Texel is supreme interbreed at Perth Royal

At last, recognition was finally paid to the Texel breed in the interbreed show ring with a historic supreme win during the meat sheep judging held last Thursday at the 2019 Perth Royal Show.

The five judges handed in their scores on which would decide the supreme exhibit — between a Brimfield Poll Dorset ram and an Alicia Texel ewe.

Three judges scored the ewe in front, setting up the first-ever Texel supreme interbreed victory in the history of the Perth Royal Show.

There was much talk of the possibility that it was the first interbreed supreme title any Texel had won throughout the entire Australian Royal Show circuit, but this could not be confirmed.

Alicia 316 was exhibited by Alan and Tricia Frankland, of Busselton, who have brought their heavy muscling Texels to the show since 2007.

“After the ewe was awarded the top gong in the earlier breed judging, the interbreed win was surreal, totally unexpected,” Mr Frankland said.

“A Texel winning the interbreed title would be a rare occurrence throughout Australia, but the breed’s success is prevalent in the UK.”

Judge Ashley Smith, of Cypress Park Texel stud, at Windermere, Victoria, said the ewe had all the meat attributes and was the type all breeders should be striving for, “structurally very sound”.

Speaking as the Australian Texel Stud Breeders’ Association president, Mr Smith said: “Texels, may be small in numbers, but they are finding their way”.

Earlier in judging of the grand champion interbreed ram, with 11 entries, Mr Smith said the Brimfield Poll Dorset was very balanced with a beautiful carcase, particularly the muscling in the hind quarter.

The ram, Brimfield entry 166, exhibited by Max Whyte and Gail Cremasco, of Kendenup, was earlier judged best Poll Dorset ram in its breed competition.

“I contribute our success to the stud objective of breeding above-average size into the sheep, which stacks on the meat,” Mr Whyte said.

“This has revenue earning significance with lamb contracts at $7.40/kg dressed, which is unheard of.”

Also revelling in supreme interbreed success, the Philipps family, of Karinya Suffolk stud, of Boyup Brook, were awarded their first top sash for their group of three rams.

In another first, during the British breed interbreed competition, a heritage breed Lincoln ram was judged supreme interbreed.

Ross and Ruth Miller, of Eaglenook Estate Lincoln stud, at Keysbrook, were beside themselves when their Lincoln ram and ewe entries were both awarded supreme British titles.

Judge Donald Cockrane said the Lincolns had great carcases, were excellent on their feet and had extra dual-purpose wool value.