BREED STANDARD

Blue Texel sheep are one of the most recent breeds to be imported into the UK. The breed is quickly gaining popularity with commercial sheep farmers as terminal sires for prime lamb production.

The below breed characteristics are to be used as a guideline to the breeders preference.

BLUES TEXELS ARE:

  • Ideal terminal sire.
  • Over 90% of lambs born will be white.
  • Easy lambing.
  • Vigorous lambs.
  • Lambs finish well off grass, therefore minimising feed costs.
  • Quality carcasses with a high killing out percentage achieving premium grades.
  • Suit low input and organic systems.
  • Rams are good workers and easily kept.
  • Will compete with many counterparts for profitability.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS:

HEAD AND NECK

  • A narrow head is characteristic of the breed’s easy lambing qualities. 
  • A white halter mark, ideally the width of a webbing halter but may be broader. The halter mark may be a strong white but can also be fainter but must be visible.
  • The poll is flat with no wool. 
  • Head is covered with fine hair, part of the breed’s hair hardiness, with white tips to the ears.
  • Broad Mouth, with visible white markings below the mouth, like small incisor teeth. 
  • Ears well set, ideally at ten to two. ​

BODY

  • The Blue Texel is a medium sized sheep well-muscled from shoulder to tail with a level top line. 
  • Fleece should be dense, with no kemp, tightly stapled and lustrous.

LEGS

  • The sheep should stand square and balanced. One of the main characteristics of the breed is that the sheep are fairly light of bone.
  • Wooled to the middle of the forearm and to the middle of the shank behind, the lower legs are covered in fine dark hair with white hairs appearing at the top of the front legs.
  • Feet should be strong and black pointing forward.

COLOUR PATTERN

  • The ideal colour of a Blue Texel is one that varies from a darker head and shoulder, through a lighter bluey colour over the back, with dark fleece again appearing around the back end. Untrimmed, the fleece can take on a brownish tinge.
  • White markings on the face in a halter mark, white markings on the upper legs.
  • White edge to the ears  and white fang marks on the lower lip.
  • At the base of the staple the colour should ideally resemble steel blue.
  • Excessive white towards the poll is to be discouraged.

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Pedigree Livestock Services, Holme House, Dale, Ainstable, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 9RH

Tel: 01768 870523 Email: office@bluetexelsheep.co.uk

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