Texel Triumph at Fatstock Sales
Yet again the Texel cross has taken the Fatstock Show and Sales
by storm taking the Championship at Garvagh YFC Show and Sale in
Kilrea mart, the Show and Sale held in Lisahally Mart and Gleno Valley
YFC Show and sale in Ballymena.
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| Gilbert Crawford, Crawfords Supermarkets , Maghera,
with butcher Stephen Pepper and Richard Henderson, NI Texel Club
display the Champion Carcases from the recent Fatstock competition
in Kilrea Mart |
Elizabeth McAllister, Kells took the Overall Championship at Kilrea
having already secured the Texel Champion with her pair of Texel
cross lambs. These superof pair lambs were purchased by Crawford’s
Supermarket, Maghera selling for £165 each. Taking the Reserve Texel
Champion was a pair of lambs shown By Brian Jamison, Ballycastle.
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| Brendan and Seamus Gallagher, Gallagher's Butchers,
Castlefinn, Ballybofey and Strabane with John Young who exhibited
the Champion Lambs at Lisahally |
In Lisahally judge of the event Brendan Gallagher picked the Texel
cross for his champions also, with a pair of lambs from Pedigree
breeder John Young taking the top spot. These Texel cross lambs sold
to £168 each and killed out at 28 and 30 Kg hot weight. Second place
at Lisahally were a pair from renowned lamb producers Wm and Elizabeth
McAllister, Kells. This pair sold to £155 killing out at 28 & 26
Kgs, while the third placed lambs, also shown By John Young, Castlederg
sold to £100 killing out at 27 & 26 Kgs.
Brendan Gallagher who judged this fatstock show said it is a pity
that more farmers would not castrate these good quality ram lambs.
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| The Champion Carcases at Lisahally Fatstock
Show were all Texel Cross and purchased by Gallagher Butchers
Castlefinn, Ballybofey and Strabane |
Gallagher’s Butchers only source Texel Beltex cross Ewe and Wether
lambs for their shops from October on and are prepared to pay extra
for good quality lambs. Brendan said“it is a credit to these farmers
here to produce the high standard of lambs that are here tonight,
they are very very meaty and lean in the proper places and that is
what our customers want. Our customers know that we have quality
lamb and these farmers deserve to be paid for the quality of carcass
that they produce for the butcher.”
The Texel Society through its sponsorship programme have encouraged
participation at a range of Primestock shows this Winter, and chose
the GlenoValley event at Ballymena as their show case in Northern
Ireland. As a result sponsorship of this event was substantial and
all Texel lamb entry fees were refunded. This adds value to the event
from the vendor’s perspective and encourages breeders to compete
in the competition. However the McAllister a family have retained
their Supreme Championship title taking the honours for the fourth
year in a row with their pair of Texel Cross lambs, which sold to
Jackson Butchers, Ballynure for £260.
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John Jackson from Jackson's butchers Ballynure
with Geoffrey Fleck from the NI Texel club
Picture Kevin McAuley
Photography Multimedia |
The Texel and Texel cross has consistently featured at the top of
these fatstock show and sales. These are the show cases for the commercial
lamb and the Texel has continually proven to be the breed which efficiently
produces a high proportion of lean meat, improving margins for all
involved.
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