This years lamb crop are starting off well and settling in with their new Mums. So far lambs by Cambwell Trademark, Kimbolton Va Va Voom and Wallington Vigilante have begun to catch my eye.
Clearly they have a long way to go until they are ready to be sold but an encouraging start.
I have also had a few people ask how “The Phantom” is so I thought you would enjoy the picture below!
We just need some grass now!
Valentines Day saw the official start of lambing for the flock this year and by the time you read this we will be making progress as our lambing is planned to happen over 19 days this year.
So far the lambs born have been bright and have got up and sucked quickly. The selection for ease of lambing is working with less interventions.
We have had a few surprises including the one in the picture below who has become quite an internet sensation!
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Further updates will be posted here as time (and sleep!) allow.
Update – Lambing of our sheep finished as planned on 12th March, the only exception being the East Middle Ewe who we bought in lamb and she lambed 20th March. All over for another year – I’m off for a lay down!
The Kimbolton Flock has been selected to participate in a ground breaking genomic research project aimed at identifying the genes that are significant in both mastitis and foot-rot resistance.
As one of twenty flocks nationally our sheep will be monitored and sampled in 2015 and 2016 with the outcome being that our flock will become one of the first in the UK to have Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBV’s) for these important welfare traits.
When proven this technology will allow us to DNA test rams for resistance to both mastitis and foot rot allowing us to have confidence that their progeny will be less susceptible to these traits.
Data collection and DNA sampling under way
But what is Genomics?
Genomics is a term which is increasingly being used in livestock breeding, but just what is genomics and how can we use it to further Texel breeding?
Put simply, an organism’s complete set of DNA is called its genome and virtually every single cell in the body contains a copy. Genomics is a term that was developed in the 1980s and describes the large scale sequencing and analysis of DNA.
The key distinguishing feature between genomics and genetics is that genetics investigates the activity and composition of a single gene whereas genomics includes all genes and their associations in order to recognize their collective influence on the development and growth of the organism.
Through genomics researchers aim to determine complete DNA sequences and perform genetic mapping to help understand the relationships between genes and important traits, such as disease resistance and levels of production.
The knowledge about gene interactions that has so far been gathered has led to the emergence of new areas of study such as ‘functional genomics’ where researchers try and understand the pattern of gene expression, particularly across different environmental conditions.
Importantly, the science of genomics is applicable to animals, plants and humans. Genomics are also being used in human medicine and researchers are using the tool to study the role that multiple genetic factors acting with the environment play in complex diseases.
Genome-based research has already enabled improved diagnostics, more effective therapeutic strategies and better decision-making tools for patients. Ultimately, treatments could be tailored to a patient’s particular genomic makeup.
In June 2014 it was announced that researchers had sequenced the complete genome of sheep. Carried out by an international team of researchers the project took eight years to complete and involved 26 organisations across eight countries.
The Texel breed formed the basis of this work and the Texel Society is capitalising on this new technology and has become the first breed society in the UK to begin developing genomic tools. Funding has been awarded to the Texel Society in-conjunction with SRUC to undertake a genome-wide search for the genetics associated with resistance to mastitis. The intention is to expand this work to other disease related traits, such as footrot, in the coming years. You can read more about the current mastitis project here.
With January almost behind us the count down to lambing for the Kimbolton Flock has begun with the first lambs due to be born on 17th February!
Sheds have been prepared, equipment cleaned and the ewes are getting their supplementary feed.
This pre lambing ration has been specially formulated to ensure that the needs of both mother and the unborn lamb are met as the majority of lamb development occurs in the last six weeks of pregnancy. The correct feeding at this time is essential as too much feed means big lambs (which can be difficult to lamb) and too little feed means smaller lambs (easier lambing) but not enough milk produced by the ewe.
We hope to repeat the success of last year which saw the ewes milking like never before and the lambs growing very quickly during their first eight weeks of life when they are totally dependant on their mothers. A good start sets them up well for the future.
The recent additions to the flock that were acquired from the East Middle and College sales are settling in well.
Pictured above from right to left are;
23 days to go before we see some lambs!…….
In 2013 the Kimbolton Flock supplied a high index Texel Ram to SRUC that was used as part of a trial looking at “Simultaneous selection for reduced waste and increased lean meat yield in Texel-sired slaughter lambs”
SRUC have just kindly providing the following interim update pending publication of their final report:
“A recently finished one-generation selection trial using Texel sires at SRUC aimed to prove the value of a simple CT (computed tomography) based selection trait (muscle weight / live weight), which can be used like a simple index aiming at increasing lean meat yield and reducing waste at the same time. This trait is very similar to lean meat yield percentage ( LMY%) that the pig industry pays on, but is also expected to reduce carcass waste in the abattoir.
From over 200 CT-scanned rams in 2013, 12 rams were used, based on their own performance in this trait. To produce divergence, rams were chosen from both ends of the distribution. They were each mated in November 2013 to 15 Mule ewes and 259 lambs were born between 5/04/2014 and 19/04/2014 (29 single, 184 as twins and 46 as triplets). These resulting lambs were followed through rearing, CT-scanned, and a month later slaughtered in an abattoir with electronic traceability to allow individual carcass feedback.
201 lambs were finally chosen for CT scanning and slaughter, narrowing down the age span and accounting for losses. They were all CT scanned between the 25th and 28th of August 2014, being on average 137d old (from 128 to 143d). To allow for the withdrawal period of the sedative, the animals were slaughtered about 33d later, at an average age of 170d (between 163 and 175d), in the Morrisons abattoir (Woodheads Brothers) at Turriff, because this abattoir has electronic traceability for individual lambs up to the point of carcass grading. This allowed us to combine all pre-slaughter information on each lamb with the slaughter information (carcass grades and the price obtained).
The analysis of the data is now ongoing and we aim to present the results of the study later on in spring 2015, as well as at the Sheep Breeders Round Table in November, if the organisers give us the opportunity. The preliminary results to date suggest that the Texel sires with higher lean meat percentage went on to produce crossbred lambs with higher values for this trait, as measured by CT pre-slaughter. Favourable relationships with other carcass traits, such as killing out percentage, fatness and gigot muscularity have also been observed.
It is of note that the “low rams” are not low value rams, as they had been selected to be CT scanned by their owners, indicating that they had potential as breeding stock. However, the preliminary results suggest that there was enough genetic variation in the selected sires for the traits of interest to see differences emerging in their crossbred offspring. This trial will demonstrate the effects of genetics, the usefulness of CT and will also be another good example of a fruitful collaboration between Texel breeders and SRUC. The SRUC team (mainly L. Bunger, N. Lambe, K. McLean and John Gordon) wishes to express their thanks to the Texel breeders, who contributed rams to the trial.”
Commenting on this update Paul Phillips from the Kimbolton Flock said “We were delighted to have one of our high index Texel rams selected by SRUC for this trial and are not surprised to hear that the preliminary results suggest their genetic superiority in key traits is passed onto their offspring.
Increasing lean meat yield and gigot muscularity have significant commercial value to lamb producers and underline why the purchase of a high index Ram from an established recording flock is an investment that makes sound financial sense. I look forward to reading the final report and understanding the additional value in £’s per animal that has been demonstrated.”
Today we added a new purchase to the flock SCE 1301241 who was selected due to her high muscle and fat scores. Sired by East Middle Superior who has been widely used to enhance muscle depth in other flocks she is from a naturally breeding pedigree line that scores highly for maternal ability. Superior is by East Middle Power Station, and we already have his genetics in the flock with CNT1100331 who has bred exceptionally well. In 2014 alone she has produced a number of lambs that have been some of the highest indexed lambs in the breed with indexes ranging from 446-472.
She is in lamb to an unnamed East Middle ram by Avon Vale Real Deal who we widely used ourselves for our 2014 lambs. As a result we were confident in purchasing both the ewe/lamb combination which at in lamb sales is usually a challenge!
In future breeding seasons the ewe will compliment our leaner tups and produce offspring that are positive for fat, which we have found results in healthier animals.
It was refreshing to see animals at a sale straight from the field having not been kept inside prior to sale, overfed and coloured or clipped.
Today we scanned the Ewes and achieved a result of 161% for the Texels and 200% for the Lleyns which we were happy with. The Lleyns usually carry Texel embryos however this year we haven’t done any embryo work so they are in lamb naturally.
The scanner was saying that he was seeing more singles this year than usual and less triplets, however our percentage of singles this year was actually less but we did have less triplets (hooray!)
Our focus now is to ensure that the ewes don’t gain too much body condition between now and lambing as they have been on some cracking stubble turnips and they now handle like steel!
The Ewe pre/post lambing feed has been ordered and this year we are trying an essential oil supplement called Crina. This is designed to modulate rumen bacteria populations to improve rumen fermentation and in recent trials has been shown to increase weights of finished lambs by improving the yield and butterfat of the ewes milk.
It will be interesting to see if it makes any difference, but we found in 2014 that getting the ewe nutrition right made a massive difference so fingers crossed!
Today saw the last consignment of Shearling Rams successfully sell which draws to an end a satisfying and successful 2014 sale season.
This year saw regular customers returning as well as new customers buying from us, including a number of pedigree breeders.
The old saying “quality sells” was proved yet again and provided further justification that culling anything that is not right was the right policy as sale averages were up right across the board, in some cases significantly.
The flock also achieved external recognition by coming second in a Regional Flock competition and also won its first ever Supreme Championship at a Show and Sale (we also had the reserve champion at the same show too)!
As the nights are drawing in our efforts now turn to ensuring our breeding programme is successfully executed so lambing is a short as possible.
They say as one door shuts another opens, and I must confess that I am already looking forward to the start of lambing!
Despite being rushed off our feet during the current busy sale season we have also had to make the time to finalise our breeding programme as tupping time is now just days away!
Ladies First
Whilst this is a normal occurrence each year, this years programme has been much more of an effort to finalise, as we have taken the decision to consolidate the number of breeding Texel ewes to 40. This is effectively halving the size of the flock but by doing this we strongly feel that we can focus more on the core families that have excelled. This will further improve our results and also (hopefully!) leave some time free for activities away from the flock.
Naturally this has meant some very hard decisions have had to be taken, and at times it has felt like choosing which child to keep!
During this process each and every aged ewe has been reviewed and its contribution to the flock considered very carefully. Information collected on their progeny, which ones have been retained and which sold (and for how much) helped drive the decision making process along with reviewing medical treatment records and individual knowledge of each animal.
The ewes selected for culling have now gone but I must confess to feeling a degree of guilt as I walk past the local kebab shops in case one of them is spinning around in front of the burner 🙁
Now onto the Boys
One of the benefits of going to the different sales is that you get to see literally hundreds and hundreds of Ram Lambs and you can pick and choose the characteristics you like or are trying to breed.
This was responsible for my decision to use Cambwell Trademark as I was very impressed with how his lambs looked. Semen has been purchased and will be used on some of my highest muscle females.
Trusted favourites Wallington Special Brew and Avon Vale Real Deal will again be used as both have bred exceptionally well.
In addition three home bred Ram Lambs by Avon Vale Real Deal will also be used;
PPK1400385 who is by a big classy Ettrick Ewe by Mitchelhill Paparazzi whose female family is the same as the 17,000gn ewe sold at the Select Seven Sale in 2013.
PPK1400423 who is by a much admired Grey Peel ewe by 3,800gn Cambwell Osprey who was purchased at their dispersal sale.
PPK1400391 who is by a massive Tweed Ewe by East Middle Regardez Moi who was purchased for 1,200gn at the Tweed dispersal sale .
Finally I would like to introduce our new addition – Wallington Vigilante who is the second highest index Texel Ram in the breed for 2014. His sire Talisman has been used in the flock previously and we have been very impressed with the results. Talisman is by Wallington’s best and most consistent female PHN09035 .
Vigilante has outstanding figures in all key areas plus he looks the part too.
The Stage is Set
So all remains is for the Girls to meet the Boys – really excited and looking forward to seeing the lambs – roll on lambing!
At Saturdays Gloucester and Border Counties Texel Club sale at Worcester the Kimbolton Flock scooped the double by winning both of the classes judged on the day.
Kimbolton Volcano PPK 1400386 a Ram Lamb, subsequently went on to secure the Supreme Championship.
Volcano was sired by Avon Vale Real Deal (the top performance recorded stock sire of 2013), out of an Ettrick ewe by Mitchelhill Paparazzi (who shares the same maternal family as the ewe that sold for 19,000gn at the 2013 select seven sale)
Kimbolton Union Man PPK 1300329 a shearling Ram was placed Reserve Champion.
Union Man was sired by Wallington Special Brew (see Rams used page) and is out of a quality Loosebeare Dam by Bettonfield Janitor who was Supreme Champion at Builth 2004
