texel Primestock. The long-term outlook for sheep production in the UK remains positive, however, there is no doubt producers will need to spend plenty of time analysing their systems and production methods in order to prosper in future.

In the age of EID, data is definitely king and taking time to collect and interrogate the information available can help significantly in driving businesses forward.

Most importantly in these tougher times it is essential to produce what the market wants.

Understanding market demands is key and wherever possible the aim should be to add value to your flock’s production by meeting buyers’ specifications.

Of course it is also vital to have the right sheep for the environment and the system and with this in mind it is becoming more and more apparent that Texels fit the bill across the UK in all climates and terrains.

Increasing numbers of hill producers are turning to Texel rams to add value to their crossbred lambs while in the lowlands more and more flocks of Texel cross ewes are emerging as farmers seek to take advantage of the breed’s excellent maternal traits. Allied to this using Texel rams on these Texel cross ewes is allowing these flocks to produce top quality lambs which are eagerly sought after by both deadweight and liveweight buyers across the country.

Throughout the tough trading of 2015 we saw Texel cross lambs earning significant premiums at live markets the length and breadth of the UK, with premiums of up to 25p/kg not uncommon.

Buyers seek out Texel crosses for their evenness of fleshing and lean meat content, with both butchers and wholesale buyers valuing the balanced carcasses they offer.

It is of course vital to buy the right ram for your system too, high on all breeders list is the importance of functionally correct sheep. The ever increasing amount of data available through Texel performance recording is helping buyers find the rams to suit their needs. Quick growing, easily fleshed lambs will be essential to profits in the coming years and Texels have an unbeaten track record in this respect.

Recent research* conducted for the Texel Sheep Society using industry census data shows that genetic improvement in the breed between 1996 and 2015 amount to £197m to the UK sheep industry.

But, while the historic gains are impressive, the future potential is even greater with the financial benefits of genetic improvements between 2016 and 2035 predicted to total £244.2m. These benefits will come from both an increased market share for the breed, using current breed usage trends, and also accelerating rates of genetic progress in commercial and economically important traits.

Texel breeders have been and continue to be at the forefront of performance recording and the benefits being delivered from this commitment are being felt right across the sheep industry.

In an age where adding value is key to profitability and business sustainability, Texels truly are the added value breed. Texel lambs are capable of being slaughtered at a range of weights without going overfat as well as delivering exceptional crossbred females well suited to lamb production in any climate and terrain.

John John Yates Chief Executive *Information taken from a recent external study using industry census data and produced on behalf of the Texel Sheep Society.

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A switch to Texel cross ewes and judicious use of creep feed is helping one North Wales farming family earn premium prices for their prime lambs David Roberts, Holywell, North Wales

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or Llanasa, Holywell-based David Roberts who farms with his son Mathew the move is paying dividends, with the first 800 lambs from their 1220-ewe flock all sold in the early part of the season before the usual price dip occurs. “We moved to Texel cross ewes four years ago having traditionally run Welsh Mules, crossing these to Texel rams. Now, with Texel rams used on Texel cross ewes we’re achieving better grades and while the lambing percentage has fallen marginally we’re selling lambs earlier and at better prices.

“We were finding the Mules were having too many triplets which were making more work than necessary.

Whereas with the Texel crosses we generally scan at about 180% to 185% which we’re more than happy with,” explains Mr Roberts.

As a result of switching ewe breeds Mr Roberts says he has seen grades improve markedly, with killing out percentages also much better. “We’re now achieving about 25-30% of our lambs grading as Es, a further 50% are Us and the remainder are generally R grades, so we’re in the top end of the grid, with a target deadweight of 2021kg.

“We sell everything on a deadweight basis to Morrisons and they only pay to 21kg, so we try to avoid getting our lambs too heavy.

But that has meant a change of mindset as previously when we were running Mule ewes we were drawing lambs at 40-42kg and sometimes heavier to achieve those deadweights. Now we have to start drawing them at 38kg liveweight and sometimes lighter in order to achieve a 20-21kg carcass.”

But Mr Roberts says this has been a significant benefit to the business with lambs being drawn up to three weeks earlier than previously, meaning lambs spend less time on the farm, freeing up grass for the rest of the flock and for silage and haylage

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David Roberts: “The move to Texel cross ewes is adding value”

production. “Its certainly making a difference and as we creep feed the first 800 lambs it means we’re saving on bought-in feed too. Ram lambs in the first 800 are left entire too, so this also helps them finish quicker.”

Lambing for the flock is split in to three batches, with the first batch of 280 older ewes lambed in Mid-February and a further batch of 480 two to four lamb ewes lambing after them and finally the last batch of 450 lambing towards the middle and end of March. “We use teaser rams on all the ewes and this helps to tighten lambing up. We house ewes ahead of lambing, offering them haylage and ewe rolls, with twins and triplets getting a maximum of 1.5-1.75lb a head a day and singles often just having haylage, provided they’re in good enough condition when they come in.

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“Significant benefits to the business, with lambs being drawn up to three weeks earlier than previously experienced”

“After lambing we aim to get ewes and lambs out as soon as possible with ewes fed at grass for a short period as grass starts to come. We don’t creep feed the later lambs as by that time we generally have a good bite of grass in front of them.”

“Added to that we’re getting lambs away to the abattoir quicker and earning more for our cull ewes. It’s a winning combination all round and by using good quality Texel tups we’re seeing real benefits in the quality of the lambs.”

As the Roberts’ start to draw the first lambs from the older ewes they also cull any ewes which won’t last through to the following year, taking advantage of the higher cull prices often available through May and early June when there are usually fewer cull ewes on the market. “In fact last year we weaned all the early lambs at eight weeks old and culled a lot of the ewes then.

Replacement ewes are bought both privately and at local sales while rams are all sourced privately from one flock. “We’ve been buying rams from Alan Wynn Davies for a number of years and we’re finding that having all our rams from one flock is leading to greater consistency in the lambs we’re killing.”

“The lambs ate a bit more creep, but they didn’t suffer a check and having the ewes away helped us as we had fewer ewes to carry through the summer. That meant we could shut some fields up for haylage sooner and the culls earned a decent price, with the Texel cross ewes well sought after as they produce top end carcasses with plenty of lean meat,” adds Mr Roberts.

“Without a doubt the Texel crosses are delivering for us on all fronts. They are great maternal ewes with plenty of milk and have the ability to carry condition better than many ewes. We’re also finding they last longer than the Mules did and while they have a few less lambs the quality of lambs is higher so we’re getting better prices for what we’re selling.

The family start drawing their first lambs in the first two weeks of May aiming to coincide with Morrisons switching over to new season lamb, with demand for new season lambs low before then.

“We moved lambing a couple of weeks earlier to fit that demand for new season lambs and it has worked well for us. We generally draw lambs about once a fortnight and weigh them all as we go through them so we know where to draw the next lot from. The aim is to have the first 800 lambs away by the third week of July, with the later grass fed lambs following along right after this.

“The last 120 lambs were gone by the end of November last year, but we buy in about 800-900 store lambs to finish on stubble turnips over the winter, with most of these being Texel crosses too.

We’re always aiming to produce the best lambs we can, so prefer to buy Texel cross stores as we know they’ll perform well for us,” he adds.

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Keith Rowell: “Flock production is improving through continued use of quality Texel rams”

TEXELS DRIVE SUCCESS FOR DEVON FAMILY Keith and Sarah Rowell, Crockernwell, Devon

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ourcing top quality rams is helping Keith and Sarah Rowell maximise performance and income from their sheep enteprise at Tinkern Farm, Crockernwell, Devon, with Texels the keystone to their success.

Finished and store lambs invariably top Exeter market and well fleshed cull ewes ensure the family’s name regularly features in the market report.

The Rowell’s flock comprises 200 Texel x Mules and 120 Suffolk crosses and a small number of Scotch Mules bought as ewe lambs from Dartmoor flocks at Tavistock each year. The best ewe lambs from the Texel x Mules are kept and bred as shearlings to a Suffolk, with the better females from this cross also retained and put back to Texel rams again.

Ewes are first tupped as shearlings, with Keith believing this results in longer lasting ewes when compared to lambing them as ewe lambs. “I find sheep produce their best lambs and are milkier when more mature. We find the Texel cross ewes are long lived, milky and hardy.

You couldn’t really ask more of a ewe, particularly as we regularly achieve lambing rates of 185% and more.”

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And, when it comes to buying rams the family head for the National Sheep Association’s ram sale at Exeter each autumn.

“We like to buy from the Chave family’s Peacehay flock,” says Mr Rowell. “Their rams look well and stay fit once they start working. And I can’t fault the lambs they produce. The results speak for themselves.”

With lambing starting just before the end of February ewes are housed shortly ahead of lambing, with priority given to twin and triplet bearing ewes and singles housed when there is sufficient shed space available.

All twins and triplets are fed an 18% protein, 12ME ewe nut, but how much and from when depends on grass availability, weather conditions and litter size. “As a rule of thumb, triplets receive 1kg/day from January in an attempt to even out litter size. Twins are fed 1kg/day from three weeks prior to lambing and singles are offered just a mineral bucket and hay.”

Once housed ewes are offered ad lib quality hay and post lambing – once established – everything is turned out again and fed a flat rate of 1kg/day by snacker. “Triplets only ever go out with two lambs, with the third lamb either cross fostered or artificially reared” explains Mr Rowell.

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The first pick of finished lambs go off to Exeter market at the end of May at 10 - 11 weeks at 40kg.

“Texel lambs are great to work with, being quick to get up and suckle and have a good coat covering which helps them thrive on our exposed north facing farm.”

“Lambs are offered ad lib creep which means in the best years the first pick of finished lambs go off to Exeter market at the end of May when just over 10 weeks old at 40kgs. “That is only in the best years. Normally our first lambs are ready when 11- to 12-weeks old,” says Mr Rowell.

As the flock improves through continued use of quality Texel rams, more lambs are sold finished rather than as stores.

“I really like the fact Texel lambs carry that extra weight without going over fat.

I believe my lambs are better at 40kg than 36kg because that extra growth gives them more shape,” he explains.

“Depending on the grass and weather it will take just up to three weeks to put on that extra 4kg.”

When the finished trade levels to £75/lamb, Keith stores his lambs. “This generally coincides with lambs no longer fleshing, but growing in frame instead. Lambs are weaned onto fresh secondcut grass and at the end of September they move on to kale and we start drawing again in the late autumn at weights of between 40kg and 43kg. In January 2015 they averaged £82.50.”

Alongside using quality Texels the family are careful to maintain grass quality too, with high sugar grasses important to their system. “These leys last up to five years and are key to keeping lambs growing and ewes milking,” says Mr Rowell. “I also include sulphur in the artificial fertiliser compound because it increases grass protein which, again, boosts lambs growth rates.”

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Combining visual assessment and recording data for ram selection BREEDING REPLACEMENTS

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uying rams is potentially one of the most important decisions a breeder makes in any one year, after all the rams are half the flock and buying the wrong rams can have a serious impact on both flock output and profitability.

Those breeders targeting female replacements as their main output can make use of maternal trait EBVs including litter size EBV, maternal ability EBV and mature size EBV.

A recent Texel Society survey on ram buyers ranked health status and ram structural traits that affect functionality as the most important selection criteria when buying rams. And allied to these important factors in recent years an increasing amount of data has become available as a result of extensive performance recording within the Texel breed.

The litter size EBV gives an indication of prolificacy and rams with higher litter size EBVs will produce ewes capable of producing more lambs throughout their lifetime.

While some eschew this information many buyers are now placing increasing reliance on it to inform their choices, particularly when it comes to the non-visual traits such as muscle depth and growth rate, balancing this key information alongside ram functionality.

Taking account of this performance information can make a big difference when it comes to ram choices, with buyers able to select on a number of criteria alongside their visual and physical assessment.

Crucially though it is important not to forget the need for physically correct rams capable of serving enough ewes and leaving lambs suited to the modern meat trade or suitable for further breeding in a variety of different environments and rearing systems.

What are your objectives?

When buying rams there is also a need to consider beforehand what the objectives of the flock are. Is the flock’s main purpose producing prime lambs or is it a store lamb producing flock or one breeding replacement females for sale?

Once this has been established it is easier to select rams best suited to your needs using both visual assessment and performance data. Estimated breeding values for muscle depth, growth rates, fat depth and maternal ability are all available and provide meaningful information to aid ram selection.

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When looking at the maternal ability EBV this gives an indication of the breeding potential of a ram’s offspring. This includes their potential milkiness, a vital trait in female replacements.

Mature size EBV is available on BASCO online

BALANCE GROWTH AND MATURE SIZE It is important that breeders take some time to consider the optimum mature size of their ewe flocks. Rams with higher mature size EBVs will produce ewes which are heavier than their dam’s generation and in many cases this may need careful management. While larger ewes may breed lambs with faster growth rates, they themselves will likely need more feed and a lower stocking density than smaller ewes.

But this may be a compromise as there is a close relationship between lamb growth rate and ewe mature size. Selecting for smaller mature size can make it tricky to select for faster lamb growth, until a suitable EBV is produced to manage this effect. Care must be taken not to negatively influence one important commercial trait when selecting for another trait of higher importance.

Mature size EBV is available on BASCO online

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Performance Information in Society Catalogues Consider the traits important to you!

And while performance recorded animals will be presented with an overall breeding index it is important that buyers pay attention to individual estimated breeding values (EBVs) for traits of importance to them.

FAST FINISHING

STORE LAMBS

For flocks looking to sell lambs straight off their mothers off grass then a ram’s eight week weight EBV and fat depth EBV will be important measures. Rams with high performance data for eight week weight will produce quick growing lambs and this combined with a positive fat depth EBV should ensure lambs grow quickly and finish easily off milk and grass.

Flocks intending to produce store lambs for sale for further finishing may want to pay attention to the scan weight EBV as this will indicate rams capable of leaving lambs with good growth rates to 21 weeks of age.

These flocks would be best advised to avoid rams with low eight week EBVs but high scan weight (20 week) EBVs and rams with negative fat depth EBV figures as these could potentially be harder to finish off grass at suitable weights for the retail trade.

CARCASS QUALITY When the aim is to produce high quality butchers’ or export carcasses then the muscle depth EBV should be of particular interest and this, combined with the gigot score EBV, will help breeders produce lambs with higher lean meat content in the valuable cuts, such as the loin and leg. It should be remembered that the gigot score EBV is based on volume of meat in the gigot and is not a measurement of extreme conformation, which can be deceiving to the eye, when visually selecting rams.

ACCURACY Accuracy values displayed below each EBV indicate how much is known about an animal and its relatives for that particular trait. They account for the risk involved in making breeding decisions and give buyers an indication of the level of accuracy for each particular EBV listed. Animals with higher accuracy values are less likely to see their values change as more data is collected about their relatives and so using these animals reduces the risk when making breeding decisions.

Meanwhile, those animals with lower accuracy values are those for which less data about both themselves and their relatives has been collected. They may be animals with good genetics, however, the lack of available performance data makes it difficult to identify them using EBVs. Accuracy values are influenced by a number of factors, including the amount of recorded data available for the animal and its relatives, the heritability of the trait and the level of information available from traits related to the trait of interest and the strength of the relationship between traits.

National Sale Dates Northern Irish – 16 - 17 August Scottish – 24 - 25 August Welsh – 27 August English – 29 - 30 August

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Commercial lamb producer, Ed Smith, is a self confessed bottom line man when it comes to the management of his 800-ewe flock Ed Smith, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

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aximising production from a low cost system is a must which is the main reason for his decision to lamb 250 Texel cross ewe lambs alongside the main flock. Off the back of a switch from lambing down purchased North County Mule ewe lambs and an increase in Texel cross numbers.

“I may be playing the numbers game slightly, but it seems to be working so far. I’m getting an extra crop of lambs out of a decent female which is bringing in a greater cull value in the long-term compared to a North Country Mule,” comments Mr Smith.

Another factor in his decision, taken in the summer of 2015, is the relatively low cost of replacement females compared to the prices being achieved for the better end of the cull ewes.

“Producers should be looking hard at their culls, it’s simply not cost efficient to carry stragglers in the flock which may consistently go lame or have increasingly poor bags or mouths.

Whether retaining home bred females or purchasing new blood, now is the right time to do it.”

Historically, North Country Mule ewe lambs have been purchased out of Skipton and have been tupped by a Beltex and then after their first lambing they move to a Texel. The Texel x Mule is then

Ed Smith: “I’m getting an extra crop of lambs out of a decent female, with greater cull value”.

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Low input system suited to Texel

tupped by a Charollais. “We decided to retain a group of Texel crosses rather than selling them as finished lambs, along with the Texel crosses out of a batch of 50 store lambs, for replacements.

They’ve lambed down ahead of the main flock at just shy of 100%.

“Putting ewe lambs in to the budget at £60 a head, it makes far more financial sense to lamb them down rather than run them round and sell the following year for what would likely be a loss based on current lamb trade.”

Enhancing Texel cross ewe numbers has seen a lambing percentage of 175%, resulting in a reduction in lambs across the board of up to 15% compared to the previous system, but the Texel has a much tighter udder compared to the North Country Mule. “She milks well and is a far better quality female when she reaches a three-crop.”

Lambs are marketed through Farmers Fresh, which is 30 miles away from the farm. “We may give away a bit of weight, but we’re paid up to 21kg, so most of the lambs are hitting the 19.5 – 20kg mark at O2 or R3 grade. The last batch of 200 lambs sold in the summer averaged £60.”

When purchasing tups, Mr Smith prefers to buy to a budget and runs one tup for 40 ewes. “Lambs are no good to me as I need strength and maturity in tups and I prefer to purchase shearlings from the same place each year to build trust and continuity of ram quality. This definitely paying dividends with consistency in our lamb crop.”

Tups are largely bought off farm and are of a commercial type.

“Figures aren’t important to me, I’ve been stung before from buying high performance figured, well fed tups, which have just melted away on me after working one season.” So, the criteria is a long tup with plenty of carcass and a tight, clean head and sound legs and feet.

On top of this Mr Smith says the quality of the lambs being produced from these ewes is superior to that from a North Country Mule, with better prices allaying the reduction in the numbers sold.

“Texel breeders need to take a long hard look at bone and head size, speaking purely from a commercial point of view, big heavy heads are of no use to me as they will only increase the risk of lambing difficulties,” he adds.

Lambs are finished off a mixture of grass, stubble turnips and red clover. “It’s previously been our intention to creep feed lambs, but the figures stack up better for grass fed lambs. Added to which ewes are fed an 18% protein ewe nut and grass production is kicking in well three weeks after lambing.”

As well as a change in genetics, work has been done on faecal egg counting to reduce the reliance on worming, particularly as the flock has a resistance to white wormer. On top of this, Mr Smith has worked hard to reduce lameness within the flock having vaccinated with Footvax in the autumn after cull ewes were sold.

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Repeat buyers flock to Texel sired lambs Derek Arnold, Crediton, Devon

Butchers and buyers recognise a Texelsired lamb in the market because of its distinctive shape. They know they are buying lambs with a good killing out percentage and grades. And the lambs will be lean – even at heavier weights.

So says Derek Arnold who farms a 300 acre mixed sheep, beef and arable unit at Crediton, Devon. “When looking over the pen potential buyers immediately see a good back end and lambs with backs like dinner plates. Once they have also seen the good results at the abattoir they always come back for more,” he explains.

Mr Arnold is speaking from experience, with Exeter Market auctioneer Russell Steer commending the quality of lambs he presents to buyers. “He produces fantastic butchers’ lambs which always command a premium in the market.”

Lambing 340 Texel cross and Berrichon Du Cher cross ewes from 20th February onwards, ewes are offered a home-grown mix of rolled barley and wheat with a 16% ewe nut comprising 35% of the ration. Six to eight weeks prior to lambing ewes are started on 1lb/day with this increasing three weeks later.

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After turnout ewes are still fed until grass is well established, with lambs offered ad lib creep immediately to ensure they grow on as quickly as possible. “The creep is made up of a third each of an 18% protein nut, rolled barley and rolled wheat and our first batch of lambs will be ready for market in June,” says Mr Arnold.

“The first draw usually weigh in at more than 45kg and we then continue to sell lambs most weeks until the end of January, with lambs largely bought by Jaspers Lamb, Launceston, and Darts Farm, Topsham.”

As well as allowing him to produce top quality butchers’ lambs Mr Arnold says using Texel sires allows him to retain ewe lambs as replacements for the flock.

“I find the Texel crosses to be excellent mothers with plenty of milk. On a hillbred ewe they produce a really shapely ewe.”

Retained ewe lambs are run on grass in the first winter at Churchill, Loxbeare,Tiverton, where Derek grew up and then grow on through the following summer ahead of tupping.

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“Retained ewe lambs are run on grass in the first winter”.

And when it comes to tupping Mr Arnold is careful to source the right type of ram to suit his needs. “Rams must have back end, a good straight, wide back and sound legs.

“But there is no point in having all that if they don’t look like they are keen to get on with their job.”And while it is the shape and conformation of his lambs which draws buyers back regularly.

Mr Arnold says for him the Texel’s greatest strength is that it is a lean breed: “I can sell when it suits me and continue to pick at heavier weights without worrying about lambs going fat.

I’m not having to worry about selling them at a certain weight, which makes it much easier to farm them.”

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One of the first farming businesses to extensively use Texels in the far North of Scotland The Sutherland family, Thurso, Caithness

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etween Stainland and Sibmister farms, Thurso, Caithness, the Sutherlands farm 1600 acres (mainly arable ground, bar 300 acres of hill). They run a 400-strong suckler cow herd, from which the calves are sold as stores, and a sheep flock of 1000 cross ewes, 50 pure Suffolks and 50 pure Texels.

The commercial sheep flock is currently undergoing a conversion back to mainly Texel x Cheviot Mule females, having used traditional, Texel x Scotch Mules for several years.

“We’ve tried various breeds and combinations over the years, but we’ll now buy in Cheviot Mule ewe lambs each year to put to the Texel and we’ll use the female progeny off those as foundation ewes for the commercial flock. It’s a cross that suits our farm well,” says Mr Sutherland.

Two thirds of the commercial ewes are put back to the Texel, with lambing taking place in the second week in March.

“The ewes are normally fed from six weeks before lambing, but it really depends on the type of year it’s been and the amount of grass we have. They’re brought inside to lamb and most are sold off their mothers by the end of July, with the first lot normally away at the end of May,” explains Mr Sutherland.

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For the Sutherland family, Fiona, Amy, Kenneth jnr, Stephen, Kenneth snr and Elspeth,Texel cross females put to Texel rams is the way forward.

Selling to Woodheads at Turriff, mainly straight off grass, the Sutherlands aim for their lambs to be as close to 20kg as possible. Last year’s crop averaged £72 a head, with 78% of them hitting E and U grades.

“We find the Texel lambs to have plenty vigour and we can achieve the weights we’re looking for without worrying about them getting too fat,” he says.

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“Likewise, we prefer using Texel cross females as the mainstay of the commercial flock because they’re easier kept and make great mothers and once we’re finished with them, as five-crop ewes, they’re still worth £20 more than any other breed.

Caithness Show three times with Texel cross ewes and lambs – on one of those occasions, with a ewe and her triplet Texel lambs at foot.

“And they have plenty of lambs, without having too many – the flock normally scans at 190%,” he adds.

Mr Sutherland explains: “We sell Texel shearlings at Quoybrae, so showing the commercial sheep is good promotion for the flock – but asides from that, we mainly do it because we enjoy it.”

The quality of those lambs is evident in the Sutherlands’ success at many local shows – Sutherland, Turriff, Nairn, Black Isle and Latheron – and at the Quoybrae Mart Christmas prime show and sale, which they’ve won several times. Their 2015 champion pair, weighing 45kg and sired by a home-bred Texel ram, sold at £400 each to a local hotelier.

Meanwhile, the family regularly exhibits ewes with lambs at foot, and have secured the championship and supreme sheep title at

Further afield, they lifted the commercial title at the Royal Highland Show in 2013, with a Texel cross ewe and her pair of three-quarter Texel lambs.

The team – which includes Kenneth’s wife Fiona and their oneyear-old daughter Amy, plus two full time staff – are, however, looking forward to this year’s lambs off their 2015 purchase, Arkle War Wagon, a Halbeath VIP son.

“We’ve come a long way with the sheep, trying various crosses and combinations, and we’re now in a situation where we feel we’ve got the best system and breeds to suit our farm and the type of land we have,” adds Mr Sutherland.

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Texels stand test of time at Carrickfergus farm Andrew Dobbs, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim

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or almost three decades Texel rams have played a pivotal role on the farm of Northern Irish sheep producer Andrew Dobbs, consistently producing superior lambs for the live market.

Running a commercial flock of 220 ewes alongside a spring calving suckler herd across his 450 acre farm at Carrickfergus, Mr Dobbs chooses the popular Suffolk x Cheviot for his ewes.

Lambing commences in mid February and runs through until the middle of April, with all ewes lambed indoors. “I find the Texel lambs are easily lambed and really quick to get to their feet and suckle their dams. They are put out to grass as soon as possible post lambing, with the Texel lambs making good efficient use of the milk and grass available to them.”

Mr Dobbs pays particular attention to good grassland management, with the ewes never short of a supply of quality forage. This ensures lambs do not require creep feeding and they flourish on the milk and grass combination.

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Andrew Dobbs: “Texel cross ewes and their lambs thrive on good grass”

www.texel.co.uk • tel: 024 7669 6629 • email: office@texel.co.uk

Texel lambs are easily lambed and really quick to their feet to suckle their dams.

“Texel cross ewes and their lambs thrive on good grass, quickly gaining weight and maintaining cover and evenness of fleshing throughout their growth.”

All of the lambs are sold through the live ring at Ballymena Mart with Mr Dobbs opting to run them to weights ranging from 46kg to 48kg liveweight. “They’re ideal weight for a range of buyers and are well sought after.”

They are snapped up by repeat buyers including local butchers who have been impressed with the killing out percentage and eating quality of Mr Dobbs’ Texel lambs. They also appreciate the full traceability and farm quality assurance that the Dobbs lambs offer.

“I keep a handful of Texel cross ewe lambs back for flock replacements, with these selected using a combination of the dam’s performance and visual appearance of the lamb as key points.”

Mr Dobbs says the future of the Texel ram is secure on this Carrickfergus farm. “I’m keen to continue with this successful breeding formula which I’ve tried and tested for many years now.

“Texel rams have added considerable value to the sheep enterprise as a whole and my lambs are keenly bid for at market. The breed offers many attributes to the commercial farmer, and I fully intend sticking with Texel for years to come.”

In touch with Texel • @twitter.com/britishtexel • #addtexeladdvalue

17

Robust, hard working rams form the backbone of David Herrick’s sheep enterprise, with Texels the ram of choice to produce quality prime lambs.

David Herrick, Swinford, Leicestershire

M

r Herrick’s largely Texel cross ewe flock is run on lower quality rented grassland, with much of it subject to stewardship agreements. “This means we need a sheep capable of thriving off lower quality grass and, as we don’t feed any concentrate after lambing, stocking rates aren’t maybe as high as some others may run.

“Texels fit the bill perfectly for us, with our Texel cross ewes bred up from North Country Mules and then put back to a Texel ram again to produce prime lambs.

“They leave great lambs, with good shape and, importantly, great growth rates.”

As well as only feeding ewes in the final few weeks before lambing Mr Herrick doesn’t creep feed his lambs, meaning they have to be able to do well off their mother’s milk and grass alone.

David Herrick: “The Texel cross ewes tend to be the better mothers of the breeds we work with”

18

“We try and keep our ewes in good condition throughout the year which helps them milk well when it comes to lambing. We’re

www.texel.co.uk • tel: 024 7669 6629 • email: office@texel.co.uk

“Keeping the system simple by using Texel”

lucky to be able to graze them on root crops over winter to give the grass a good break, letting a decent bite grow back before we turn ewes back out again after lambing.

“Generally speaking the ewes go on to root crops in November and are then lambed in mid-late March, having been housed five or six weeks earlier and fed barley straw and an 18% concentrate,” he says.

“Ewes are offered barley straw in ring feeders and bed themselves as a result, with the ring feeders moved on a regular basis. Cobs are then fed straight on to the straw.

“It’s a fairly simple system, but it means we get good viable lambs with plenty of vigour and helps keep costs in check too,” he explains.

The Texel cross ewes tend to be the better mothers of the breeds we work with, which makes life much easier too, adds Mr Herrick. “They’re great milk ewes and really look after themselves and their lambs exceptionally well.

“Nowadays we only buy in a handful of Mules as we need them to freshen up the blood in the flock and ensure we keep a bit of hybrid vigour in there.”

Mr Herrick says with all lambs sold deadweight the quality of his lambs is easily seen. “In general we’d expect more than half our lambs to be U grades with the rest Es and Rs, although we don’t tend to get too many Es. However, we’re not paid on grades, just on weight and with our buyer paying to 23kg the Texel crosses suit us well as we can get them to a decent weight without them laying down unnecessary fat.

“Our first draw of lambs went away this year at 12-14 weeks old and averaged 21.8kg deadweight. The best lamb weighed 49kg alive and 27.5kg dead, you can’t really do any better than that off our sort of system.”

Lambs are wormed on a routine basis after being treated against nematodirus in spring. But it is worms from dogs being walked across pastures affected by public footpaths which cause the bigger issues. “It’s a losing battle though, with about two thirds of livers from lambs from that ground being condemned at the abattoir.”

When it comes to ram selection Mr Herrick is clear in what he’s looking for. “They’ve got to be long, clean tups, with a bit shape and strength to them. We buy privately from one breeder and have never been disappointed yet in all the time we’ve been using Texels.

“It’s the consistency where they really deliver, when you use Texel rams you know you’re going to have good batches of evenly fleshed, well finished lambs to pick from week in week out. That’s really important for us as once we start drawing lambs we like to send some every week and being able to pick lambs straight off grass with no feed helps us achieve good returns.”

Mr Herrick says that up until last year his flock had been achieving between £80 and £90/ewe profit before labour. “Our rearing percentage of 184% certainly helps us achieve that and again that’s testament to the maternal nature of the Texel cross ewes coupled with the quality of the prime lambs being delivered by the rams we’re using.

“It’s a real win:win for us with the Texels and I can’t see why we’d even consider using any other breed now.”

In touch with Texel • @twitter.com/britishtexel • #addtexeladdvalue

19

#addtexeladdvalue Society Club Sales & Ram Sales 2016 1 August

8 September

15 - 16 September

24 September

9 December

BUILTH WELLS NSA Early Ram Sale Clee, Tompkinson & Francis Tel: 01874 622 488

CARMARTHEN Carmarthen Livestock Centre Tel: 01267 236268

SKIPTON Craven Cattle Mart Tel: 01756 792 375

CARLISLE Harrison & Hetherington Tel: 01228 06 230

CARLISLE Harrison & Hetherington Tel: 01228 406 230

17 August

9 September

17 September

29 September

10 December

EXETER NSA SW Ram Sale Sue Martin Tel: 01409 271 385

RUTHIN (DUTCH) Ruthin Farmers Auction Company Tel: 01824 702025

WORCESTER McCartneys Tel: 01905 769 770

WELSHPOOL Welshpool Livestock Sales Tel: 01938 553438

SKIPTON Craven Cattle Mart Tel: 01756 792 375

17 September

17 October

22 December

19 August

9 September

KENDAL NWA Jct 36 Tel: 015395 662 00

ASHFORD Hobbs Parker Tel: 01233 502222

BAKEWELL Bagshaws Tel: 01629 812 777

WELSHPOOL Welshpool Livestock Sales Tel: 01938 553 438

WELSHPOOL Welshpool Livestock Sales Tel: 01938 553 438

19 September

26 November

16 December

20 August

9 September

GAERWEN Morgan & Evans Tel: 01248 723 303

KELSO For more details Tel: 01573 224 188

BUILTH WELLS Main NSA Ram Sale Clee, Tompkinson & Francis Tel: 01874 622 488

NEWARK Society Sale Newark Livestock Market Tel: 01636 676741

LLANDOVERY Clee, Tompkinson & Francis Tel: 01874 622 488

1 - 2 September

11 September

20 September

28 November

CARLISLE Harrison & Hetherington Tel: 01228 406 230

LLANDOVERY Clee, Tompkinson & Francis Tel: 01874 622 488

THAINSTONE Aberdeen & Northern Mart Tel: 01467 623 710

THAINSTONE Aberdeen & Northern Mart Tel: 01467 623 710

CHELFORD Frank Marshall Tel: 01625 861 122

3 September

11 - 12 September

22 September

1 December

SHREWSBURY Shrewsbury Livestock Auctioneers Tel: 01743 462 620 5

RUTHIN Ruthin Farmers Auction Tel: 01824 702 025

CLITHEROE Lawrie & Symington Tel: 01555 662 281

FFAIRFACH Ffairach Livestock Mart Tel: 01267 236 268

24 September

3 December

8 September

LANARK Lawrie & Symington Tel: 01555 662 281

NEWARK Society Sale Newark Livestock Market Tel: 01636 676741

WORCESTER McCartneys Tel: 01905 769770

WILTON Southern Counties Tel: 01722 321 215

15 September

7th January 2017

7th January 2017 LANARK Lawrie & Symington Tel: 01555 662 281

Northern Ireland 29 August

9 September

15 September

22 September

TBC December

RATHFRILAND Rathfriland Farmers Co-Op Tel: 028 4063 8493

ENNISKILLEN Ulster Farmers Mart Tel: 028 6632 2218

LISAHALLY Richard Beattie’s Livestock Sales Tel: 028 8164 7105

CLOGHER Clogher Mart Tel: 028 8164 7105

Ballymena In-Lamb J A McClelland Tel: 028 2563 3470

3 September

SWATRAGH Sperrin & Bann Valley Mart Tel: 029 7940 1335

16 September HILLTOWN Hilltown Mart Tel: 028 4063 0287

GORTIN Richard Beattie’s Livestock Sales Tel: 028 8164 7105

14 September

21 September

10 October

BALLYMENA Co Antrim J A McClelland Tel: 028 2563 3470

MARKETHILL Markethill Livestock Tel: 028 3755 1265

BALLYMENA (Harvest Sale) J A McClelland Tel: 028 2563 3470

RUAS BALMORAL Richard Beattie’s Livestock Sales Tel: 028 8164 7105

8 September ARMOY D McAllister Tel: 028 2177 1227

7 September

7 October

Dates correct as of 10/02/16