Templepark Texels ready to host Texel stockjudging event

The Templepark Flock owned by William and James Herdman, 86 Killysorrell Road, Ashfield, Dromore, Co Down is to host this year's Texel stockjudging and charity auction event at their family farm on Saturday, August 6, from 7pm.
Herdman family will be hosting the Texel Stockjudging and Charity Auction Event at their family farm on Saturday, August 6Herdman family will be hosting the Texel Stockjudging and Charity Auction Event at their family farm on Saturday, August 6
Herdman family will be hosting the Texel Stockjudging and Charity Auction Event at their family farm on Saturday, August 6

William and James Herdman farm approximately 120 commercial ewes, 60 pedigree Texel ewes and 120 beef cattle at Dromore, Co Down.

William commented that they had worked with commercial sheep for many years and have always used a Texel ram as their chosen terminal sire.

James remarked that they have “found that Texel cross lambs are quick to come round, get to their feet and suckle at birth.” James also finds that the “Texel cross lambs have superb carcasses and kill out well”.

The Herdman family consider performance and growth of lambs from grass with a high killing out percentage of lean meat as an essential quality to the commercial industry drawing them to the Texel ram as their chosen sire.

The Herdman’s preference for the Texel breed encouraged them to found their Templepark Texel Flock which was established in 2009 with a few foundation females purchased from the Forkins, Cherryvale, Ballynahone and Brague Flocks.

The family continue to buy a select number of top female lines every year to enhance their breeding potential within the flock, gradually increasing ewe numbers year on year. Pedigree sires are sourced mainly from National sales where the best quality stock for pedigree breeding is made available to choose from. William and James aim to purchase rams with eye appeal, good carcasses, skins, topline and legs as well as taking into consideration the rams back breeding history. They view this as important to ensure their breeding programme continues to produce prime Texel breed qualities as well as those appealing to the commercial farmer.

In recent years the Templepark Flock has enjoyed its fair share of success in the show ring. In 2010 they claimed first place at Newry Show and the reserve champion titles at Lurgan and Saintfield shows with a ewe lamb out of a Cherryvale dam and sired by Teiglium Pornstar. This lamb remained an important part of the Templepark show team in 2011, claiming reserve champion again at Newry Show as a Shearling Ewe.

In 2012 the Templepark Flock had a number of accolades, taking six first places; five second and third places with their show team at various shows across the province. Growing in strength in 2013 the Herdman’s show Flock enjoyed claiming show champion at Lurgan, Newry and Saintfield with another Ewe Lamb, a Haddo Ringleader daughter out of a Tullagh ewe. This ewe lamb went on to win the 2013 Volac Show ewe lamb title and later sold to Mullan Texels for £1800 with an ET sister retained as part of the Templepark Flock.

In 2014 success was achieved again for the Templepark Flock with an aged ewe at Newry Show. Purchased from the Cornerstone Flock this Mullan Photogenic daughter claimed Champion. Continuing to gain a reputation for success, the Templepark Flock had the priviledge of being awarded first place and reserve male champion with a shearling ram at Balmoral in 2015. This Duncryne Uber Cool son was purchased from Forkins as a lamb – Forkins Vespa, also went on to win his class at Newry, Saintfield and Lurgan Shows.

This year has been no exception to the Herdman’s success claiming three second place rosettes and a third place rosette at Newry Show although the highlight of the season so far for the Templepark Flock has been winning the ram lamb class and taking the reserve male champion rosette at Balmoral Show with a Clarks Wagner son, HKP1600943, out of a Drumgooland bred dam.

James feels that the work and effort required in preparing and taking the show team out is made worthwhile when the flock achieves success but more importantly in profiling the Texel breed as the breed of choice.

The Northern Ireland Texel Club would like to thank the Herdman family for hosting the stockjudging event and charity auction. The club extends its thanks to all the event sponsors for their generosity.

The club welcomes members, friends and commercial breeders alike to an evening packed with activities for young and old including the stockjudging event, a charity auction in aid of Newry Hospice, a barbecue, trade stands and a bouncy castle and games for the kids.

For further details contact the club secretary Martin Warnock on 07791 679 112.

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