Financially, it's been a good year for the Texel Sheep Society according to the annual accounts which have just been published. There has also been a big increase in market share, with the Imperial College London's independent report on breed usage showing that the Texel breed now dominates the UK sheep industry.

Chairman, Keith Campbell, in his report to the Society's Members, said Texels now accounted for 26% of ram sales, which was 5% more than the nearest rival. He added that although no record prices were seen in the 2004 sales season, there were increased clearance rates and sale averages. There had been an increase in the number of four and five figure prices at the Society's Premier and National Sales.

“Our breed will continue to dominate the terminal sire market “, he said. “We must ensure that we develop selection tools to identify rams that will suit the new markets traditionally dominated by other breeds.

“Breeders need to ensure that quality is maintained and that inferior sheep are culled. Our breed no longer has a scarcity value and whilst FMD recovery created an inflated market place, the reality that we now face is an industry increasingly concerned with carcase quality and with sheep production systems that require minimal input in an unsure market place”.

He urged breeders to ensure that they only presented rams for sale that met the demands of the modern market place. There had been 66,500 lambs born in pedigree Texel flocks in 2004 and 74,000 born in 2005.

The theme was echoed by Chief Executive Steven McLean. He pointed out that the dramatic increase in pedigree births meant buyers could become increasingly 'choosey' over their purchases.

“Some 65,433 birth notifications were processed during the year, an increase of 4,962 over 2003/4 and a 24.5% increase on the numbers processed in 2002/3”, he said. “The number of active flocks within the membership increased from 2,021 to a new all time high of 2,225. Ram registrations were down by some 70 rams from the 2003/4 year end and equalled the 2002/3 year with 1,649 registered”.

Mr McLean said female registrations increased by 2% on the year to total 26,255, again an all time high, and reflected the number of active flocks in the Society.

The new BASCO Data Ltd continued to play a crucial part in the Society's development. A collaborative venture with both the Suffolk Sheep and Limousin Cattle Societies, it had enabled all three Societies to purchase a web enabled database. The Society owned £80,000 share capital in BASCO and £453,700 of government money would be invested in the project over the next three years.

One hundred and seventy members had signed up to 'test' the system since it went on line on 26 October 2004. The Society was extremely pleased with the new application which allowed members to birth notify and register their animals as well as complete Annual Returns and enter animals on line for sales.

Turnover exceeded half a million pounds at £524,853 which is well up on the £447,328 to the 31st March 2004. This ensured a healthy profit of £45,323.

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