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Following on from their recent success at the Irish Premier sale in Blessington, it was Chaylee & Lorinne Greene making the headlines once again – this time with Greenstar Alonzo, a full ET brother to the €17,000gns Greenstar Alfie, sired by Tophill Wall Street and out of a Duncryne Uber Cool ewe. This one was purchased by a syndicate of Donegal breeders led by James McGrath, Collar Rock Texels for €2,100gns.
Not to be outdone by his daughters, John Green’s Larahirl flock also produced the goods when he sold Larahirl A-Team, a Millar’s Windbrook son, for €1,850gns to Aiden Loftus’ Deelvale flock from Co. Mayo. The high quality of rams on offer was also evident when John sold the Male and Overall Champion on the night, Larahirl Yours Truly, sired by Tamnamoney Walter, for €1,180gns whilst two further Larahirl shearling rams, also sired by Walter, sold for €1,220gns and €1,100gns.

Reserve Champion on the night was obtained by John McLoone’s Glenties based Tullyard flock with his first prize winning ram lamb, Tullyard Achilles, sired by the €8,000gns Gailey Yesterday purchased by John at last year’s Blessington sale. Out of a homebred Sportman’s Superstar sired ewe, he sold for €1,400gns to the judge, Adrian Liggett. It was also a night to remember for Mervyn & Anna Boal when their sole entry, a shearling ram sired by Claybury Warrior, sold to Dessie Graham, Laghey, Co. Donegal for €1,280gns. The last ram to break the €1,000gns barrier was from John McGee’s Muckish flock when his 2nd prize shearling ram, Muckish Yard Stick, sired by the 2014 All Ireland Champion Strathbogie Uno, sold early in the sale for €1,000gns to Lee McKinney, Co. Donegal.

Following on from this sale The Donegal Texel Breeders are holding their annual harvest show and sale of Pedigree Texel Rams and Ewes on Friday 15th September in Raphoe Livestock Mart. A large number of the 100 rams catalogued will be Sheep Ireland Recorded. Show at 5pm and Sale at 6.30pm.
A full sale catalogue can be downloaded from the Irish Texel Sheep Society’s website or by contacting David McKane on 00447769 258 976.

Other leading prices (all gns):
John McLoone, Tullyard – €660; J&C McHugh, Greenhill – €820, €800, €680; Malachy Byrne, Ballymagowan – €820; Shane McHugh, Figart – €810, €760, €750, €720; Willam Doherty, Hillcrest – €850, €800, €760 (x2); Peter McLaughlin, Isle – €620; Seamus McGrath, Clarecarrick – €760; Niall Brennan, Grange – €640; Stuart McKeague, Claggan – €780, €660; Stuart Parke, Glenkeerin – €640; McHugh Bros, Speenogue – €700; Noel Gallagher, Agri-Care – €600; Rodney McLaughlin, Clara – €980, €700, €600 (x2); John McGee, Muckish – €850, €720, €600

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Greenstar Alfie, a Wallstreet son definitely produced Wallstreet figures by hitting €17,000. The outstanding son of Tophill Wallstreet was sold after hurried bidding to Milnbank, Strathbogie and Seaforde Texels. Mr. John Mellin from Hullhouse Texels U.K. had earlier tapped him forward as his 1st placed Novice Ram, then Male Champion and Supreme Overall Champion.

John Greene also sold a full brother of the Champion for 5700 to Rodney McLaughlin, Clara Texels

The Reserve Male Champion exhibited by Anthony Donnelly Lot 212 DII1701298 also a grandson of Wallstreet by Knock Yazoo was purchased by McHugh Bros from Donegal for €4800.

In the female classes Mr. Mellin found his Champion in a hoggett ewe sired by Claybury Warrior exhibited by A&P O’Keeffe OKI16029, she sold for 1450 to Ben Kelly. Reserve Female Champion was awarded to D&E McManamon with a daughter of Forkins Will-I-Am and a Strathbogie Stiffler ewe she was purchased by Donegal breeder James McGrath for €2300. The highest priced female was Lot 15 exhibited by Flor Ryan, Ryan Texels. This flashy daughter of Duncryne Uber Cool was snapped up by Hexel Texels for €4300.

Flor Ryan and John Donohoe then went on to purchase a son of Cressage Yankee bred by McHugh Bros Donegal for €3000. John Greene then presented Lot 305 a full brother to Greenstar Alfie into the ring. He was purchased for €2600 by Noel Gallagher Agricare Texels Co. Donegal. Ronan Gallagher then hit €2600 with a son of Tophill Union Jack selling to Michael Sinnott Co.Wexford. Co. Cork breeders Eddie & Sheena McCarthy snapped up another very catchy son of Tophill Will Street for €2400, bred by Willie Doherty’s Hillcrest flock from Co. Donegal. John Greene then continued his winning ways by selling a Strathbogie Yabba Dabba Do son for 2200 to Co. Meath Texel breeder Pascal Keogh. A son of Knap Your the Man from Thornville Texels was purchased by J, C & M McHugh for €2100. They then recovered their outlay by selling a Maineview Will-I-Am son at the same money to Edward Buckley Kilbarry Texels Co. Cork

P&B Farrell sold Oberstown Ysagyum sired by Procters Ventura to Michael Murphy’s Co. Galway Texel flock for €1900. Also at €1900 a lamb sired by Mac’s Wannabes bred by Shane McHugh found his new home in the Hillswood Flock of Tom Kenny Co. Roscommon. A commercial buyer got value in Lot 253 by Foundry Texels when he purchased a powerful ram sired by Greenhill Yemen Boy for €1800.

Commercial rams sold for between €370 right up to the top commercial price of €1800, the average was €1089.

Pedigree rams cleared at varying prices ranging between €350 to the top price of the day for the Champion at €17000. Overall there was an 82% clearance rate across the sale. Female clearance at 69%, with prices from €420 to €4200 for the highest.

Female Champion                        Lot 212 A&P O’Keeffe Co Cork Sold for €1450

Reserve Female Champion            Lot 24 D&E McManamon Sold for €2300

Male & Supreme Champion                                     Lot 195 C&L Greene            Sold for €17000

Reserve Male & Res Supreme Champion            Lot 212 Anthony Donnelly Sold for €4800

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With a midland destination, The Bridge House hotel Tullamore was the location where Texel sheep breeders met for a night of deserved commemorating. Over one hundred members attended the night, Mr. John Shirley was the master of ceremony during the event, spot prizes were given out, the regional winners for sheep flock of the year were announced and Dr. Gerry More O’Ferrall was the guest of honour.

Photos lined the entrance of the dining room as the society members walked to their seats. Newspaper cut-outs and photos of past winners of National Texel Sheep titles were laminated and placed for all to view and admire. A table was also dedicated to the yearbooks that the society publish annually. Detailed accounts of all winners and events associated with the Texel Sheep Society were enclosed in each annual publication.

As guests nestled into their seats for the meal, they were met with a token of slate that had the sentence ‘Making headlines for forty years’ written across the front of it. This mug coaster was a keepsake for people to take home with them along with the banquet booklet that included interviews with Texel sheep members and interesting stories and photos that the society had gathered throughout its lifetime.

A delightful three course meal was enjoyed and devoured by all who attended the event. Ten lucky members of the society won spot prizes during the night and each of the triumphant winners had a plethora of valuable Animax sponsored prizes to choose from. The door prize of 2.5litres of Growvite sponsored by Univet was won By Johnny Payne Rathangan.

The Five flocks that are still active since the foundation of the Society were honoured by Dr. Gerry More O’Ferrall who spoke eloquently about the original days of the society. The founding flocks include; Derrinlerrig, Ml Murray Co. Roscommon, Ballybur John Donohoe Co. Kilkenny, Coolderry Donal Mee Co Roscommon & Lisgobbin Sean Brennan Co. Roscommon.

Mr. Padraic Niland from Co. Galway was given a notable token of recognition as the tea and coffee cups were being filled. His dedication to the Texel Sheep Society over the past forty years was noted and honoured. As Padraic was a founding member of the Texel Sheep Society, he and his wife were awarded with a gift of appreciation. Mr. Niland combined his two life passions; Sheep and hurling, as he gave a humorous and sentimental speech about his experience with the society since 1976. Giving each founding member of the society a starting position on a hurling team, Mr. Niland’s speech was one which only a character such as himself could deliver.

The Regional Flock of the Year winners were announced and awarded their deserved plaques. The South-East award went to Springbridge Flock, Tom Whelan. The South West award went to Annakisha Flock, A & P O’Keeffe. The Midlands award went to Castlekelly Flock, Jimmy Kelly. The North-East award went to Glassdrummond Flock, P Leonard. Darragh Cunniffe claimed the Western award with his Horseleap Flock and finally, A Donnelly brought home the North Connacht award with his Ballyglass Flock.

As the band set up their stand for the night, couples who knew how to jive filled the dancefloor. Before long, the music changed and anyone with or without a beat in their feet, also joined the dancefloor. The night ended after hours of laughter, dancing, and commemorating.

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Zoe, who comes from a non-farming background, is currently waiting on acceptance to do the Green Cert, and in her spare time her off farm passion is weightlifting. She quickly developed a passion for the breed and all things agriculture and decided to join the Irish Texel Sheep Society and started her own pedigree flock in 2012, Mountvilla Texels. The pedigree flock consists of 20 ewes. “We are paying particular attention to selecting flock replacements and select our replacement ewe lambs early in the year.”

Zoe, with their 3-year old son Rocky, is also pro-active in the management of the commercial flock.
“Since we moved to Texel replacements, the traits that they are breeding into our flock include easier handling at lambing, greater prolificacy and less fostering due to their great mothering ability. We also find the Texel cross ewes are better value as they out live other breeds and have a higher cull value. The Texel breed has greatly increased the flock standard and encouraged my interest and love for farming with the Texel.”
The Payne’s will be buying their commercial ewe replacements at this year’s Hiltex ewe sale in Ballinrobe on Saturday 22nd August. Stock rams are purchased at the Texel Premier Sale in Blessington where, with 250 rams on offer, any buyer is guaranteed to find a Texel to suit his or her budget.

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FLOCK MANAGEMENT

The flock is run on 58 acres owned and 15 acres rented. The ewes start lambing on the 18th March and 90% of the lambing takes place within 17 days. Ewes are housed before lambing and, 4 – 5 days after lambing, they turned out to the fields. All triplet ewe lambs are marked at birth and when lamb sales start in August, if any of these marked ewe lambs are in the first or second draw, they are the ones that are retained for breeding Two years ago was Connies first time to retain Texel X ewe lambs and, from his experience so far, they make excellent mothers and their lamb crop is as good as the rest of the flock averaging two lambs each in 2008/2009.

LAMB SALES

Taking place each year, from August to December, selling to a local butcher in Macroom, Michael Twomey, who accepts lambs up to 25kg carcass weight which Michael states is the beauty about Texel X lambs. They have excellent muscling and do not go over fat at high weights.

RAM SELECTION

When Connie goes about buying his Texel rams, he has two options. First is his local Texel Sheep Society Sale which is held in Miltown, Co. Kerry and second is a visit to some local pedigree Texel breeders to buy his rams privately. In the last two years, he has paid extra attention to performance, recording figures LMI with specific attention to the growth rate index and he feels he has been well rewarded by the quality of lambs born with higher growth rates than he was used to. In future Connie says “he will use the new recording figures from Sheep Ireland (Lambplus) which is in it’s first year replacing the old LMI scheme. You can judge the ram for shape, muscling and correctness but it’s great to have the figures to let you know how his progeny will perform on the ground when you are buying rams”.

MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF USING TEXEL RAMS
•lambs have a great will to live, suckling quickly after birth, and they can handle harsh weather conditions like the spring of 2009. Hardiness: Texel cross
•cross lambs finish as quick as any other breeds. Excellent thrivers: Texel
•lambs remain a lot cleaner through out their lives compared to other breeds on the farm. Clean Lambs: Texel cross
•ewes make excellent mothers and also have a good litter size when compared to other ewe breeds on the farm. Super mothers: Texel cross

hardiness and the higher prices that can be obtained for their leanness and excellent muscling” according to Connie.

Connie runs a flock of Suffolk

X and Belclare X ewes, these ewes would also have some mountain cross (scotch) in their breeding also. Three years ago he decided to use Texel rams on his flock to see if the lambs were any hardier at birth han the breeds he was already using. He could not believe his luck when the first crop of Texel lambs were born on his farm. They were up and suckling a lot quicker than he was used to, and also, after turn out to the fields, which takes place usually around 4 days of age, the survival rate of the Texel X lambs outside this year was 100%, even at suck heights above sea level.

CONNIE

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