A Brief History

The Te Rakau Texel Stud was established in 1994 with 5 embryos from the Australian Texel Corporation.

Since then, Te Rakau has broadened the genetic base of their flock with the purchase of frozen embryos and semen at the Australian Texel Corporation closing sale, and with extensive use of embryo transfer and artificial insemination.

All of the genes used by the Australian Texel Corporation originated from Denmark and Finland via New Zealand. The sheep evolving from this gene pool are developing into heavily muscled, free moving animals well suited to the Australian environment.

Stud Breeding Principles

The main strengths of the Texel breed are carcass meat yield and conformation.
Signals feeding back from the marketplace indicate an increasing emphasis on the importance of these traits in creating maximum return for producers.

Results for Te Rakau Texels in carcass competitions over the recent few years have shown their rams capable of producing lambs with these important traits. In 2000, Te Rakau lambs produced the highest yielding entry in the Wagin Woolorama Prime Lamb competition - averaging 44.3kg liveweight, resulting in 24.3kg carcass - a yield of 54.7%.

These lambs were drawn from Te Rakau's commercial prime lamb flock of first and second cross lambs, the remainder of which were processed commercially to produce similar results. These carcasses are attractive to producers for a number of reasons :

1) Higher yields result in increased saleable meat.

2) Increased muscle to bone ratio produces better muscle conformation.

3) Better muscle conformation allows the processor more flexibility in their cuts.

The same bloodlines used by Te Rakau to sire the carcass competition winners predominate throughout their stud flock. The new bloodlines introduced to the Te Rakau stud several years ago are now showing great influence on the depth of breeding within the flock.

Rob and Maria Wood of Te Rakau have purchased 3 rams and 2 ewes sent to Australia as embryos by Innovis Genetics of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2004. The genetics have integrated exceptionally well with the Australian bred Texels. The next generations of Australian bred rams of this breeding are now being offered for sale. The rams are well balanced, well covered and carry the exceptional hindquarter of their UK breeding. The UK genetics present a rare opportunity to complement the traits developed by Australian breeders.

Since their introduction to Te Rakau the UK rams have sired:

• 2010 ASBA Sheep and Wool Show Bendigo Supreme Texel Exhibit with the Champion Ram selected from Lamb classes.
• 2009 and 2010 ASBA Sheep and Wool Show Bendigo Reserve Champion Ewe from Lamb classes.
• 2009 ASBA Sheep and Wool Show Bendigo 4th All Breeds Interbreed Group of Ram and 2 Ewes.
• 2009 and 2010 Perth Royal Show Supreme Texel Exhibit with Champion Ewes from under 1½ year class.
• 2009 Wagin Woolorama Champion Texel Ewe from Lamb class.
• 2010 Wagin Woolorama Champion Texel Ram and Reserve Champion Ewe from Lamb classes.
• 2010 Perth Royal Show Prime Lamb Competition Champion Carcase sired by commercial ram of UK breeding.
• 2010 Moora Stud Sheep Breeders Association sale. Highest price ram and highest sale average.