Texel Sheep Society August 2010 Bulletin

SHEEP SOCIETY

British Texel Sheep Society, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG

Tel: 024 7669 6629, Fax: 024 7669 6472, Email: offi [email protected]

Q U A L I T Y

P E R F O R M A N C E

S E R V I C E

S U C C E S S

CONTENTS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

UPDATE

SOCIETY FINANCIAL

SUPPORT FOR

MEMBERS

ATTENDING PRIME

STOCK EVENTS

NEW ONLINE SEMEN

DIRECTORY

MAEDI VISNA –

STAY VIGILANT AND

PROTECT YOUR

FLOCK

SHOW STOPPERS

2010

BASCO BENEFITS!

SOCIETY BOOSTS

EXPORTS

Chief Executives Update

After the worst winter for thirty years breeders and producers must have been relieved that they chose Texel! But even the toughest days of winter give way to spring and new hope and the promise of success at the summer shows. We thank and congratulate all exhibitors

who made the effort of showing and promoting our breed across the country. A short report and photos on the judges’ pick of the crop is included in this bulletin.

Members are now looking forward to the Society sales which begin, as the show season did, with a return to Northern Ireland and the warm welcome that comes always in abundance from the Northern Irish club members.

This year will see an intense period for our national sales, which start on 19th August in Dungannon, followed by the rest of the nationals in quick succession between the 25th and 31st August. This will be a very busy time, with everybody hoping for a repeat of the 2009 averages and clearance rates.

We welcome many new members to our Society, with eighty new subscriptions so far this year: proof that the Texel is maintaining its appeal. Our aim is always to promote and increase sales of our members’ Texels. The positive and constructive feedback from the membership during the last two years has helped us to focus on revising and updating our promotion and the improvements clearly demonstrate our confi dence and position in the sheep industry.

As an industry it’s important to remain innovative and this is no different a challenge to our Society. Texels are now extremely infl uential, but we must remain dynamic and responsive to market demands, championing the need for change. Our breed must remain robust, prolifi c and hardy with the essential focus on lean meat yield. No breed of sheep is all things to all people, but with the use of modern technologies, such as the EBV tool box and the versatile and diverse phenotypes we have within our breed, we truly do have a breed that can deliver the demands of the most discerning commercial producer.

Another “First” for the Society is the launch of the Lambing Ease EBV. Breeders can now positively select for this trait. This EBV was initiated by the PRT committee and supported by Signet and Egenes, with part funding through a Spark Award from Faraday and provides innovative solutions for Texel breeders. It demonstrates the value we place in commercial traits that will increasingly be required by producers in the future.

Good Luck with your sales and I look forward to meeting many of you over the next weeks.

Best Regards

John YatesChief Executive

BulletinFor members of the Texel Sheep Society

August 2010

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

Dates for diary Eblex/Signet/Texel Society breeder Mr S Curtis. ACMC. 11th Augustdevelopment day. N YorksEblex/Signet/Texel Society breeder Trinidad Investments. 18th Augustdevelopment day. SussexNorthern Ireland Premier Show & sale. Dungannon. Thursday & Friday 19th & 20th AugustScottish Premier Show & Sale. Lanark. Wednesday & Thursday 25th & 26th AugustNEW Welsh Premier Show & sale. Welshpool. Friday & Saturday 27th & 28th AugustEnglish Premier Show & sale. Worcester. Monday & Tuesday 30th & 31st August Countryside Live. Harrogate. 23-24th October 2010Borderway Agri- Expo. Carlisle. 29th October 2010National AGM & Social weekend. Lochgoilhead. 12-14th November English Winter Fair. Stafford . 20-21st November 2010Scottish Royal Highland Winter Fair. Edinburgh. 24th November.Smithfi eld Agrilive. Stoneleigh. 2-3rd December.NI Xmas Fatstock Show & sale. Ballymena. Early December. ( date TBC)

SHEEP SOCIETYwww.texel.co.uk

Society Matters

Prime Stock Show Discounts!

Members are reminded of the fi nancial support provided for their entries into the Autumn/Winter Prime Stock events held across the UK. Further information and

terms and conditions are provided on the Society website. Members entering the major Prime stock events are eligible to reclaim their entry fees from the society after each event has taken place.

Young Texel Breeders Support required

The Society has been asked to source young breeders to assist in English Lamb promotions at the 2011 SIMA Paris Show 20th -24th

February. Contact the Society Chief Executive for further information.

2011 SIMA Paris FeFtthtEExiin

Innovis commercial Scrapie Genotyping offer.

Society Members can make use of a recently negotiated discount with Innovis Ltd. Just supply your fl ock code when ordering Scrapie Genotype kits from Innovis.

Batch Size Current price Discounted price

(excl Vat) (excl VAT)

1-10 samples £18 £15

11-29 samples £14 £12

30+ samples £9 £9

Society sales factoids!

Sales held under the auspices of the society , including all Club and National sales, collectively grossed in excess of £3.68M during 2009, with National sales clearances for Gimmers and Ram Lambs achieving 85% and Shearling Rams 80%, adding further evidence to the increasing popularity and importance of Society sales. In addition the Border Union Ram sale at Kelso cleared to 98% grossing £720,000 for the infl uential Texel trade.

Society promotions hitting the target in 2010.

Members visiting the key events so far in 2010 have seen major improvements to the promotional activity by the Society on behalf of members. Improvements in display material and literature as well as working closely with Society Clubs for a more targeted regional promotion.

Members have also welcomed hospitality at each event, allowing the Society exhibit to be used as a point to meet and greet existing members or meet with new commercial customers.

Mr Ken Martyn. Barnage Flock MWB

Our thoughts and condolences go to Christine Martyn and family of Barnage Farm Forrest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Ken founded the fl ock in 1978, sourcing foundation stock from across Britain, so will be known by many Members. Ken was a founder member of the Gloucester & Borders Texel Club in 1979, one of the very fi rst Texel clubs. A keen performance recorder and a true advocate and ambassador for the breed, Ken will be sadly missed.

BULLETIN ADVERTISING RATES 2010 Members CommercialHalf Page £180.00 £270.00Qtr Page £100.00 £150.00

All prices require VAT adding at the current rate

Next Bulletin - Mid November

Closing date for adverts31st October 2010



BASCO Benefits

The Society website now receives a seasonal peak visitor rate in excess of 6000 unique visitors

per month. The Sales and Shows sections are most popular, with many of the main show reports, photographs and results going live the evening of each of the show days. The result section is further enhanced with links direct from each animal ID to the Societies BASCO database, so members can easily review the performance and pedigree data on the show winners.

The Texel Sire Directory has been developed further allowing members to quickly review and research rams online. If you have semen to sell from your stock rams, they can be advertised free of charge on the Sire Directory on the Texel website.Contact [email protected] forfurther information.

Thinking of planning a Club fl ock visit, use the BASCO webserach to pin point exactly where each fl ock lives. This

great facility allows for members to use the google maps service via the BASCO websearch. Type in fl ock name or owner into the breeder search, click on map on post code section.

ey

ee

MILNBANK FLOCK – LYMMargaret Lyons (Private Sale)

Margaret Lyons has sold her entire Milnbank Flock with the exception of her 2010 Annual Ram Lamb Consignments for Lanark Premier & Carlisle, to her fl ock manager Robbie Wilson in a private transaction.

Robbie, who has achieved great success with the Strathisle Suffolk Flock in recent years, hopes to do likewise with the Milnbank Texels in the future, running the two fl ocks in tandem.

Margaret Lyons has invested heavily in recent years buying females to a top of 13,000gns

from Ettrick, while stud ram deals include the 29,000gns, 2008 Lanark Supreme Champion Millars Outstanding - VMG08528 (Joint Purchase). High profi le rams sold from Milnbank include, Milnbank Hitman – LYM01204, Milnbank Lyon King – LYM05245 (13,000gns) and Milnbank Jersey Dudeck – LYM03077 (28,000gns), while Gimmers have sold to 10,000gns

Margaret Lyons stated that she had greatly enjoyed her 20 year association with the Texel Breed; during this time she has made friends with many fellow Breeders at the Sales and during holiday trips aboard. She also wishes to thank all those who have sent messages of goodwill during her recent spell of ill health.

Maedi Visna - the facts!

There are currently 3000 members from across all breeds in the scheme. Surveys in 2002-03 showed 1.5-3% fl ocks had MV in the Country. No surveys have been carried out since in non accredited fl ocks, so this is likely to be an underestimate. 15-33 fold reduced risk of getting MV infection if your fl ock is accredited. Whilst the level of breakdowns across breeds is no higher in any breed over the past ten years, the number of breakdowns occurring in each breed refl ected the proportion of the scheme membership with that breed. 2010 has seen an increase of cases with 4 Texel fl ocks and 1 other breed. These fl ocks range from Ayrshire to Scottish Borders, and North Yorkshire to Brecon. These holdings also have other breeds and Non accredited stock.

● 54.5% of breakdowns have Non accredited stock on their holding.

● 23.8% of the PS&GHS membership have Non accredited sheep on their holdings

● These fl ocks have a 2.3 times increase of risk of their fl ocks breaking down.

● It is essential that all fl ocks that remain in the scheme follow the scheme rules.

Members are encouraged to follow the rules accurately to protect their own fl ocks as well as those that they are trading with. The Society continues to work with SAC PS&GHS and has asked for them to provide more accurate statistics of the prevalence and distribution of cases in the commercial sector from across GB.


Society Matters

A Pioneer is making his way in the Mountains of Switzerland adding further evidence to the

easy care and hardy traits of the British Texel.

A long summer holiday in the mountains of Switzerland. - What is wishful thinking for many people is now yearly routine to British Texel ram Glenway Pioneer (MFZ09001), imported to Switzerland by Heinz Pluess, (www.texelschafe.ch), who’s considered a pioneer regarding the introduction of Texel sheep in Switzerland.

Running his own plumbing business, Heinz is farming 19 hectares of land and 3 hectares of woodland in his free time in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. He has 50 to 60 Texel ewes mainly of German origin. Until the end of February the sheep are left on the pasture where they have access to a shed. During the lambing season in

March the ewes and their offspring are kept in a barn for about two weeks. As soon as weather conditions permit the fl ock leaves the lowland farm around mid April to spend the coming summertime on a steep Alp at 1000 to 1100 m altitude. There, they are checked on once a week and every two weeks let on to new grazing grounds. Mid August the sheep get shorn on the Alp so they have already some wool grown back at the end of September, beginning of October when they return to the home farm. This way they can stay outside even if the weather should turn wet and cold.

While the sheep are on the Alp hay is made on the home farm for winter.

Glenway Pioneer, the fi rst British Texel ram caused quite a stir and a lot of admiration at a main Swiss exhibition. Such was the impression he left that his progeny were well sold before the lambs were even born!

This year pioneer Heinz Pluess is importing three more British Texel rams and with it certainly a further boost to Texel in Switzerland.

Glenway Pioneer has a PRT Texel Index of 309 and is within the top 5% of the breed.

Society boost export efforts with new markets now opening due to demand for Texels!

Exports markets continue to open. Semen exports to Brazil are now a reality although the strict health certifi cate limits the amount of fl ocks that will eligible, only fl ocks that have been part of the GB Governments Scrapie Monitoring Scheme for a minimum of 7 years as a minimum requirement. The Brazilian market for British Texel is good, enhanced by its strong economy, and need for prolifi c effi cient meat producing breeds. Exports are expected to start by early 2011. The Russian Federation has also developed certifi cation with the EU, although this is a major jump forward, fi ner details are still to be provided by Defra.

drayton farm ad quarter page

DISPERSAL SALE

APPROXIMATELY 100 PEDIGREE REGISTERED FEMALES

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION AT WORCESTER MARKET ON

SATURDAY 21ST AUGUST 2010

DETAILS FROM McCARTNEYS OR SIMON FARMER 07739 035 667

The GREAT EXHIBITION was launched earlier this summer. Stoneleigh Park will be the venue for this magnifi cent celebration of all things British. Further

information www.thegreatexhibition2012.co.uk. 2012 will be the year of the Queens Diamond Jubilee as well as the London 2012 Olympics. The year will also celebrate 40 years since the fi rst importation of the Texel breed from France in 1972, although the offi cial Society was not registered until 1974.



Royal Balmoral

Reserve Beth and Jack Gault’s shearling ewe: GAF090031– ForkinsTaking the reserve spot and second reserve spot was Jack and Beth Gault, Newtonabbey, Co Antrim, culminating to the family’s third reserve championship title at Balmoral. Their reserve female champion and reserve overall champion is by the homebred tup Forkins Ogara out of a homebred ewe.

Champion Martin TC Millar’s two shear or above ewe: VMG07341– MillarsBy Corrie Lancelot, a tup purchased from Carlisle for 5000gns, she is out of a homebred ewe and took the championship on her fi rst outing ever. Mr Millar runs 70 pedigree Texel ewes and is celebrating his third breed championship at Balmoral.

Royal Highland

Reserve champion - XSR092908 - S

Renwick – Craig Douglas

Taking the reserve overall championship place and reserve female championship was a shearling ewe from Steven Renwick, Yarrow, Selkirk. An embryo-bred female, she is by Knock Ottis, a tup bought for 2800gns two years ago, and out of a Watchknowe ewe that stood champion for Steven at the Highland in 2008

Champion - FPG091537 - J P Forsyth – Glenside

Standing the top of the older ewe class before going on to take the female and overall championship was no stranger to winning ways John Forsyth of Maybole, Ayrshire. This year’s champion came in the form of Glenside Lulu, a fi ve year old ewe by Castlecairn Celtic Star out of a ewe by Glenside His Nibs. Lulu’s outstanding record at the Highland, 1st in her class as a ewe lamb, Champion as a Gimmer, one crop and aged ewe.

Great Yorkshire

Reserve Champion was awarded to a

Shearling Ewe CJN096513

– Garngour

From J & H Clark (GARNGOUR). Sired by KILTARIFF OSPREY (BBK08071) to dam Garngour CJN05052.This powerful female is half sister to Garngour Nirvana CJN07598, who sold to 40,000gns at the Scottish National lock in sale, and grand sire to the 220,000gns Deveronvale Perfection.

Championship was taken by ‘Baltier Panther’, FEB09977– Spotsmans/BaltierJointly owned by Boden & Davies (SPORTSMANS) and R & E Forsyth (BALTIER). Sired by Kidston Olympian (WYK0800010) to dam Baltier FEB06602.Messers Boden’s purchased a half share in Baltier Panther at the Scottish National 2009, Lanark for 11,000gns with R & E Forsyth retaining half share.

Royal Welsh

Reserve Champion - THB 081347 -

Owned by Heulwen & Guto Thomas

– Bryn GarthhThe celebration continued for the Thomas family as they also secured the reserve female and reserve overall championship with their February 2008-born ewe THB 081347 by Annan Jewel out of a Bryn Garth ewe by Douganhill Jeronimo.The Society congratulates Heulwen and Guto, Bryn Garth is the fi rst fl ock to achieve Champion and Reserve Champion in the same year at RWAS and adding to fl ocks continued success at this event.

Champion Texel – THB091598 –

Owned by Heulwen & Guto Thomas

– Bryn Garth Heulwen Thomas and her son Guto, from Anglesey, took yet another breed championship at the 2010 Royal Welsh Show. Their homebred shearling ewe, THB 091598, a fi rst timer to the show season this year, she is by Glanllyn Morgan out of a Bryn Garth ewe by Haddo Jordan.

ROYAL BALMORAL

12 – 14 May

ALAN CLARK of

GARNGOUR (CJN)

GREAT YORKSHIRE

13 – 15 July

PAUL QUICK of

LOOSEBEARE (QEL)

ROYAL HIGHLAND

24 – 27 June

KEITH CAMPBELL of

COWAL (CKC)

ROYAL WELSH

19 – 22 July

DAVID CHAVE of

Peacehay (CFP)

Show Reports 2010

Full reports are available at www.texel.co.uk


Society Matters

SOUTH WALES TEXEL BREEDERS-----------------------------------------

ON FARM DISPERSAL SALE OF THE YNYSAU FLOCKOn Behalf of Mr D G & Mrs E A Richards, Tegfryn, Pumpsaint, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, SA19 8YY

120 PEDIGREE TEXELFEMALES AND RAMS

52 Senior Ewes, 29 Gimmers,29 Ewe Lambs,

3 Stock Rams & 10 Ram Lambs

Friday, 20th August at 5 p.m.All Wales Champion Flock 1999 and South Wales Champion Flock 2008

Clee Tompkinson & Francis13 Lion Street, Brecon, LD3 7HYTel: 01874 622488/07971 111094

www.ctf-uk.com

LLANTHOMAS TEXELS-----------------------------------------

Reduction Sale on behalf of Powell and Marion Jones

102 PEDIGREE TEXEL FEMALES AND RAMS

34 Gimmers, 66 Senior Ewesand 2 Shearling Rams

Wednesday, 8th September at 6 p.m.at Brecon Market

Joint Auctioneers:

Gareth Griffi ths, Clee Tompkinson & Francis

Tel: 01874 622488 and

Chris Jones, McCartneys

Tel: 01874 622386

Helen Mary Woodhouse 27th April 1937 – 1st July 2010.

It will be with much sadness that many members, especially those of the ‘eighties’ will hear of the death of Helen Woodhouse.Helen was secretary of the British Texel Sheep Society during the eighties decade.

Helen was the daughter of a doctor and did not get involved in agriculture until moving with her family to a farm in the north of England. She always appreciated the diffi culties of farming, especially in upland areas.

Helen felt that the British Texel Sheep Society had given her the opportunity to change the direction of her life; she was the fi gurehead of the society through diffi cult and changing times.

Helen was always very approachable, had a great smile and a twinkle in her eye. She loved musicals and she loved work, perhaps sometimes shouldering too much and failing to delegate.

During the time Helen was the face of British Texels, the society expanded hugely and defi nitely ‘grew up’. Registrations came in house with the advancement of technology and then moved on to a joint venture with British Holstein.

On leaving the British Texel Sheep Society, Helen fi lled her time working as a house sitter and using her wonderful caring skills looking after people’s pets and often the people themselves. Helen also spent a great deal of time making halters for many breeders. She will be greatly missed for her clerical stewarding at the Royal Welsh Show and the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Helen had spent the last 10 years renovating a Pembrokeshire house during her ‘spare time’. After six months of illness, Helen died suddenly and her funeral service was held on 10th July 2010.



SHEEP SOCIETY

AFFORDABLEWOODBURNINGSTOVES

T. 01560 483 966www.woodburningstoveslimited.com

Texel Sheep Society Welsh

National Premier Show & Sale

Sale Saturday 28th August(Show Friday 27th)

Welshpool Livestock Sales

Buttington Cross, Buttington

Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8SR

For further information phone

02476 696629Or visit the website

www.texel.co.uk

In the past few years cost analysis of sheep production has focused the need to develop easy-care systems. A number of features have been identifi ed. Most popularly, but by no

means exclusively, easier lambing is always on the agenda as this is perceived to reduce labour requirements , lamb losses and shepherding stress . This comes as a challenge to those at the top end of the pyramid of pedigree breeding of Terminal Sires and, for that matter, of Crossing-sires as well.

This summer the National Texel Breeding Evaluation produced by Signet provided a new Estimated Breeding Value for Lambing Ease to assist breeders to identify Texel sires whose progeny will require less assistance at lambing. Breeders have been collecting Lambing Ease Scores for a number of years and via a Spark award from Genesis Faraday and geneticist support from Egenes the latest commercially valuable EBV has been created, benefi ting the Texel breeders and the Industry as a whole.

Interpreting Lambing Ease EBVsThe EBV will take into account data on the lamb itself, all known relatives, as well as performance data on related traits that are known to infl uence lambing ease – such as birth weight and muscling.

Another first for the Texel Society as PRT & Signet launch the new Lambing Ease EBV for Texels.

It predicts the genetic variation that exists in a ram’s ability to produce lambs that are born without assistance. Expressed as the proportion of extra unassisted lambing events that are expected to arise from a particular sire relative to one with an EBV of zero.

High, more positive Lambing Ease EBVs are more favourable. Produced as a direct assessment indicating the ease with which a ram’s progeny will be born. In the case of a ewe it is not so much an indicator of how easily she will produce a lamb herself, but rather the ease which her son’s progeny will be born.For example, a ram with an EBV of +6.0 would be expected, on average to produce 3% more unassisted lambing events compared to a ram with an EBV of 0.0, the fi gure being halved, as rams will only contribute half of their genes to the next generation.


HADDO FLOCK – KWJ

The Autumn Texel Female Sales will kick off with a major fl ock reduction sale from the Haddo fl ock at Carlisle on Friday 13th August. Will Knock and his sons, Andrew & Graham, will forward 85 stock Ewes & Gimmers from their long established, very successful fl ock.

Willie stated that the sale should provide a unique opportunity for both new and established breeders to acquire top quality females from well proven female lines. The sale will include full sisters or close female relatives of many high prices rams sold by the Knox’s in recent years, such rams include:-

Haddo Just Right (17,000gns)Jordan (18,000gns)Knoxie (30,000gns)Kinship (10,000gns)King Ransome (9,000gns)Leduc (11,000gns)

Neptune (14,000gns)

The most successful stud Rams used in the 20 year fl ock history, all of whom will be represented by daughters, were nominated by Graham Knox as follows:-

Glenside Forsyth (9,000gns)Craighead Hercules (50,000gns) Top Hill Joe (122,000gns)Glenside Loneranger (22,000gns)Cowal Maverick (14,000gns)Anglezarke Nimrod (9,000gns)Millar Outsmart (22,000gns)

The majority of the above sires, proved their all round excellence by siring progeny in the 5 fi gure bracket, while the outstanding Hercules was possibly the fi rst Texel sire to reach “Millionaire” status via his progeny sales.

Andrew stated that the sale will represent a true cross section of the fl ock, as only a few Gimmers & senior

Ewes will be retained in addition to the 2010 Ewe Lamb crop. He was also confi dent that the sale buyers would attain future success with progeny from their purchases.

more photos available to view atwww.macgregorphotography.com

HADDO TEXELSMAJOR REDUCTION SALE

FRIDAY 13th AUGUST 1PMBORDERWAY MARKET CARLISLE - 85 STOCK EWES AND GIMMERS

Main Sires: Craighead Hercules, Tophill Joe, Glenside Loneranger,

Cowal Maverick, Anglezarke Nimrod, Millars Outsmart.

MV ACC, SCRAPIE MONITORED, EAE ACC, BLUE TONGUE VACCINATED

CATALOGUES FROM AUCTIONEERS HARRISON AND HETHERINGTON: 01228 406230

ENQUIRIES: W J KNOX

01651 891264 / 07990540526 / 07751417100

Documents

Texel Sheep Society August 2010 Bulletin