Texel throat

[Whyella farming]

I’m after some advice on how to approach the farmer I’ve bought 3 texel tups off.
2 have recently died from texel throat but no post mortem’s being done to verify but a vet was at the farm on another issue and all but gaurenteed it was the case from seeing the tup. Steroids were given which kept him alive but his heavy breathing come back on before the withdrawal ended from the treatment hence he was not taken to market for culling! The second tup died within days of the treatment so had no effect. Would this be a problem they know about as it’s supposed to be hereditary from what I’ve read? Is it also hereditary down the female lines? I was planning on keeping some lleyn x texel ewe lambs as replacements? Any advice would be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks

 

[pgk]

I haven't looked in detail at the condition but have noted in passing a lot of research papers have been published. Texel flock we bought were selected for years against. You dont say how long you have had the tups. If one we sold died within a year with a certified non accidental death we would replace foc. Would be helpful to get letter from vet confirming his assessment and treatment which preceded their deaths. You will need to review research to establish degree of heritability.

 

[Whyella farming]

I bought them last September so they haven’t been here a year yet! Unfortunately both have been taken to the knacker yard without getting a pm done. In hindsight I should have done them both.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[pgk]

I bought them last September so they haven’t been here a year yet! Unfortunately both have been taken to the knacker yard without getting a pm done. In hindsight I should have done them both.
Thanks for the reply.

If vet prescribed steroids for them that alone should be good evidence of his assessment of the problem. Personally I would go back in any event and explain the circumstances. I know i would be mortified if we sold a ram that died of a congenital health issue and would want to know as it is not something i would want in my flock and definitely not good for sales of rams in the long term.

 

[pgk]

Just had a brief skim of the veterinary reports on this condition and see it is commonly reported in texel and Belgian blues. Observations are that those with shortest heads and muscly short necks are most commonly afflicted. Cause is infections and abscesses in the larynx as a result of bolusing or worming injuries. Suggestion is those with longer faces and necks will be less predisposed to these type of injuries. May be linked to show mens obsession with big heads and necks with so much muscle and possibly an indicator for you to avoid those type of tups in future.

 

[Tractorboy67]

Just had a brief skim of the veterinary reports on this condition and see it is commonly reported in texel and Belgian blues. Observations are that those with shortest heads and muscly short necks are most commonly afflicted. Cause is infections and abscesses in the larynx as a result of bolusing or worming injuries. Suggestion is those with longer faces and necks will be less predisposed to these type of injuries. May be linked to show mens obsession with big heads and necks with so much muscle and possibly an indicator for you to avoid those type of tups in future.

I had bullock with this condition and the vet told me very difficult to treat cos larynx is so small and antibiotic get used up by muscles before it gets to larynx. We jabbed him every day for 7 days with 20 ml of pen strep & he made full recovery

 

[Agrivator]

I’m after some advice on how to approach the farmer I’ve bought 3 texel tups off.
2 have recently died from texel throat but no post mortem’s being done to verify but a vet was at the farm on another issue and all but gaurenteed it was the case from seeing the tup. Steroids were given which kept him alive but his heavy breathing come back on before the withdrawal ended from the treatment hence he was not taken to market for culling! The second tup died within days of the treatment so had no effect. Would this be a problem they know about as it’s supposed to be hereditary from what I’ve read? Is it also hereditary down the female lines? I was planning on keeping some lleyn x texel ewe lambs as replacements? Any advice would be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks

The Texel cross lambs should not be at risk, simply because the problem seems to be confined to pure Texels and Beltex.

The first thing to look at in a pen of Texel or Beltex tups is neck length. Then forehead width. Then coat characteristics. And if they don't pass those 3 tests, move on to the next pen.
If you're at Kelso, and the Texel and Beltex pens and sale rings are too crowded, just move on to the Charollais or Lleyn rings, where there will be bags of room.

 

[pgk]

The Texel cross lambs should not be at risk, simply because the problem seems to be confined to pure Texels and Beltex.

The first thing to look at in a pen of Texel or Beltex tups is neck length. Then forehead width. Then coat characteristics. And if they don't pass those 3 tests, move on to the next pen.
If you're at Kelso, and the Texel and Beltex pens and sale rings are too crowded, just move on to the Charollais or Lleyn rings, where there will be bags of room.

I have never seen it in ours, yet when looking to buy Texels a few years ago were shown some which could hardly breath on the warm evening we saw them. Extreme heads and no necks, breeders comments were telling, he like you said cross bred lambs will be fine, at that time we bought a Hampshire! When son decided he would like a flock of Texels to go with woolshedders we struggled to find what we wanted but were lucky enough to buy a flock dispersal where seller agreed to keep all the short necked ones which in fairness were about 1 in 10 of his flock. We have never seen the problem in what we have bred and from first crop bred a very high index tup with torpedo head and long neck, looks like a LLeyn on steroids, show men would be horrified, I however like live lambs without need of vet! Kept 20 crosses to woolshedders put back to exlana, lambs are stunning and no breathing issues. We have identified smaller pelvis texels and put them to a high index charollais and lambs are looking great, again long necks and torpedo heads.

 

[neilo]

I have never seen it in ours, yet when looking to buy Texels a few years ago were shown some which could hardly breath on the warm evening we saw them. Extreme heads and no necks, breeders comments were telling, he like you said cross bred lambs will be fine, at that time we bought a Hampshire! When son decided he would like a flock of Texels to go with woolshedders we struggled to find what we wanted but were lucky enough to buy a flock dispersal where seller agreed to keep all the short necked ones which in fairness were about 1 in 10 of his flock. We have never seen the problem in what we have bred and from first crop bred a very high index tup with torpedo head and long neck, looks like a LLeyn on steroids, show men would be horrified, I however like live lambs without need of vet! Kept 20 crosses to woolshedders put back to exlana, lambs are stunning and no breathing issues. We have identified smaller pelvis texels and put them to a high index charollais and lambs are looking great, again long necks and torpedo heads.

Not very ‘masculine’ though, and lacking ‘power’ I suspect.....??

 

[David.]

Dont worry, by the time you have bought half a dozen and only one has made it to market, you will have worked it out.

 

[pgk]

Not very ‘masculine’ though, and lacking ‘power’ I suspect.....??

Always amused me as a youngster when ram sellers would shout out in the ring "just look what a powerful ram he is" despite asking many folks noone could give a good explanation of what the f**k they were going on about!

 

[Whyella farming]

I’ll message the farmer as I bought them privately and seemed like reasonable people. In my short time farming I’ve learnt the hard way with show men’s stock ??‍?

 

[Agrivator]

Not very ‘masculine’ though, and lacking ‘power’ I suspect.....??

Always amused me as a youngster when ram sellers would shout out in the ring "just look what a powerful ram he is" despite asking many folks noone could give a good explanation of what the f**k they were going on about!

It could affect the number of ewes he might tup - on exposed hill ground in poor weather conditions.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I’ll message the farmer as I bought them privately and seemed like reasonable people. In my short time farming I’ve learnt the hard way with show men’s stock ??‍?

I've had it in Texel cross rams. 1 died and 1 recovered.
I told the seller, trying to be helpful. If they don't know they can't breed accordingly!
They were pleased I'd told them and I was pleased how they reacted and 'saw me right'.
I would still happily buy any of their rams now.