More than 30 British Texels from leading flocks across the south of England have headed to Switzerland in the latest export deal for the breed to Continental Europe.
The sheep, a mix of rams and shearling ewes were selected earlier this summer by a delegation of Swiss breeders who visited a number of farms looking for Texels with good breed character coupled with excellent muscling and strong performance figures.
Consignors in the export deal were Tim Healy of the Wealden flock, Sussex, who sent two shearling rams and seven shearling ewes; Ed Samuel of the Hendre flock, Herefordshire, who sent two shearling rams, a ram lamb and three shearling ewes; Trinidad investments of the Colwood and High Weald flocks, Sussex, who sent two shearling rams and seven shearling ewes; and Aubrey and Sue Andrews of the Miserden flock, Gloucestershire, who sent two shearling rams and six shearling ewes.
This latest export deal follows sales of live sheep to France, Belgium and Germany earlier in the year along with a large export of semen to Brazil in the spring, explains British Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates.
“With such a diverse gene pool in the British Texel flock there is something to suit every buyer and that is clear from the impressive range of sires included in the genetics of this export consignment, with no fewer than 12 different sires represented in the 32 sheep present.”
Mr Yates says performance recording data is growing increasingly important to export buyers who recognise the massive strides made by British breeders in relation to both growth rate and muscling in Texels. “Understandably overseas buyers like the reassurance that performance recording can give them when it comes to finding the best performing bloodlines available.”
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