For centuries, people have raised sheep for their wool and meat. These animals are unpretentious to food and maintenance, grow and reproduce quickly. By selecting the best representatives of the herd, man developed new breeds of animals with improved characteristics. For example, Texel sheep not only produce a lot of meat, but also high-quality wool of an amazingly beautiful shade.
Breeding history
The Texel breed originates from the Roman Empire. The ancestors of the breed supplied meat and wool to Roman legionnaires. The first information about the modern breed dates back to the 19th century. Texel sheep got their name from the Dutch island of Texel, from where they came to Britain. Many years of breeding work by the British made it possible to obtain individuals with tender, lean meat and high-quality wool. Lincoln, Kent, Leicester, Wendsleydale, crossing these breeds with the Dutch founder made it possible to obtain modern Texels - large animals with beautiful fleeces.
Details about the breed
Texel sheep are large animals with thick wool. There are 3 types of breed:
- Dutch - the largest individuals;
- English - distinguished by greater grace, long legs, less body weight;
- French - fast growing lambs.
The animals are distinguished by their proportional build, their backs are straight, their legs are stable and strong. Rams are 80-85 centimeters tall, sheep - 70-75 centimeters. The weight of rams reaches 130-140 kilograms, sheep - 70-80 kilograms. Lambs are born weighing 5-8 kilograms.
Characteristics of Texel sheep:
- Head with short, widely spaced ears.
- The animals are polled; rams sometimes have the rudiments of horns.
- Short and thin tail.
- The forehead and head between the ears are free of hair.
- The coat can be white, white-blue, red-coffee with a golden tint.
- The head is white with a dark nose; there may be dark spots in the ears or eyes.
Sheep of this breed do not get bored when alone and have a calm disposition.
Pros and cons of Texel sheep
During the existence of the breed (about 200 years), its most valuable qualities have been developed, and its disadvantages have become less significant.
There are far more advantages than disadvantages, which is the reason for the popularity of the breed among livestock breeders.
Conditions of detention and care
Animals are kept on pasture in summer and kept in stalls in winter. When choosing a pasture, you need to make sure that it does not contain poisonous herbs (celandine, aconite, henbane). Walking areas are fenced. Fences are made strong and high enough to prevent animals from jumping over and breaking the fence. The reservoirs from which animals drink must be flowing. Animals should not be grazed on wet grass (dew, frost, after rain) - due to the peculiarities of digestion, intestinal bloating occurs.
In winter, it should be light in the sheepfold; the temperature for texels is maintained at +10 °C. The floors are covered with a thick layer of straw. Feeders are built for several sheep, at a height of 50 centimeters from the floor. Sheep drink a lot; there must be free access to water. Texels drink 8-10 liters per day. Containers with chalk and salt are placed next to the feeders. Each animal requires 2 square meters of space. Rams, pregnant ewes and lambs are kept separately from the main livestock.
Animals are shorn in the summer, at a temperature of +20-23 °C, the wool is cut off evenly, at the base. Scratches and accidental cuts are disinfected.
Diet
In the summer, sheep are grazed, eating green grass, obtaining all the necessary substances from it. In winter, animals are fed hay, steamed grain or porridge, and steamed corn and a mixture of vegetables are added. 3 feedings per day are required. Ewes are kept separately from the livestock, in a room with a temperature of +13-15 °C
Reproduction
Animals reach sexual maturity at 9-10 months. Rams and ewes are bred at the age of one and a half years. Mating occurs in September-January. Pregnancy in sheep lasts 5 months. There are 1-3 lambs in a litter, depending on the age of the ewe. A veterinarian must be present at the birth. Because Texel lambs have large heads, complications during birth often occur. The lambs immediately stand on their feet and within a day they are ready to follow their mother. Babies gain weight well, but after 3 months of age they begin to lose it.
Diseases, their prevention
Texel sheep are hardy and disease resistant. Keeping them in a warm sheepfold prevents the development of pneumonia. Proper nutrition will protect you from bloating. Animals must be dewormed 3 times a year. Sheep have their hooves treated and trimmed at least 2 times a year, before going out to pasture, at the end of the stall period, and then as needed.
If the sheep has lost its appetite, has become lethargic or, on the contrary, is too excited, jumping, its eyes are inflamed, wear and tear discharge has appeared, the temperature has risen, diarrhea has begun, it is necessary to separate it from the rest of the livestock and call a veterinarian.
To avoid brads, anthrax, brucellosis and many other dangerous diseases, the livestock is vaccinated. The list and order of vaccine administration, as well as vaccination records of the livestock, are stored in the district veterinary service.
Breeding prospects
The high quality of meat and wool, the impressive size of sheep and rams, their endurance and calm disposition allow us to talk about the prospects of the breed in Russia. So far, purebred Texel sheep are almost never found on our farmsteads. For breeding, it is better to bring them from Europe. Importing animals with all the necessary documents is not a cheap pleasure.
Approximate cost and where to buy
Texel sheep can be imported into Russia from Europe or bought at various agricultural fairs. Texels are bred by the Alexandrovsky breeding plant (in the Voronezh region), and the Pushkinsky Meat Farm (in the Moscow region). Information about breeders can be found on the official websites of breeding farms or on social networks. The cost of lambs and rams is from 20,000 rubles. Lambs can be found cheaper.
There are more and more farms in Russia, livestock breeding is developing, and highly productive breeds are appearing. The Texel breed has not lost its perspective over the many years of its existence, which is why farmers involved in sheep breeding bring it today, and the number of livestock continues to grow, which means that the price per head is reduced, and it becomes possible to purchase good animals for your own farmstead not too expensive.
