British Texel genetics sell for £15,000 in Brazil

British Texel genetics have laid down an early marker for future success ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016, taking a number of top tickets at the recent Expointer Show, Port Alegre, Southern Brazil.

Leading the way for British genetics in the show was Leonardo Vier from Rio Grande do Sol with his Vier flock taking the female and reserve male championships with animals sired by tup Teiglum Rembrandt, bred in the Clark family’s flock at Carluke, Lanarkshire.

And as well as dominating the top awards in the show ring Mr Vier’s flock also took the top sale price in the breed auction held at the end of the show, with the reserve male champion selling for R$48,000 (£15,000), explained British Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates.

The sale was witnessed by the new UK Trade and Investment head of agribusiness Nick Graham who stayed on at the show to see the auction. “The UKTI have been instrumental in assisting the removal of trade barriers, largely with the development of Health Certification, so we are grateful for their continued support at the sale too,” added Mr Yates. 

Brazilian agent Marcio Auguinsky said the importation of British Texel genetics had been a great boost to the breed in Brazil and the progeny of British stock was highly sought after. “The average Texel ram price here in Brazil is about R$10-15,000 (£3,500-£5000), so to have one selling for R$48,000 clearly shows what demand there is for the British type.”

Mr Vier was ecstatic to have been some of the first breeders to have had access to the British Texel genetics, when they purchased semen from the inaugural 2011 importation. 

“Taking both the overall female championship and the reserve male championship with British sired animals has made us very proud. To top that off by selling the ram for this exceptional price just shows the benefits that British Texels are having on our native Texel.

“Buying semen from Teiglum Rembrandt was definitely the right decision. He has made such a difference to our flock.”

Rembrandt has an Index 308 placing him in the top 5% of the breed in the UK and was also sire of the £14,000 top priced ram at last week’s Kelso Ram Sales.

Mr Vier added “British Texel genetics have brought great improvements in the general quality of the lambs born and it marks a new phase for the Texel in Brazil.”

There have now been two shipments of British Texel semen to Brazil, with the first shipment in 2011 followed by a further shipment in the early part of this year.

MAPA, the Brazilian equivalent to DEFRA, imposed a suspension of imports into Brazil of all ruminant genetics from the EU earlier this year due to the threat from Schmallenberg virus. However, this is expected to be removed within the next few months, and hopefully in time for a new export of British Texel , the third consecutive shipment due in early 2013, added Mr Yates.