Texel Primestock 2023

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Commercial ram buyers will notice changes to the way performance data for Texel rams is displayed when they buy rams this season.

To help commercial buyers make the best purchasing decisions they can, the Texel Sheep Society has introduced two new economic indexes under it’s genetic improvement service, texelplus.

These changes make the indexes to use and understand and give them an increased focus on commercial traits and profitability.

As a result, there are now two indexes for the Texel breed. A terminal index and a replacement index.

These two new indexes will enable commercial producers to select animals for terminal production and breeding replacements.

Both indexes will be presented as the potential profit per lamb born in a commercial setting, compared to using the average animal born in 2010. In simple terms, the higher the value, the better performance of the animal.

Texel Primestock

MORE from TEXEL

Welcome to the 2023 issue of Primestock, the Texel Society’s commercial publication showcasing the breed at work on commercial farms across the UK.

Raging ag-inflation has seen input prices outstrip returns from sheep production over the last year, despite prime sheep prices remaining at relatively steady levels over the last 12 months.

These higher costs have once again focussed producers’ minds on extracting every potential piece of value they can from their sheep enterprises and it is not surprising that Texels feature strongly in many sheep farmers’ plans.

The breed’s continual ability to add value

John Yates Chief Executive

As prime lambs Texel crosses are favoured by both major processors and smaller outlets for the consistency of carcass quality they offer. Higher lean meat to bone ratios and the ability to produce heavier carcasses without excess fat make them a clear choice for many processors and retailers.

Meanwhile, the breed’s exceptional maternal qualities also make Texel crosses a popular choice for farmers looking to add value to their flocks, with lambs from Texel cross ewes finishing quickly and efficiently across the UK.

As the industry faces up to a future with reduced levels of support payments, onfarm efficiency and the opportunity to add value will become even more paramount.

With many producers already gaining the benefits from using Texels, can you afford not to? Texels can provide more to your sheep enterprise, supporting you as you plan a positive future for your business, adding value to your flock and increasing profitability.

to businesses and, as a result, significantly reduce business risk, is well recognised by many, many successful farming businesses.

Whether you use Texels as a terminal sire or as part of your maternal flock, the breed passes on key commercially valuable traits of growth and conformation to vigorous and hardy progeny while Texel-sired females are milky and prolific, making them ideal commercial ewes for many flocks.

Growth key to profitability

For Berwick-upon-Tweed sheep farmer Simon Gray fast growth coupled with the ability to produce top grade carcasses is central to a profitable sheep flock.

Growth is everything for the flock, the quicker the lambs grow the more they make, it’s as simple as that, explains Simon.

“We lamb from 23rd February and start drawing lambs in mid to late May, depending on the year. The aim is to have all lambs sold by the time we start cereal harvest later in the summer, so growth rate is key.

“However, that timing also means that more often than not we’re selling on a trade that is falling week on week. The more lambs we can have away earlier in the season the more they’re worth, it is as simple as that,” says Simon.

Tight management sees the 1050-ewe flock lambing over a hectic three to four week period, with teasers run with ewes before the tups go out.

“Ewes are tupped in groups of 200-250, with teasers introduced to each group a day apart. We then run rams at a ratio of about one ram to 30 ewes, helping maximise conception to first service. A lot of flocks would be at a higher ratio than that, but we’re trying to keep lambing as compact as we can and that means having sufficient ram power,” says Simon who farms in partnership with his wife, Jan, and son, Elliot.

And, with growth a key parameter, Simon pays careful attention to texelplus performance recording figures when buying rams. “The most important figure for me is the scan weight figure, that’s the key indicator of early growth. After that I’m looking for rams with good muscle EBVs to give the carcass quality we’re looking for.

“From a physical aspect we also want structurally correct rams with good skins and solid tops and ends.”

A keen studier of both physical and financial performance of every aspect of the 960-acre mixed sheep and arable farm,

Farm Facts

The Gray family, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

• 960-acre mixed sheep and arable

• 182% lambs reared

• 390g/day average growth rate

• 86% E and U grades

Careful attention to performance figures when buying rams pays dividends for Simon and Jan Gray.

Simon says average growth rate from birth to slaughter last year was 390g/day across more than 1900 lambs.

“Average carcass weight was 22.2kg, while average killing out percentage was 49%, with the first lambs slaughtered on 18th May and the last being sold on 22nd August.

“Lambing is an intense period, with about 1000 ewes usually lambing in the first fortnight and the remaining few finishing off after that. Teasers are important to achieving this tight lambing and we stagger their introduction to ewe groups, to try and flatten the peak of the lambing.

“On top of that more than 86% graded as Es or Us, proving the value in careful ram selection and management at every stage of the system.”

Ewes are tupped at grass and then, in recent years, have been moved to cover crops or root crops for the winter, ahead of housing for lambing. “We used to house ewes shortly after scanning, but when they were housed for that length of time we found we were getting too many feet issues.

“Having them out for longer has helped reduce foot problems and means ewes are healthier overall. Once they are housed they are fed ad-lib silage and a home-mixed ration according to scan results.

faecal egg counts throughout the season, so we only use anthelmintics when absolutely necessary.

“Because we’re drawing lambs every week withdrawal periods can be problematic, so we don’t want to drench lambs unless we have to,” he explains.

Simon admits this style of management is high cost, with creep feed costing in the region of £13/lamb last year, but he believes it still justifies itself in the output levels being achieved.

Investing in creep feed ensures lambs earn premium prices.

some cereal crops with sheep during the winter,” he says.

Having tried a number of other breeds Simon says the family will be sticking with Texel tups for the foreseeable future. “Other breeds just can’t compete in our system, they either lack the carcass quality or the growth, or simply don’t have the attributes to thrive on our farm.”

Lambs are also drenched for coccidiosis and receive their first ovivac P vaccination at this stage too. “We also treat for nematodirus later on and then monitor

“Our average lamb price last year was £6.57/kg deadweight. There is no other type of livestock we can feed our grain to that can earn that price/kg. Beef prices have risen strongly in the last 12 months, but they’re still below £5/kg deadweight.

“Nothing can touch that early season lamb price in £/kg terms, so we’re heavily focussed on getting those lambs up and away as quickly as we can.

“Last year, by the end of June we had sent 1550 lambs, 80% of the total lamb crop, and even then the price on the last load was 50p/kg less than it was for the first load. On a 22kg carcass that’s £11 difference, nearly equalling the cost of the creep feed/lamb,” adds Simon.

With all lambs sold deadweight to Dawn Meats, the family are able to carefully monitor performance and analyse where changes can be made to benefit the business. “Sheep are currently the third best performer in the rotation behind winter wheat and oilseed rape.

“They bring other benefits to the arable rotation too, with grass leys used as a break crop to both add fertility and reduce weed burdens. Additionally, we are now grazing

More than 80% of the Grays’ lambs hit E and U grades.

Historically, rams were sourced from a local pedigree breeder, however, when he retired the Grays bought a number of his ewes and are now breeding some of their own, with further rams sourced from other breeders as required.

“Ewes and lambs are out to grass at about a week old, with ewes continuing to be fed until grass gets in front of them. We introduce creep at about three to four weeks old once the lambs start to pick at the ewes’ feed.”

Texels add flex to flock management

Farm manager Ian Chapman and stockman Gareth Henderson have been using Texels for many years, favouring them for their ease of fleshing and carcass quality.

The farm’s flock is made up of 300 Mules and Texel x Mules run alongside about 250 Blackface ewes which are put to Bluefaced Leicester rams to breed Mule replacements, explains Gareth.

“All of the Mules and the Texel crosses are put to Texel rams, with some of the crossbred ewe lambs from the Mules retained for breeding and the wether lambs and the remainder of the ewe lambs sold as either prime lambs, store lambs or breeding ewe lambs.

“Three quarter bred Texel lambs are all sold, with none retained. But it is the versatility of the Texel cross lambs that makes them the sire of choice here,” he says.

The aim is to finish as many of the lambs as possible, but once it gets to early autumn and grass is needed for both tupping ewes and autumn calving cows then the attention switches to selling store lambs.

“We try to finish as many lambs as we can off grass and we can grow plenty of good

Farm Facts

Dundarave Estate, Bushmills, Co Antrim

• Liveweight selling

• 550 ewes

• Ewe lambs retained

• 42-45kg target weight

grass here, but as demand increases we have to prioritise which animals get the best of it.

“That means selling store lambs to ease the grazing pressure and reinforces the value the Texel adds to the flock.

“Whether we’re selling prime lambs or store lambs Texel crosses are in demand. Buyers know that the lambs will perform for them, either on the hook or when they go on to finish on other farms,” says Gareth.

“And, on top of that, over the last few years we’ve started to pick out the ewe lambs when we sell stores and offer those as separate batches. That’s working well and we’re getting a bit of a premium for those too, over and above the store lamb price.

Whether selling as prime, store or breeding lambs, Texel sires add value for Dundarave Estate.

In an average year the estate sells about half of the lamb crop as prime lambs, with the other half going as stores. “We’ve a 100-cow pedigree Shorthorn herd here as well as the sheep with all progeny finished on farm, so we aim to strike a balance between the two when it comes to grazing management.”

Lambing in mid-March, the flock is housed for up to six weeks ahead of lambing, but ewes go back to grass within a couple of days of lambing. “Ewes are on ad-lib silage and ewe rolls according to scanning results when housed and are then fed for a week or so once outside, but after that they are on grass only.

“Lambs aren’t creep fed either, with the first singles usually drawn at about 12-14 weeks old and all lambs are sold via Ballymena

“Being able to do three jobs with the same breed is great for us and gives us options when it comes to marketing.”

Versatility, coupled with the opportunity to earn premium prices make Texels the sire of choice for the team at Dundarave Estate, Bushmills, Northern Ireland.

Mart. We’re targeting a 42-45kg liveweight lamb with a good cover which suits buyers at Ballymena.”

Lamb vigour at birth is another major attraction for the team at Dundarave when it comes to Texels. “Lambs are lively and quick to suck which makes a big difference in the lambing yard,” explains Gareth.

“With the lowland flock scanning at between 180% and 190% most years we’re fairly busy at lambing, so knowing the lambs will sort themselves out is a big plus point,” he adds.

Rams are usually sourced from the Northern Irish National Sale at Ballymena or local Texel sales, with shearlings being the choice for the last few years. “We’re looking for rams with good skins and carcasses while being easy lambing too.

“Those tight skinned Texel cross lambs are the easiest ones to sell whether they go as prime lambs or stores, so we’re careful about ram selection. And while we’re not actively using breeding values to select rams it is certainly something I’m increasingly aware of and it will likely figure in our choices in future.”

Gareth says the budget for rams varies year on year, but the aim is to buy the best rams they can afford. “I’m not tied to buying from any particular breeders, I want to get the best tups available in our price range, picking rams that will suit our ewes.”

“The less interference we have to make with lambs the better. Texel sired lambs are quick to find their feet and get to the colostrum which helps with survival and cuts down on workload.

Find the right Texel for your business

Texel sheep indexes have changed to focus on profit traits and simplify selection decisions. Economic terminal, and replacement, indexes have been developed that capture the value of using Texel animals for either production system.

Both indexes are presented as the potential profit per lamb born in a commercial setting, compared to using the population average.

In simple terms, the higher the value, the better the performance of the animal.

Commercial producers solely producing prime lambs should use the terminal index to inform their selection as this is weighted for meat production. However, those retaining female replacements should use the replacement index.

Sub-indexes underpin the indexes to provide more information on the relative values of growth, carcass quality, reproduction and adult size.

To find breeders near you:

1. First, go to www.itexel.uk

2. Select ‘Find Breeders’

3. Enter part of an address in the search bar and click ‘Search’

4. Select a breeder from the list to find their information

If you already know the breeder you are looking for then simply enter part of their contact information or name in the search bar and click ‘Search’.

texelplus breeders will have the logo published alongside their details, identifying those breeders that record performance information.

To find animals with high index values:

1. Go to www.itexel.uk

2. Select ‘Find Animals’

3. Click in ‘EBV Search’

4. Use the sliders to enter your criteria, e.g. Top 1% for terminal index

5. Click ‘Search’

6. Select animals of interest from the list

Value to the industry

Genetic improvement in the Texel breed is expected to be worth more than £334M* to the UK sheep industry over the next 20 years.

By implementing the new economic indexes, this is expected to increase benefits by £16.9M over the same period. This comes from a predicted increase in rates of genetic improvement because of selection on the economic index.*

You can use filters to refine the choice of animals you see in this list (e.g. born in 2022) and the sort function to rearrange the order they’re listed in.

Once you’ve found animals of interest to you click on the ‘Owner’ tab to find the contact details for the owner of the animal and make contact using the details available.

You can combine animal and breeder searches by adding a breeders’ flock code into the search bar when finding high index animals.

Expected genetic improvement in the Texel breed over the next 20 years will be worth £334m for the UK sheep industry.

*Source AbacusBio report for Texel Sheep Society

Commercial focus for new indexes

Economic indexes

Commercial ram buyers will notice changes to the way performance data for Texel rams is displayed when they buy rams this season.

To help commercial buyers make the best purchasing decisions they can, the Texel Sheep Society has introduced two new economic indexes under it’s genetic improvement service, texelplus.

These changes make the indexes simpler to use and understand and give them an increased focus on commercial traits and profitability.

As a result, there are now two indexes for the Texel breed. A terminal index and a replacement index.

These two new indexes will enable commercial producers to select animals for terminal production and breeding replacements. Both indexes will be presented as the potential profit per lamb born in a commercial setting, compared to using the population average. In simple terms, the higher the value, the better the performance of the animal.

The terminal index is focused on improving the end product, so is weighted strongly

for meat production. The replacement index also includes additional maternal traits to optimise production of female replacements. Both indexes have an emphasis on growth as this is a major contributor to farm profitability.

For commercial producers solely producing prime lambs, the terminal index is the go-to selection tool as this is weighted for meat production.

However, for those commercial producers retaining female replacements then the replacement index is the one to use.

This index includes maternal traits alongside meat traits, giving breeders a balance of characteristics on both sides of the breeding goal.

Each index is underpinned by sub-indexes that capture the benefits and value of related traits. These enable commercial producers to make better decisions where necessary to select animals that offer advantages in specific areas to suit their production goals.

Includes maternal and meat traits

Updated information will be displayed throughout the Society’s publicly accessible database, iTexel, and in sale catalogues.

How to use texelplus indexes in sale catalogues

Ram Lambs

Messrs A, B & C FARMER

2 TEXEL CAT IN THE HAT TXX1900124(2)

Sire: BLOSSOM TREE SUPERSTAR ABC1101111(1) by DAYDREAM PICASSO

Dam: TXL1500300(2) by PARKLANDS YOGIBEAR ZZZ1600365(2)

1 TEXEL CAPTAIN AMERICA TXX1900123(2)

Sire: BLOSSOM TREE SUPERSTAR ABC1101111(1) by DAYDREAM PICASSO

Dam: TXL1500289(2) by PLUMDALE VICTORY XYZ1400893(2)

Trait weighting

Different emphases are given to individual traits between the terminal and replacement indexes. This results in different sub-index values.

Growth sub-index

Captures the benefit from growth using eight-week weight and scan weight information. Faster growth is more advantageous.

Reproduction sub-index

The commercial benefit of lambing ease, litter size and maternal ability. Promotes optimum litter sizes and better mothers.

Carcass sub-index

The value of muscle and fat weight in the carcass. Encourages muscle growth with fat cover.

Index values

The sum of the sub-index values and potential profit per lamb born for terminal and replacement production.

Born: 25/02/2019 Inbreeding coefficient: 3.9

Adult

09/02/2019

coefficient: 6.5

The benefit of mature size as a replacement ewe. Promotes smaller animals as they require less maintenance.

Accuracy

A measure of accuracy of the index. The higher the number the better.

Ranking

Where the animal ranks compared to the current average animal.

size sub-index

Adding value and productivity with Texels

Farming 1350 tenanted acres means husband and wife farming duo Will and Gillian Sedgley look to add value to their sheep flock wherever they can.

ith a flock which ranges from Swaledales through to Texel x Mules, the couple sell most of their prime lambs on a deadweight basis, operating on a ‘cost of production plus’ contract with Tesco.

“Deadweight sales don’t suit everyone and nor would the contract arrangement we have, but as a wholly tenanted farm knowing the price for our lambs in advance helps hugely with budgeting for the sheep flock.

“We can plan the year knowing what we’ll get paid and ensure we’re managing costs accordingly,” explains Barbon, Cumbriabased Will.

Aiming to sell 90% of the lambs from their 2500-ewe flock straight off grass, Will says Texels are fundamental to the farming

Wsystem. “We find Texels suit our system perfectly. We put 1200 Mule ewes to Texel rams, keeping back up to 300 Texel x Mule ewe lambs a year for our own replacements and selling the remaining wether and ewe lambs as prime lambs.

“However, we’re careful with our ewe lamb selection. We only keep twin born ewe lambs and draw off the top end ewe lambs when we’re picking prime lambs. The intention is to keep the growthiest twin-born lambs which in turn should make good, prolific ewes.”

But it’s not just the female replacements which are delivering for the couple, with 80% of the Texel cross prime lambs grading as U grades or better. “We don’t get many E grades from the Texel x Mule, but the high number of U grades earn a decent premium, with the aim being to supply carcasses in the 20-21kg bracket.

Farm Facts

Will and Gillian Sedgley, Barbon, Cumbria

• 2500 ewes

• 80% Texel cross lambs U grade or better

• Tesco ‘cost of production plus’ contract

• Texel cross replacements retained

Will and Gillian Sedgley retain their best Texel cross ewe lambs each year to add to their flock.

“We are only paid up to 21kg, so we don’t push for the top end of the weight spectrum. With Texel cross lambs having a good killing out percentage we can draw relatively light lambs.

“We’re quite heavily stocked and lambs aren’t creep fed at all, until we get to the back end of the year and numbers by then are quite low, so keeping a lamb an extra week on grass that could feed another lamb is a cost to the business,” he explains.

Kicking off lambing on 1st March, the Sedegleys usually take a first draw of lambs in early June, with lambs then sold every week. “That ability to have lambs away off grass in the space of three months is testament to the Texel tups we use. We tend to buy rams from pedigree sales at Skipton and Carlisle, looking for long, tight skinned tups with a neat head and plenty of shape. Size is important too and it is essential they have good mouths in order to keep ewe lambs back from them.

“We have never had a Maedi Visna issue, but buying from MV Accredited flocks is another reassurance and minimises the potential health problems associated with buying rams.”

Flock health is paramount for Will, with all ewes vaccinated for both enzootic and toxoplasmosis abortion as well as being on vaccination programmes for both clostridial diseases and footrot.

“All of that adds to costs, but it saves money and reduce losses in the long-run and, combined with a rigorous culling policy, means we’re not making problems for ourselves.

“This year we had a barren rate of 1.5% across the flock, that’s a key performance indicator for me. Both the Mules and Texel x Mules scan at similar percentages each year and while a high scanning percentage is great, keeping the number of empty ewes to a minimum is just as important for us.”

“It is better to get lambs away a week sooner, as long as they have sufficient cover, than keep them back for an extra 1kg on the carcass weight.

“Anything not in lamb, with foot issues, prolapsing or mastitis is culled as are bad mothers. We don’t have the capacity to be dealing with problems and hard culling is paying off with fewer issues each year,” he says.

Texels deliver weight without compromise

Farming across 600 acres, including 120 acres of salt marsh on the Severn Estuary, Ben who farms with his father, Len, runs 200 ewes alongside a beef finishing enterprise which sources suckled calves from across the UK.

“We’re aiming at a 50kg liveweight lamb, killing out at a 23-26kg carcass, with all our lambs sold to one abattoir and then sold on by them to butchers. The aim is to produce heavier carcasses which suits the butchers’ shops, with chops with a decent eye of meat on them.

“All the lamb is finished on the salt marsh, giving an extra selling point for the retailers who sell it, although we don’t take a premium on the lambs themselves,” he explains.

Timed to fit around the other farm enterprises, including on-farm diversifications, the flock lambs in midJanuary, with ewes and lambs staying inside for several weeks after lambing before being turned out to graze the salt marsh.

“We keep the nutrition simple, which helps keep costs in check and ensures we aren’t too reliant on bought in feeds.”

Pre-lambing ewes are fed a mixed ration comprising grass silage and brewers grains at a ratio of about 8:2, with a bespoke mineral mix included too.

An ability to produce heavy carcass weights with excellent conformation and without excess fat make Texel sires the choice for South Wales-based Ben Attewell.

“We switched to the mixed ration more than 15 years ago and have never considered going back to concentrate feeding. Ewes are far more content on the mixed ration, being able to eat when it suits them rather than gorging on concentrate twice a day.

Texel cross lambs finish at heavy weights without excess fat for Ben Attewell.

“After lambing we introduce maize silage into the mix to help keep milk yields up without having to push intakes. It’s a simple feed mix, but it works well. Lambs are a good size when born and ewes lamb down with plenty of good quality milk and continue to milk well throughout lactation,” he adds.

A keen advocate of knowing every inch of his business, Ben works closely with the abattoir to supply the type of lamb required and works on a bespoke payment arrangement based purely on carcass weight. “The lambs aren’t graded, but I can be sure if we weren’t producing what they wanted we’d soon know about it. In all the time we’ve been dealing with them they’ve always taken every lamb we have available and paid for every kilo they’ve had.

“We could, potentially, get a higher price/kg elsewhere, but it might come at an unseen cost. Price is important, but selling lambs when they’re fit is equally important to our business, particularly in a year like last year when grass was at a premium.

“I try to be equally as fair when drawing lambs. I won’t send a lamb if it needs another week. There’s no point trying to be clever, we’ve built a long-term relationship and it has to work both ways.

“Last year every lamb we sold, including a few tail end lambs that went as stores, averaged £147. That speaks for itself in terms of the type of lamb we’re selling and allows us to re-invest in the flock in both replacement ewes and quality rams.”

Ben sources his females as ewe lambs from the Scottish borders, with Texel tups bought at either the English National Sale, Worcester, or the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.

“I’m looking for rams with the stretch and size, but carcass traits, including depth of loin and gigot shape are equally important and I pay close attention to the texelplus figures too, as these give extra backing to what I’ve found when I’ve been looking through the rams myself. I don’t buy solely on figures, but I prefer to buy rams with figures behind them.

“I’ll happily pay up to £1000 for rams which I believe will do the job we want of them. It is too easy to scrimp on rams and then find they don’t perform as they should. But I’m looking for those rams with the genetic potential to produce the right lambs for our customers and I’m prepared to pay for the right ones.”

Ben says this is something he’s become increasingly convinced of in recent years as he has spent more time analysing the performance of cattle on the farm.

“The difference we’re seeing in how cattle perform is amazing. Those with the genetic potential to produce a heavier carcass are leaving about £500 more than those without. That’s a big difference when the cattle have been on the farm the same time and had the same treatment. It comes back to their potential and the same is true in the sheep.

Farm Facts

Ben Attewell, Magor, Monmouthshire

• 250 ewes

• Lambs sold deadweight

• 190% scanning

• Grazing saltmarsh

Previous rams have come from flocks the length and breadth of the UK, with Ben regularly returning to the same breeders when rams perform well. “Fit, able, fertile rams are key to our system, with a desire for a compact lambing period to ensure workload can be balanced with other enterprises.”

Twin and triplet carrying ewes are offered a mixed ration from about a month ahead of lambing, with triplet bearing ewes housed in early to mid-December and the remaining ewes coming inside about a fortnight ahead of lambing. “Singles are only offered feed blocks at grass before lambing, moving on to a mixed ration at housing.

“We aim to wet foster triplet lambs across to singles wherever possible, so we need all ewes to have the potential to rear two lambs.”

Flock health is a priority alongside good management, with ewes vaccinated for both enzootic and toxoplasmosis abortion, as well as against clostridial diseases and footrot. “Getting as many of the details right is essential to a productive, profitable flock. We aim to start drawing our first lambs in mid-April and to have sold every lamb before we put the tups back out in midAugust,” adds Ben.

“If I buy the right rams then they’ll produce the right sort of lambs. I don’t want rams that have been pushed too hard, but I want to know they’ve got the genetics behind them.”

Giving lambs the best start is key to quick finishing.

TEXEL DRIVING CHANGE, DELIVERING CONSISTENCY

Eight of the top 10 carcass merit EBV sires in RamCompare are Texels.*

85%

Texel lambs regularly earn up to 33% premiums over live market averages ***

of Texel sired lambs are ‘in spec’ **

33%

Texels are adding £23.5m more to the industry every year through genetic improvement. ***

Lambs by texelplus sires are more than 2kg heavier at 20 weeks than in 2011 giving faster finishing *****

Scan here to find Texel sales near you