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The Fimber Texel flock comprises around thirty Pedigree Ewes together with usually two Stock Rams. Progeny are reared to Shearling stage for sale in the Autumn, annually. The sheep are kept on rented permanent grasses at approximately 500 feet above sea-level on the Yorkshire Wolds. We can always be sure that sheep will 'grow on' when they leave this environment for kinder surroundings.
| The Texel flock has been kept by Jack, wife Ruth and son Mark since 1978. The flock began by acquiring two twelve month old lambs through an official Texel Society importation in 1978 with Pelzer and Canon blood-lines. First lambs were sired by John Earle's Annan High Hopes bred from Annan Double Diamond. These first two ewes, affectionately known as "Madame" and "Red 16" produced 9 and 20 lambs respectively over their life time and hence truly formed the basis of the Fimber flock. |
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Selection of rams has always been based on well-developed gigot and on length. In the early days the Texel was criticised by competitors as being too short. (Along with others selecting for length, we have put those days behind us.) While Annan High Hopes got us off to a good start with some excellent female progeny, other blood-lines have been influential. Arguably the purchase of Nethermuir Overseer (shared with Len and Sandra Pratt of Rillington, near Malton) proved an excellent choice. He left strong and well muscled lambs which made a great impact in the Shows and Sale-rings. bring i
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Fimber Snoopy, a son of Overseer, took a number of Championships but had to stand Reserve at the English National Sale where he 'topped' the market to go to Linda Brown of Aspatria. His progeny became sought after, particularly in the Carlisle area. He was also used in the Beautry flock where his ram-lambs sold to £7000 at the Lanark National sale. |
Another powerful son of Overseer was called Fimber Underline. He achieved Champion male at the English National Texel sale and was bought by Doug Jewitt of Hutton Buscel near Scarborough. He went on to make his mark in the Showring for a number of years but more importantly helped the Osbaldeston flock to include more scope and gigot.
We have bought in very few females. Rather we have sought improvement through the introduction of new Sires on a regular basis but always seeking high performance for growth rate, gigot, length and tighter skin.
Our production methods concentrate on the sale of shearlings. (The land we use for rearing is not usually sufficiently productive for getting ram lambs and ewe lambs ready for the autumn sales.) Both Pedigree and Commercial sheep are sold. Sales from home generally commence in August. While we have sold at both the English and Scottish National Sales as well as Carlisle, more recently we have concentrated on the Club sales at Skipton.
We have always engaged in performance-testing: at first using a computerised programme developed in-house, then with MLC/Signet which now compares performance of both male and female stock across the whole of the National Texel flock. With the concentration on growth rate and gigot conformation over all the years, not surprisingly we have many of our current generation of rams and gimmers in the top 1% of recorded Texels.
Visitors are welcome to view the stock by appointment-
Contact details
| Jack | Mark | |||
| Telephone 01377 236698 or 07721001962 | Telephone 07913486263 | |||
| Email jacklucas@fimber-texels.co.uk | Email mtl@inbox.com |
Click on 'How to find us' to see directions for travel.
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