Texel breeders from Uruguay, Chile and The Netherlands enjoyed a week long visit to the UK as part of the British Texel Sheep Society’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Delegates attended shows and took part farm visits and technical workshops, with the week kicking off with the Society’s 50th anniversary Textravaganza National Show and concluding with the Texel judging and members reception at the Great Yorkshire Show.

In between times they gained an insight about how CT scanning plays a key part in the texelplus genetic improvement programme at SRUC and previous, current and future research and development into environmental, meat quality and carcase trait issues.

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As part of the visit they viewed portable accumulation chambers (PACs) and feed intake monitors, learning how these are being used to identify the most sustainable sheep that produce high-quality carcases to form the next generation of breeding stock

Delegates also visited AB Europe’s Edinburgh AI centre to understand more about the work done in selecting and preparing animals for semen and embryo collection for export overseas.

Added to this was a visit to Neil Harvey’s Blackadder Texel flock, Duns, with many of the breeders also making private trips to other flocks before and after the formal tour.

SRUC’s Nicola Lambe said the group had been interested to learn more about the research work being done into environmental issues which was pertinent for the Uruguayan contingent as they have supported INIA Uruguay, a similar research organisation to SRUC, just as the Texel Sheep Society has collaborated with SRUC, to jointly contribute to the Grass2Gas project, that has helped standardise phenotype measurements of methane production in sheep internationally.

“It was great to be able to showcase some of the work we’re doing at SRUC and the collaboration we have with the Texel Society developing new research to help genetic improvement and progress in the UK sheep industry,” she said.

Uruguayan breeder Lucas La Cava said: “We had five extremely valuable days for the delegation of Uruguayan breeders. We were able to see in detail all the work being done in the UK, selection, genetic improvement, breeding, and shows.

"We have returned to Uruguay with many ideas, but above all, with the joy of friendship with our British counterparts.”

Chilean delegate Guillermo Rodríguez, a vet, added that the workshop was very interesting, being able to visit several prominent breeders had been a highlight of the trip. “They took the time to explain their breeding, selection and production methods.

“That was truly enriching for us, helping me to unify criteria to continue selecting and improving the best sheep meat breed in the world.

“We cannot thank the Texel Society and those who hosted us enough for their hospitality and the knowledge they shared,” he said.

Dutch breeder Hans Kolk said the trip had been an exciting one, seeing how British breeders had taken the Texel breed and adapted and evolved it over the last 50 years. “We now breed the British type of Texel here in the Netherlands, so it was great to visit flocks in the UK.

“At SRUC we saw the CT scanning program and the methane research, which was interesting as we are undertaking similar research here in the Netherlands. It was also wonderful to see all the breeders with their families participating in the Textravaganza National Show and the Great Yorkshire show.”

AB Europe’s vet manager James Mylne added that the delegates had been keen to explore the opportunities for future exports and had an in depth discussion on artificial reproduction and future export opportunities. “They had good knowledge of the merits of British Texel and are keen to enhance their own flocks with British Texel genetics in future.”