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{{Multiple issues|
{{lead too short|date=November 2013}}
{{lead too short|date=November 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2023}}
[[Image:Texel sheep.jpg|thumb|250px|A prize-winning texel at a Flemish agricultural show]]
}}
⚫
The '''Texel''' is a [[breed]] of [[domestic sheep]] originally from the island of [[Texel]] in the [[Netherlands]].<ref name="OKState">
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|Dutch breed of sheep}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name = Texel
| image = Texelschafe 2003 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| status = {{ubl|[[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=148}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2023): not at risk{{r|dad}}}}
| altname = {{ubl|Texelaar|Texelse|Improved Texel|Verbeterde Texelse}}
| country = Netherlands
| distribution =
| standard =
| use = meat
| maleweight = average 95 kg{{r|dad}}
| femaleweight = average 75 kg{{r|dad}}
| maleheight = average 70 cm{{r|dad}}
| femaleheight = average 68 cm{{r|dad}}
| skincolour =
| type =
| woolcolour = white
| facecolour = white
| horns = [[polled (livestock)|polled]]
| note =
}}

⚫
[[File:Bélier texel.jpg|thumb|Three-year-old ram from the island of [[Texel]]]]
[[File:Texel ewe and twin lambs - geograph.org.uk - 767717.jpg|thumb|British Texel ewe with twin lambs near [[Erpingham]] in [[Norfolk]]]]

⚫
The '''Texel''' is a Dutch [[list of sheep breeds|breed]] of [[domestic sheep]] originally from the island of [[Texel]].<ref name="OKState">
{{cite web
{{cite web
|url = http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/texel/index.htm
|url = http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/texel/index.htm
|publisher = [[Oklahoma State University]], De. of Animal Science
|publisher = [[Oklahoma State University]], De. of Animal Science
|title = Texel
|title = Texel
|accessdate = 2009-05-04
|access-date = 4 May 2009
|work = Breeds of Livestock
|work = Breeds of Livestock
|url-status = dead
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091224201255/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/texel/index.htm
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091224201255/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/texel/index.htm
|archive-date = 24 December 2009
|archivedate = 2009-12-24
}}</ref> It is a heavy and muscular sheep, and produces a lean meat carcass. It is [[polled (livestock)|polled]], clean-faced and clean-legged, with white face and wool. The fibre diameter of the wool averages about {{val|32|u=μ}}, with a staple length of {{val|8|–|15|u=cm}}; it is used mainly for knitting and [[hosiery]] wools.{{r|cabi|p=932}}
}}</ref> A heavily muscled sheep, it produces a lean meat carcass and will pass on this quality to crossbred progeny. The [[wool]] is around 32 micrometres and is mostly used for [[hosiery]] yarns and knitting wools. It is presently a popular lean meat sheep across [[Europe]], as well as [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and the United States.

The Texel is distributed in approximately thirty-five countries in Europe, the Americas and Oceania, with estimated populations of over 5000 head in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.{{r|dad2}}


==History==
==History==
⚫
The Texel sheep originated on the island of [[Texel]], the largest of the [[Wadden Islands]] off the north coast of [[the Netherlands]]. The exact origin of the breed is unknown although it is thought to be a cross of the original Texel sheep with multiple English breeds. It was slowly bred into a meat breed of outstanding carcass quality. It is now one of the most common meat breeds in the Netherlands, making up seventy percent of the national flock.
⚫
[[File:Texelschafe.jpg|thumb|250px|Sheep on the island of Texel]]
⚫
The Texel sheep originated on the island of [[Texel]], the largest of the [[Wadden Islands]] off the north coast of [[the Netherlands]]. The exact origin of the breed is unknown although it is thought to be a cross of multiple [[England|English]] breeds. It was slowly bred into a meat breed of outstanding carcass quality. It is now one of the most common meat breeds in the Netherlands, making up seventy percent of the national flock.

=== United States ===
In 1985, the first Texel in the United States were imported by the Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Nebraska. In 1990 and after a five-year quarantine, some were released for purchase by private individuals.


=== United Kingdom ===
=== United Kingdom ===
In the early 1970s, the superior quality of the Dutch Texel caught the attention of some English breeders who were interested in importing Dutch Texels to the UK. They were unable to import the Dutch Texels at the time and instead opted for importing [[France|French]] ones due to import laws. At the end of the decade UK import laws changed and allowed the import of Dutch Texels.
In the early 1970s, the superior quality of the Dutch Texel caught the attention of some English breeders who were interested in importing Dutch Texels to the UK. They were unable to import the Dutch Texels at the time and instead opted for importing French ones due to import laws. At the end of the decade UK import laws changed and allowed the import of Dutch Texels.


What is now known as the British Texel has proven to be a huge success in the British Isles, with many stud rams being used in commercial flocks for the production of meat. The breed has shown that its hardy nature and ability to finish for slaughter in a competitive period of time has been well suited to the requirements of the British food market. These qualities have helped the Texel breed become the most popular terminal sire breed in the UK.
What is now known as the British Texel has proven to be a huge success in the British Isles, with many stud rams being used in commercial flocks for the production of meat. The breed has shown that its hardy nature and ability to finish for slaughter in a competitive period of time has been well suited to the requirements of the British food market. These qualities have helped the Texel breed become the most popular terminal sire breed in the UK.{{cn|date=April 2022}}


In August 2009, a Texel tup lamb named Deveronvale Perfection was sold for a world record price for a sheep of £231,000.<ref name="deveronvale">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8226054.stm|title=£231,000 sheep sets price record|date=28 August 2009|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Bred in [[Banffshire]], Scotland, the lamb was sold by Graham Morrison of [[Cornhill, Aberdeenshire]] to fellow sheep farmer Jimmy Douglas at a sale in [[Lanark]]. The high price has been attributed to the lamb's strong physical attributes, and Deveronvale Perfection will be used for breeding.
In August 2009, a Texel tup lamb named Deveronvale Perfection was sold for a then world record price for a sheep of £231,000.<ref name="deveronvale">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8226054.stm|title=£231,000 sheep sets price record|date=28 August 2009|work=BBC News}}</ref> Bred in [[Banffshire]], Scotland, the lamb was sold by Graham Morrison of [[Cornhill, Aberdeenshire]] to fellow sheep farmer Jimmy Douglas at a sale in [[Lanark]]. The high price has been attributed to the lamb's strong physical attributes, and Deveronvale Perfection will be used for breeding.

On 28 August 2020 a new world record of £368,000 was set after a six-month-old Texel ram was sold in Lanark during the Scottish National Texel Sale.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 August 2020|title=World's most expensive sheep sold for £368,000|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-53946252|access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref>


===Australia and New Zealand===
===Australia and New Zealand===
Texels were selected from Denmark and [[Finland]] to suit New Zealand and [[Australian]] conditions. In addition to their natural attributes of heavy muscling and leanness, they had to be mobile sheep capable of travelling distances, free lambing and easy care. A select Australian flock began quarantine in New Zealand in 1988 and an objective genetic selection program was implemented.
Texels were selected from Denmark and [[Finland]] to suit New Zealand and Australian conditions. In addition to their natural attributes of heavy muscling and leanness, they had to be mobile sheep capable of travelling distances, free lambing and easy care. A select Australian flock began quarantine in New Zealand in 1988 and an objective genetic selection program was implemented.


In Australia, the first Texels were born in September 1993, and the first volume of the Annual Flock Register was produced in April 1994.<!-- I moved the above “In Australia ...” (1993/4) graph here, into apparent chrono order, even tho the following (2012) Graph sounds like there’s a ‘graph, covering another decade or two in between, that somehow got lost. Inquiring minds want to know.-->
⚫
In February 2012, selectors appointed by the Australian Texel Stud Breeders Association Inc. chose a total of 790 Texel ewes and 50 Texel rams from a base flock of 2220 Texels available for import to Australia. The Australian Texel Corporation Pty. Ltd. (ATC) was formed by a group of investor-breeders who imported the sheep to Australia and undertook all the embryo transplants and [[semen collection]]s and was responsible for the release of foetuses via recipient ewes to Australian studmasters.


⚫
In February 2012, selectors (appointed by the Australian Texel Stud Breeders Association Inc.) chose a total of 790 Texel ewes and 50 Texel rams, from a base flock of 2220 Texels available for import to Australia. The Australian Texel Corporation Pty. Ltd. (ATC) was formed by a group of investor-breeders who imported the sheep to Australia and undertook all the embryo transplants and [[semen collection]]s and was responsible for the release of foetuses via recipient ewes to Australian studmasters.
The first Texels were born in Australia in September, 1993, and the first volume of the Annual Flock Register was produced in April 1994.

⚫
===Peru===
In 1951, Texel sheep breeder and exporter Herman J. Keijser of [[Den Burg]] exported 100 Texel ewes and rams to Peru on the cargo ship Baarn, where their stocks were used for both meat and wool.


== Characteristics ==
== Characteristics ==
The Texel breed is a white-faced breed with no wool on the head or legs. The breed is characterized by a distinctive short, wide face with a black nose and widely placed, short ears with a nearly horizontal carriage. They have black hooves. The wool is of medium grade (46’s-56’s) with no black fibers. Mature animals shear fleece weights of 3.5&nbsp;kg (7.7&nbsp;lbs) to 5.5&nbsp;kg (12.1&nbsp;lbs).<ref name="OKState"/>
The Texel breed is a white-faced breed with no wool on the head or legs. The breed is characterized by a distinctive short, wide face with a black nose and widely placed, short ears with a nearly horizontal carriage. They have black hooves. The wool is of medium grade (46-56 microns) with no black fibres. Mature animals shear fleece weights of {{cvt|3.5|kg|lb}} to {{cvt|5.5|kg|lb}}.<ref name="OKState"/>


The most outstanding characteristic of the Texel is its remarkable muscle development and leanness. Texel-sired lambs show an advantage of one full leg score in breed comparisons and less total carcass fat—especially seam fat.<ref name="Sheep101">
The most outstanding characteristic of the Texel is its remarkable muscle development and leanness. Texel-sired lambs show an advantage of one full leg score in breed comparisons and less total carcass fat—especially seam fat.<ref name="Sheep101">
Line 43: Line 77:
|title=Texel
|title=Texel
|publisher=Sheep101.info
|publisher=Sheep101.info
|accessdate=2009-05-04}}</ref>
|access-date=4 May 2009}}</ref>


A mutation in the [[Three prime untranslated region|3' UTR]] of the [[myostatin]] gene in Texel sheep creates target sites for the [[microRNA]]s [[Mir-1 microRNA precursor family|miR-1]] and miR-206. This is likely to be the genetic cause of the muscular phenotype of this breed of sheep.<ref name="pmid16751773">{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/ng1810 |vauthors=Clop A, Marcq F, Takeda H, Pirottin D, Tordoir X, Bibé B, Bouix J, Caiment F, Elsen JM, Eychenne F, Larzul C, Laville E, Meish F, Milenkovic D, Tobin J, Charlier C, Georges M |title=A mutation creating a potential illegitimate microRNA target site in the myostatin gene affects muscularity in sheep. |journal=Nat Genet |volume=38 |issue=7 |pages=813–8 |year=2006 |pmid=16751773}}</ref>
A mutation in the [[Three prime untranslated region|3' UTR]] of the [[myostatin]] gene in Texel sheep creates target sites for the [[microRNA]]s [[Mir-1 microRNA precursor family|miR-1]] and miR-206. This is likely to be the genetic cause of the muscular phenotype of this breed of sheep.<ref name="pmid16751773">{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/ng1810 |vauthors=Clop A, Marcq F, Takeda H, Pirottin D, Tordoir X, Bibé B, Bouix J, Caiment F, Elsen JM, Eychenne F, Larzul C, Laville E, Meish F, Milenkovic D, Tobin J, Charlier C, Georges M |title=A mutation creating a potential illegitimate microRNA target site in the myostatin gene affects muscularity in sheep. |journal=Nat Genet |volume=38 |issue=7 |pages=813–8 |year=2006 |pmid=16751773|s2cid=39767621 }}</ref>


==Similar Breeds==
==See also==


* [[Beltex]]
* [[Beltex]]
* Blue Texel
* [[Blue Texel]]

⚫
== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{isbn|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{isbn|9781780647944}}.</ref>


== Blue Texel ==
=== History ===
[[File:Blauwetexelaar.jpg|thumb|A Blue Texel ewe with her lamb]]
The Blue Texel was first registered and recorded in the early 1970s in Holland when a blue lamb was born to white parents. After this occurred Texels were deliberately bred to give birth to blue lambs. By 1983 there were 11 flocks with a total of 213 blue texel sheep.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blue-texel-sheep.com|title=Blue Texel Sheep Society|last=(http://www.pedigreefarmer.co.uk)|first=Site developed by Pedigree Farmer|website=www.blue-texel-sheep.com|access-date=2017-04-03}}</ref>


<ref name=dad>[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ext-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=NLD&specie=Sheep&breed=Texelaar&lang=en Breed data sheet: Texelaar / Netherlands (Sheep)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 2023.</ref>
=== Breed Standard<ref name="Cunnane">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thatsfarming.com/news/blue-texel-sheep|title=All you need to know about Blue Texel Sheep {{!}} THATSFARMING.COM|last=Cunnane|first=Catherina|date=2015-10-21|work=That's Farming|access-date=2017-04-03|language=en-GB}}</ref> ===


<ref name=dad2>[https://dadis-transboundary-ext-ws.web.app/?species=Sheep&transboundary=Texel&lang=en Transboundary breed: Texel]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 2023.</ref>
* Head should be narrow with a white halter mark
* Flat poll with no wool and head covered in fine hair with white tips on the ears
* Medium-sized sheep with a well-muscled body
* Fleece must be dense
* They should stand square and balanced
* Ideal color is a darker head and shoulder, light blue color on the back, and dark again around their back end.
* Black fleece with little or no white markings is not acceptable


=== Distribution ===
[[File:Blue Texels.jpg|thumb]]
Blue Texels originated in Holland. They can now be found throughout Europe including Holland and The United Kingdom. The Blue Texel has not yet made its way across seas to North America.


⚫
=== Uses ===
Blue Texels are typically used as a terminal sire in commercial flocks to add muscle and other meat characteristics to the lambs. Their fleeces are also becoming more popular due to their unique colour pattern. Blue Texels are a new breed in the show ring and often catch the eye of the judge.<ref name="Cunnane"/>


}}
⚫
==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 18:13, 13 September 2023

Texel
Conservation status
Other names
  • Texelaar
  • Texelse
  • Improved Texel
  • Verbeterde Texelse
Country of originNetherlands
Usemeat
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    average 95 kg[2]
  • Female:
    average 75 kg[2]
Height
  • Male:
    average 70 cm[2]
  • Female:
    average 68 cm[2]
Wool colourwhite
Face colourwhite
Horn statuspolled
Three-year-old ram from the island of Texel
British Texel ewe with twin lambs near Erpingham in Norfolk

The Texel is a Dutch breed of domestic sheep originally from the island of Texel.[3] It is a heavy and muscular sheep, and produces a lean meat carcass. It is polled, clean-faced and clean-legged, with white face and wool. The fibre diameter of the wool averages about 32 μ, with a staple length of 8–15 cm; it is used mainly for knitting and hosiery wools.[4]: 932 

The Texel is distributed in approximately thirty-five countries in Europe, the Americas and Oceania, with estimated populations of over 5000 head in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.[5]

History

[edit]

The Texel sheep originated on the island of Texel, the largest of the Wadden Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. The exact origin of the breed is unknown although it is thought to be a cross of the original Texel sheep with multiple English breeds. It was slowly bred into a meat breed of outstanding carcass quality. It is now one of the most common meat breeds in the Netherlands, making up seventy percent of the national flock.

United Kingdom

[edit]

In the early 1970s, the superior quality of the Dutch Texel caught the attention of some English breeders who were interested in importing Dutch Texels to the UK. They were unable to import the Dutch Texels at the time and instead opted for importing French ones due to import laws. At the end of the decade UK import laws changed and allowed the import of Dutch Texels.

What is now known as the British Texel has proven to be a huge success in the British Isles, with many stud rams being used in commercial flocks for the production of meat. The breed has shown that its hardy nature and ability to finish for slaughter in a competitive period of time has been well suited to the requirements of the British food market. These qualities have helped the Texel breed become the most popular terminal sire breed in the UK.[citation needed]

In August 2009, a Texel tup lamb named Deveronvale Perfection was sold for a then world record price for a sheep of £231,000.[6] Bred in Banffshire, Scotland, the lamb was sold by Graham Morrison of Cornhill, Aberdeenshire to fellow sheep farmer Jimmy Douglas at a sale in Lanark. The high price has been attributed to the lamb's strong physical attributes, and Deveronvale Perfection will be used for breeding.

On 28 August 2020 a new world record of £368,000 was set after a six-month-old Texel ram was sold in Lanark during the Scottish National Texel Sale.[7]

Australia and New Zealand

[edit]

Texels were selected from Denmark and Finland to suit New Zealand and Australian conditions. In addition to their natural attributes of heavy muscling and leanness, they had to be mobile sheep capable of travelling distances, free lambing and easy care. A select Australian flock began quarantine in New Zealand in 1988 and an objective genetic selection program was implemented.

In Australia, the first Texels were born in September 1993, and the first volume of the Annual Flock Register was produced in April 1994.

In February 2012, selectors (appointed by the Australian Texel Stud Breeders Association Inc.) chose a total of 790 Texel ewes and 50 Texel rams, from a base flock of 2220 Texels available for import to Australia. The Australian Texel Corporation Pty. Ltd. (ATC) was formed by a group of investor-breeders who imported the sheep to Australia and undertook all the embryo transplants and semen collections and was responsible for the release of foetuses via recipient ewes to Australian studmasters.

Peru

[edit]

In 1951, Texel sheep breeder and exporter Herman J. Keijser of Den Burg exported 100 Texel ewes and rams to Peru on the cargo ship Baarn, where their stocks were used for both meat and wool.

Characteristics

[edit]

The Texel breed is a white-faced breed with no wool on the head or legs. The breed is characterized by a distinctive short, wide face with a black nose and widely placed, short ears with a nearly horizontal carriage. They have black hooves. The wool is of medium grade (46-56 microns) with no black fibres. Mature animals shear fleece weights of 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) to 5.5 kg (12 lb).[3]

The most outstanding characteristic of the Texel is its remarkable muscle development and leanness. Texel-sired lambs show an advantage of one full leg score in breed comparisons and less total carcass fat—especially seam fat.[8]

A mutation in the 3' UTR of the myostatin gene in Texel sheep creates target sites for the microRNAs miR-1 and miR-206. This is likely to be the genetic cause of the muscular phenotype of this breed of sheep.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Breed data sheet: Texelaar / Netherlands (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Texel". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University, De. of Animal Science. Archived from the original on 24 December 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  4. ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  5. ^ Transboundary breed: Texel. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 2023.
  6. ^ "£231,000 sheep sets price record". BBC News. 28 August 2009.
  7. ^ "World's most expensive sheep sold for £368,000". BBC News. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Texel". Sheep Breeds - St-U. Sheep101.info. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  9. ^ Clop A, Marcq F, Takeda H, Pirottin D, Tordoir X, Bibé B, Bouix J, Caiment F, Elsen JM, Eychenne F, Larzul C, Laville E, Meish F, Milenkovic D, Tobin J, Charlier C, Georges M (2006). "A mutation creating a potential illegitimate microRNA target site in the myostatin gene affects muscularity in sheep". Nat Genet. 38 (7): 813–8. doi:10.1038/ng1810. PMID 16751773. S2CID 39767621.
[edit]
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