With many sheep breeds in the country of New Zealand, it is an art to find the right combination to get a healthy return off sheep farming.

With wool prices on the back foot and declining sheep numbers in the country. It becomes a meat only option after considering milking sheep.

It is with a passion that sheep and beef farmers seek a breed of sheep that will return a good yield to meat to bone ratio and sheep that will suit their farm.

With Consumer’s looking for value for money in their sheep meat with Harty size chop and roast.

Question which breed will rise to the challenge to meet the Consumers demands.

One of the newer breeds is Texel.  It seems to be a breed that could step up to the plate.

One of many Texel stud breeders is Sarah Catherwood for northern dawn stud.

View from Sarah.

I found that the texels I stated with were good but needed to pack more punch more to stand out and compete with bigger meat breeds, I feel like I am on the right track especially now I some full UK blood lines.

 The genetic bloods I’m bringing in now is very different to what texel breeders have been using.

I’ve also found a big frame texel ram in the UK that the owners will send me frozen semen this year he is not well-known sire, but production wise his growth figures are 1%. He should suit what we need in NZ and I am hoping using him over my ET ewes might give me an animal that can compete with Poll Dorset’s and Suffolks at the shows???

Time will tell I quess.

History has shown that the sheep has paid for many roads and many other government projects with strong export earnings.

Sheep will continue to do this and keep many people employed.