Hywel Thomas, Simon Farmer, Frank Moffat with Cwmcerrig King Boxer

Texel breeders have been urged to 'checklist' the quality of their rams as they approach the main sale season. Speaking at a Performance Recorded Texel Open Day in Hampshire, co host Simon Farmer, said pedigree producers had to be ruthlessly attentive to quality control.

He said it was the only way to ensure that market share continued to increase with the higher number of Texels being offered for sale. The breed could afford to continue to offer more sheep for sale because it was the number one terminal sire breed and was continuing to take market share.

But superior quality had to be uppermost in every breeder's mind, otherwise the price would be reduced across the board. Anything that was not of a superior carcass quality should be culled - the opportunity had been there this year when hogget prices were so good after Christmas.

“You have to ask yourself is this animal of superior carcass quality to be used as a crossing sire and produce prime lamb?” added Simon. “Is it worthy of going on to someone else's farm. Can it produce prime lamb at the right grade and weight?

“Are the feet, teeth and testicles OK? Is the ram ready to go to work? If you fall down on any of these points why take your sheep to the sale, you're not doing yourself or the breed any good”.

Simon Farmer added that although the Texel breed was expanding its market share, there was a threat of over supply. There would be times when any one market would be over supplied and prices would be hit.

He added that it wasn't feasible for the Texel Sheep Society to impose quality control. Members had to take it upon themselves to self police. They had to take the initiative and ensure that only the best stock were selected for breeding.

Customers had to have the confidence that they would get the right return when they paid for rams. Mr Farmer added that the financial aspect of ram production wasn't always to the fore because so many producers had another enterprise or income. It was another point that had to be addressed.

He was clearly prepared to put his hand in his pocket to back his convictions at the recent

NSA Wales and Border Early Ram Sale. He and his father-in-law Frank Moffat (The Drayton Farm Partnership) paid the day's top price of 1650 guineas for Cwmcerrig King Boxer.

He said it was the one sheep at the show that met their 'wish list' of breed characteristics. It had a lot of power and was very correct on his feet. There was also a lot of character in the head, without sacrificing anything in the carcass. The partnership also sold fifteen Texel rams at Builth Wells, each averaging £500.

The Better Breeding Focus Event Open Day was held at Little West End Farm, Chidden, Hambledon. It was hosted by Mr and Mrs Syd Chaplin, Mr and Mrs Simon Farmer and Mr and Mrs Frank Moffat.

Simon Farmer manages the Meon Hill flock, owned by Syd and Mary Chaplin, and is also one half of the Meon Valley flock. The latter is a join venture with his father-in-law, Frank Moffat and goes under the name of the Drayton Farm Partnership.

The two farms aim to produce 100 shearling rams for the crossing trade at the local county sales and Builth Wells NSA sales. And that makes them one of the largest breeders of Texel shearling rams in the south of England. They also sell at the English National Sale at Worcester when stock is up to pedigree standard.