Society Matters
British Texel genetics flourish overseas A Texel ram carrying a full pedigree of UK genetics has set a new breed record in Brazil, selling for R$176,000 (£23,400) at a sale hosted by breeder Sergio Takahashi of the Gran Reserva flock. The ram, Gran Reserva POI-UK 814, is by UK sire Cambwell Belter and out of an embryo-bred dam by Teiglum Vision and out of a Wealden dam by High Weald Tungsten Tiger. A gimmer, Gran Reserva POI-UK-TE 674, by Claybury Regatta and out of a Cambwell Trademark daughter is also understood to have set a new female record for the breed in Brazil. British genetics were in demand throughout the sale which resulted in a new Brazilian record average of more than £3000. And demand for UK genetics in South America has remained strong in recent months, with a shipment of embryos and semen recently arriving in Brazil from the Garngour, Teiglum and Cambwell flocks. Embryos came from some of the leading families in the Cambwell, Garngour and Teiglum flocks, including from a sister to Garngour Detroit as well as from a maternal sister to Garngour Craftsman and a full sister to the 20,000gns Teiglum Dirty Harry. From the Cambwell flock embryos were by Cambwell Duke and Cressage Blockbuster. Meanwhile, Teiglum embryos were by Teiglum Daredevil and Cambwelll Duke. Semen has gone to Brazil from Cambwell Duke, Garngour Dante, Garngour Dunga, Garngour Denilson, Teiglum Drambuie and Teiglum Daredevil, while Garngour Dunga semen has also been exported to Austria. Meanwhile, semen from Cambwell Duke and Cambwell Da Vinci has been exported to Chile, with semen from the same rams also heading to Canada and New Zealand and Duke semen also going to the USA. Additionally, Argentinian breeder Javier Plumet has recently imported semen and embryos for the first time in recent years. These genetics came from the Garngour, Granite and Logie Durno flocks, with all the embryos coming from the latter two flocks and semen coming from Gargnour Dante, Garngour Denilson and Garngour Dunga as
14
Texel Bulletin | Spring 2022
well as IGM2032497 from the Granite flock and IGB2032447 from the Logie Durno flock. Mr Plumet who has spent a number of years working to import UK genetics to his flock said he hoped it would be first of many shipments of UK genetics to Argentina.
GB-EU live exports In the interim, there remains little prospect of live animal exports resuming to mainland Europe from GB. Recent information received from the NSA suggests that DEFRA is currently considering funding a Border Control Point on this side of the channel to allow APHA to undertake checks at a BCP rather than on farm. However, this would only assist imports and not exports. NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “We have formally suggested that a proposal is put to the Commission that if one of these was at Dover the French could have an office there and do the checks this side rather than have to invest in something outside Calais. “Proposals for a BCP site at Calais have progressed no further. As far as I’m aware
Sheep from Gran Reserva set new records in Brazil last autumn.
even the approvals haven’t been finalised and then a business case has to be agreed and based on gate fees and throughput.” Society chief executive John Yates urged anyone with live export orders waiting to be fulfilled to contact NSA and ensure it was aware of their situation. “The more information NSA has the better it can lobby on the industry’s behalf,” he added.
For more information on how to maximise export opportunities see;
SCAN HERE
