The Development of Grey Peel Texels
The Grey Peel flock was founded in 2001 following the loss, due to foot and mouth in Cumbria, of the Marton House flock, which was just at the start of a major development programme to produce high conformation, high quality and performance animals. Performance recording was originally started with the Marton House flock in 1998 with in-flock recording and followed in 1999 with across flock recording as part of Elite Texel Sires (ETS).
The Grey Peel Flock is among the highest recorded flocks within the Texel breed. Most of the females are in the top 5% or 10% of the Texel Flock with quite a few over 300 of an Index and a number being in the top 1% of the Texel Flock. This was topped by Cambwell LTC07536 at 392 prior to her sale for 4,400 gns, being the third highest adult female in the Texel flock with a very high accuracy for a ewe of 84%. The mating selection is generally made on the basis of the Fat Level EBV to lower the positive or negative fat level of the offspring. In addition Muscle Depth and Scan weight are also considered extremely important
A high conformation, quality, and performance programme has been the basis for the creation of Grey Peel Texels. To achieve this initially 4 quality stock ewes were purchased from the noted Ettrick, Grougfoot and East Middle Flocks and embryos were also taken from two ewes of the Stonefieldhill Flock to ensure that GREY PEEL TEXELS is MV & EAE accredited. Further purchases from other noted flock and flushing programmes using the better females increased the number of higher quality lambs. The flock is Maedi-Visna & EAE accredited and on the Heptavac P Plus system with all adults in addition receiving 1 or 2 Ovivac P boosters each year.
A dispersal sale of the adult ewes was held in January 2011 due to a hip operation going wrong by catching the MRSA bug with the remaining to be sold in lamb autumn 2011. Following the 6th. hip operation end May 2011 it was, however, decided in June to continue the flock using the best 2010 born gimmer lambs. The aim is now with daughters of Knock Papoose, Cambwell Osprey, Cowal Paco, Drinkstone Oh So Smart, son of East Middle Le Coq D’Or and the ewe Cambwell LTC07536 daughters is to accelerate the performance recording of the offspring but definitely not forgetting the show ring quality that at Grey Peel Texels is considered essential.
With this aim in mind the principal tups used for 2012 lambing are Knock Stonker HAK1100256, Knock Papoose HAK091075, and Grey Peel Rambo HMF1000004. Each have proven or potential show ring capability and with the mix of the daughters of Papoose, Osprey, Paco and Oh So Smart, and the ewe LTC07536 daughters we are looking forward in great anticipation to the 2012 lambs.
Knock Papoose
Grey Peel Rambo
Knock Stonker
Cambwell LTC07536
Ettrick GGH08103
Grey Peel HMF09294
Grey Peel HMF09271
Grey Peel HMF09243