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British genetics hit top spot in South
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 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;
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EWF win for Greenfields
Commercial Texel user and leading Leicestershire butchers Martin and Ben Greenfield enjoyed success at the English Winter Fair, taking first place in the show’s trade stand competition with their butchery stand which included a display of Society promotional material.
Laryngeal Chondritis
A pilot study of CT scans collected in 2019 suggests that additional measurements taken during routine CT scanning of ram lambs could provide data to help fill existing knowledge gaps in the investigations of the serious health condition of laryngeal chondritis in terminal sire lambs.
The study examined CT scans of the larynx area of 94 Texel ram lambs and compared the data to that from CT scans from ram lambs in other breeds. Despite there only being small numbers of lambs from the other breeds, significant breed differences were identified for some of the larynx measurements. However, these breed comparisons were based on a limited number of lambs from few flocks, so may not be representative of each breed.
These results indicate that variation exists in the larynx both within and between breeds of sheep, even after adjusting for variation in live weight. *More details in the autumn bulletin
Amendment to bye-law 12.10.1
To streamline the balloting system for the NI national the board of directors has approved a change to the ballot procedure under Byelaw 12.10.1, with the following sentence deleted: If a vendor does not present his consignment for 2 consecutive years, the flock will be regarded as a new vendor.
NI MV status
Some confusion surrounded the future of Northern Ireland’s Maedi-Visna (MV) free status in early February following suggestions from SRUC that Northern Ireland had lost its MV-free status. However, following assurances from Northern Ireland’s chief veterinary officer, Robert Huey, the MVfree status of Northern Ireland remains unchanged.
The situation unfolded following the discovery of MV in sheep exported from NI to GB. Mr Huey said DAERA was carrying out a veterinary investigation with the intention of controlling and stamping out a recent incursion of MV. “Maedi Visna has recently been detected in Northern Ireland homebred sheep and a veterinary investigation is ongoing. A number of flocks are currently subject to movement restrictions following tracing from an infected premises. Our approach remains to trace, test and remove infected animals, implementing a rigorous stamping out policy for the disease.
“A number of options to maintain Northern Ireland’s disease status are currently being considered including the introduction of a Northern Ireland or all-island accreditation scheme similar to that in operation in Great Britain. Department officials continue to work closely with stakeholders and their counterparts in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
For more about MV
The Society continues to work with the relevant authorities to help inform members of the latest news and will provide updates as soon as it becomes aware of any new information.
