Blue texels

Greythundercloudys · Sep 20, 2020

Saw a man sell some on Friday, other years could hardly sell them but this year no problem, shearings 400 odd£, supposed to be good for gimmers and don't throw many black lmbs what people thoughts, l might buy one just to try them, looked chunky wee things.

neilo · Sep 20, 2020

Greythundercloudys said:
Saw a man sell some on Friday, other years could hardly sell them but this year no problem, shearings 400 odd£, supposed to be good for gimmers and don't throw many black lmbs what people thoughts, l might buy one just to try them, looked chunky wee things.

Did you handle them? They will always look ‘chunkier’ because they have a heavy Texel fleece and they allow trimming (as do Beltexes).

They are just Texels that are blue, nothing more, nothing less. Any claims of better maternal characteristics or easier lambing are just marketing BS to sell a strain of Texels that carry a recessive gene that used to have them quietly culled until a decade ago.

Jim75 · Sep 20, 2020

neilo said:
Did you handle them? They will always look ‘chunkier’ because they have a heavy Texel fleece and they allow trimming (as do Beltexes).

They are just Texels that are blue, nothing more, nothing less. Any claims of better maternal characteristics or easier lambing are just marketing BS to sell a strain of Texels that carry a recessive gene that used to have them quietly culled until a decade ago.

well that just killed that thread @neilo

AGN76 · Sep 20, 2020

Greythundercloudys said:
Saw a man sell some on Friday, other years could hardly sell them but this year no problem, shearings 400 odd£, supposed to be good for gimmers and don't throw many black lmbs what people thoughts, l might buy one just to try them, looked chunky wee things.

Why are black lambs a problem, do they not sell as well?

Ysgythan · Sep 20, 2020

I always thought they were the gateway drug for Texel and Beltex breeders’ children. I do know somebody who used them with some success on a flock of Lleyns.

I’m not from the @neilo school of believing colour is irrelevant to other characteristics. It’s not just the markings that throw back, they’re akin to the dumpy truffle hunters Dutch Texels were 40 odd years ago.

Greythundercloudys · Sep 20, 2020

I don't think the colour makes much difference anyway.

spin cycle · Sep 20, 2020

my take...which might be wrong....was that because they were ignored they've retained the traits of the original texels before 'expert' bred the white ones into hammerheads :scratchhead:

M-J-G · Sep 20, 2020

neilo said:
Did you handle them? They will always look ‘chunkier’ because they have a heavy Texel fleece and they allow trimming (as do Beltexes).

They are just Texels that are blue, nothing more, nothing less. Any claims of better maternal characteristics or easier lambing are just marketing BS to sell a strain of Texels that carry a recessive gene that used to have them quietly culled until a decade ago.

I've heard you say that before, but any I've seen more resemble a Beltex than a Texel.
Not that being like a Beltex makes them any more appealing to me.

neilo · Sep 20, 2020

spin cycle said:
my take...which might be wrong....was that because they were ignored they've retained the traits of the original texels before 'expert' bred the white ones into hammerheads

All Texel flocks always threw a few ‘black ins’, as do Texel X flocks, it’s just a recessive gene in there that comes out occasionally, unless it’s selected for. Previously they were just culled quietly, and everyone pretended they didn’t have them.

They could be good, bad of indifferent, just like ‘normal’ Texels. No better and no worse.

neilo · Sep 20, 2020

M-J-G said:
I've heard you say that before, but any I've seen more resemble a Beltex than a Texel.
Not that being like a Beltex makes them any more appealing to me.

They are trimmed, making them look to have the shape of a Beltex (which are also trimmed to exaggerate the shape of course). Many of the ones I’ve judged have been absolute shockers once you lay your hands on them, and a lot would have struggled under a live market grader imo.

Sometimes though, you can find a cracker of a sheep, much as with white Texels, unsurprisingly.

You can get black/blue Beltexes too, being nothing but Texels themselves.

M-J-G · Sep 20, 2020

neilo said:
They are trimmed, making them look to have the shape of a Beltex (which are also trimmed to exaggerate the shape of course). Many of the ones I’ve judged have been absolute shockers once you lay your hands on them, and a lot would have struggled under a live market grader imo.

Sometimes though, you can find a cracker of a sheep, much as with white Texels, unsurprisingly.

You can get black/blue Beltexes too, being nothing but Texels themselves.

I've seen quite a few of them and most I've seen are nowhere near the size of a Texel.
Small and short, short legged with little neck to speak of.
A lot more differences than just colour.

Ysgythan · Sep 20, 2020

neilo said:
All Texel flocks always threw a few ‘black ins’, as do Texel X flocks, it’s just a recessive gene in there that comes out occasionally, unless it’s selected for. Previously they were just culled quietly, and everyone pretended they didn’t have them.

They could be good, bad of indifferent, just like ‘normal’ Texels. No better and no worse.

but definitely different and not just in colour. Their parents would not have resembled them.

We sold one as a commercial shearling 30 odd years ago. Her mother was a pure ewe that was relegated to the crossers. We were using her son and there was a 1/5 chance he caught her, which I presume he did causing the throw back.

firther · Sep 21, 2020

there quite a lot smaller than a texel though with a smaller head, but thats prob how a texel looked years back. Only way you will know for sure is to try 1 and see how they compare

Filthyfarmer · Sep 21, 2020

Clever marketing angle of the same breed

The Blue Texel as neilo said is no different to White Texels. Same goes for the Beltex which is the dutch Texel end of the breed.

The odd Blue texel that got thrown here when we bred pedigree tups years ago were usually turned into teasers !

There are more types within a breed than there are breeds.............. especially Texel

Pistonbroke · Sep 21, 2020

One thing I have noticed when judging a couple of shows is how bad their mouths are. Often see it in breeds where they have other priorities such as the colour. A lot of beltex have bad mouths because they have been selected on extreme shape and then having to find one with good mobility. The chance of getting them right everywhere is pretty low

Ysgythan · Sep 21, 2020

Filthyfarmer said:
The Blue Texel as neilo said is no different to White Texels

try selling a white blue Texel.

Greythundercloudys · Sep 21, 2020

They defo look different, smaller heads, more like the beltex.

neilo · Sep 21, 2020

Greythundercloudys said:
They defo look different, smaller heads, more like the beltex.

But without the shape generally.

Ysgythan · Sep 21, 2020

neilo said:
But without the shape generally.

are you scared they are threatening the Charlys “almost a Texel but without the pre lambing management requirement” niche?

andybk · Sep 21, 2020

i would concur with @neilo , except they have been selected for smaller heads so have a use if you like average texels , have to say any i have judged over the years have been pretty mediocre body wise , ok but not exceptional, in any way , trimming make a difference to appearance , not usually in the running for interbreed.

Blue texels

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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