Chairman’s Foreword

T

his year will live long in the memory for a whole host of reasons, both positive and negative.

Thankfully from a Texel Society point of view there have been far more positives than negatives and the breed has once again gone from strength to strength over the course of the last 12 months.

The launch in the early part of the year of the Society’s new iTexel database was a significant step forward for members, enabling on the spot, high speed access to flock management information from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

iTexel has enabled the Society to significantly streamline a number of processes, particularly sales entries, making it much easier for members to enter sales, substitute entries and ensure the accuracy of information in catalogues.

In addition, the Society’s delivery of genetic improvement services through texelplus, allied to iTexel has again helped improve the delivery of this important service to members the length and breadth of the UK. Helping the breed to thrive in 2020 has been an exceptional demand for prime lambs throughout the year, with average prices at many live markets barely dipping below £2/kg at any point since the spring.

Texel sired lambs have once again been the leaders of the trade at many points in the year, with the breed’s ability to add value to its progeny later reflected in breeding sheep sales, with both Texel rams and Texel cross females once again in high demand at all sales.

The sales season cannot get past without mention of the new breed records set for both males and females. The sale of

Sportsmans Double Diamond by the Boden family for 350,000gns is something no one who witnessed it will ever forget and the Boden family are to be congratulated for this remarkable achievement. Their dedication to the breed for more than 40 years is awe inspiring to see.

Meanwhile Edward Pugh’s flock dispersal included the sale of his gimmer for 50,000gns was another massive vote of confidence for the breed, with breeders clearly seeing the rewards of investing strongly in the breed and willing to continue doing so. Again, my congratulations go to Edward for this tremendous achievement.

And the in-lamb sales season didn’t disappoint either, with a new 20,000gns record for a ewe lamb set by Donald MacPherson and family, Hexel, and a new in-lamb female record set at 46,000gns by Procters Farm. Once again my congratulations go to all the connections of these sales for their achievements.

At the turn of the year none of us could have foreseen the impact Covid-19 would have on both our own Society and industry and indeed the world as a whole. The lack of events this year, including both summer shows and technical events, has meant there have been much fewer opportunities to glean the latest developments in the industry as well as, of course, socialise!

While farming has been relatively well insulated from the economic effects of the pandemic many members with outside business interests will have felt the effects all too strongly and they have my heartfelt sympathy.

I would like to thank the small, but effective Society office team who have worked hard to keep things on track despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 and the resultant limitations.

Looking ahead, the impact of Brexit will be fully felt in 2021 and I am sure the Texel breed is better placed than most to succeed under the new trading arrangements which will be in place by the time you read this.