Functionality

[Ysgythan]

A big topic on here. Been dagging. None of the pure Texels needed it - clean tails and breeches, lower copper requirement. Other breeds have catching up to do.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Yes I referred to this on another thread (that I dare not mention). To me it's the dagging and tailing and woolly bellies that are a pain. Clipping is just a matter of booking the shearers to come.

The 3/4 Texels and Beltexes and above are much less bother for this.

 

[TexelBen]

A big topic on here. Been dagging. None of the pure Texels needed it - clean tails and breeches, lower copper requirement. Other breeds have catching up to do.

So you're telling me a shedding texel would be king among sheep?

 

[M-J-G]

One of my mates breeds Texel, and he reckons that the more bare they are the more mastitis they get.

 

[CopperBeech]

I seen to remember texels also have pretty good worm resistance for a pure breed, due to their evolution on the island which was small and had limited grazing area and high grazing pressure ?

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

One of my mates breeds Texel, and he reckons that the more bare they are the more mastitis they get.

I would have that concern as well. However a more woolly sheep with wet wool from blood/cleansing etc around its udder will have a challenge as well which is of course why people tail them

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I seen to remember texels also have pretty good worm resistance for a pure breed, due to their evolution on the island which was small and had limited grazing area and high grazing pressure ?

I hadn't heard of that before, but it would explain why as we've moved away from mules to Texel and Beltex crosses at higher stocking rates, FECs have shown us we don't need to worm so often. The only exception would be nematodirus

 

[unlacedgecko]

A big topic on here. Been dagging. None of the pure Texels needed it - clean tails and breeches, lower copper requirement. Other breeds have catching up to do.

Dagg scoring is very useful and massively underrated when it comes to selecting breeding stock.

 

[unlacedgecko]

So you're telling me a shedding texel would be king among sheep?

I have texel blooded woolly sheep in the stud flock here. They have bare belly and breech.

 

[CopperBeech]

I hadn't heard of that before, but it would explain why as we've moved away from mules to Texel and Beltex crosses at higher stocking rates, FECs have shown us we don't need to worm so often. The only exception would be nematodirus

Aye that’s what my vet (who is a massive sheep geek and one of the best in the country) told me, and I’m usually inclined to believe him. I’ve not looked into it, but it would make a lot of sense. You find the same with other island sheep breeds.

 

[TexelBen]

I have texel blooded woolly sheep in the stud flock here. They have bare belly and breech.

We've been breeding ours the same, an Easy Ram NZ Tex we've been using throws quite a few with short tails too, we've left them undocked this year, see how they get on

 

[steveR]

We've been breeding ours the same, an Easy Ram NZ Tex we've been using throws quite a few with short tails too, we've left them undocked this year, see how they get on

Saw 1 or 2 here last year.

 

[Sheep92]

We're using a combination of texel and easycare in the flock here, and the lag of digging has been a huge help

 

[unlacedgecko]

I have texel blooded woolly sheep in the stud flock here. They have bare belly and breech.

Terminal line ewe

Maternal line ram.

Maternal line ewe lambs shedding on breech and tail.

Maternal line ram

 

[andybk]

I seen to remember texels also have pretty good worm resistance for a pure breed, due to their evolution on the island which was small and had limited grazing area and high grazing pressure ?

And they have kent heritage !

 

[gatepost]

So you're telling me a shedding texel would be king among sheep?

Breeding them here.

 

[Boso]

I would have that concern as well. However a more woolly sheep with wet wool from blood/cleansing etc around its udder will have a challenge as well which is of course why people tail them

Correct, relatively high tolerance to a specific worm (heamonchus/nematodes?).
Not specifically because they are from an island but due to Dutch pastures being relatively wet all year round combined with a mild climate.
The puritans will tell you it's from the ancient texel sheep the pielsteert (Arrowtail sheep in Texel dialect/slang)

Apart from the above, the texel sheep society over here is extremely active researching worm resistance and breeding worm resistant sheep using ebv's based on certain proteins found in the saliva/mouth wipes (sorry language barrier).

 

[unlacedgecko]

Correct, relatively high tolerance to a specific worm (heamonchus/nematodes?).
Not specifically because they are from an island but due to Dutch pastures being relatively wet all year round combined with a mild climate.
The puritans will tell you it's from the ancient texel sheep the pielsteert (Arrowtail sheep in Texel dialect/slang)

Apart from the above, the texel sheep society over here is extremely active researching worm resistance and breeding worm resistant sheep using ebv's based on certain proteins found in the saliva/mouth wipes (sorry language barrier).

Similar is done with lleyns here. Maybe other breeds as well. @Tim W has some experience

IgA is the marker. It's done using the Carla test on a saliva swab.

 

[Tim W]

Similar is done with lleyns here. Maybe other breeds as well. @Tim W has some experience

IgA is the marker. It's done using the Carla test on a saliva swab.

IgA saliva appears to have poor repeatability & low hereditary values according to trials by Lleyn Progressive Breeders Group

Investigation/trials into using IgA serum have proved a better & more reliable measure over the last few years
I'm not quite up to date with it all but will find out more next month with a debrief from the team
@George C is the expert