About Dutch Texels. A short history...

The Dutch Texel evolved from a small animal locally described as the Pielsteert (pin-tail) on account of its thin short tail. A thrifty, but not prolific sheep, it nevertheless finished well once moved off the island onto the rich polder grazing on the mainland and was sought after as store lamb by professional finishers. During the 19th century Texel lamb was already being exported to England and popular at Smithfield Market for the tables of the High Society who preferred its leanness to the fat local mutton. However, competing against the plentiful supply of heavier and well established English sheep was tough. The Dutch traders whose income depended on the regular export of live sheep to London’s Dockyards suggested to the breeders in North Holland that they needed to improve the native Texels through the import of some of these English breeds.

In a bid to improve several traits at once, such as wool quality, prolificacy and carcass composition breeders started crossing their ewes with a variety of British rams, such as Leicester, Lincoln Longwool and Wensleydale. Although this brought more lambs and the much needed growth rate the crossings resulted in a mishmash of types and in 1909 the whole process of improvement was regulated by the formation in 1909 of a ‘Society for the Improvement of Texel Sheep’.

Although the Society continued to allow flocks of Lincoln and Wensleydale to take part in the programme, these breeds eventually disappeared and the importation of foreign rams ceased.

Under the guidance of Dr. Hagedoorn, animal geneticist, a strict breeding programme began using only progeny-tested rams. Rigorous selection fixed type and consistency. The basis of the original description of type, written in 1911 is still in use today.

By the 1970s Dutch Texels had evolved into a large, well muscled animal, which had uniquely retained the leanness from the early pin-tailed sheep. Export of slaughter lambs to France was booming and it was at the Rungis Market in Paris that visiting Scottish lamb exporters first set eyes on the superbly fleshed Texel lambs and recognized this breed was needed to improve the quality of slaughter lambs at home. The Dutch Texel, created by the infusion of British blood a century ago was on the verge of making history again.