Key information

The British Texel Sheep Society (BTSS), a charitable organization, serves over 2300 breeders by providing genetic improvement services to enhance the Texel breed in the UK. Known for its commercial benefits such as increased lean meat yield and fast-growing lambs, the Texel breed dominates the British sheep industry with a 27% share of the ram market. 

AbacusBio has been partnering with BTSS for over ten years. Specializing in genetic improvement, breeding program design, and agricultural technology assessment, AbacusBio has been instrumental in advancing key innovations and strategies alongside BTSS. This collaboration has included genetic improvement impact assessment, strategic reviews, and selection index development, strengthening the Texel breed and enhancing BTSS service delivery. 

In 2015, AbacusBio modelled the economic benefits of British Texel Sheep genetics. The economic modelling calculated both historic and future financial impacts of genetic improvements. At the same time, a breeder surveys conducted by AbacusBio, gathered insights on the breed’s current and future use, identifying a need for enhanced genetic improvement in a broader suite of traits and education on performance recording, EBVs, and selection indexes.

In 2018, a comprehensive review of BTSS’s genetic improvement program highlighted the importance of fast-tracking new traits developed through R&D.

Recent efforts focused on the integration of genomic selection and the development of economic selection indexes for BTSS members. Updated economic benefits, along with environmental benefits, were modelled. Historic benefits from 2003 to 2022 were estimated with an annual Net Present Value (NPV) of £3.9M. Future benefits were estimated with an annual NPV of £23.5M NPV, driven by improved rates of genetic gain. Environmental benefits amount to a decrease in kg CO2e/ kg CW of 0.06%/ year, demonstrating the Texel breed’s contribution to sheep industry sustainability.

The BTSS is now focused on exploiting recent research to deliver financial, animal health, welfare, and environmental benefits to the UK sheep industry. These efforts are assessed on strategic objectives aimed at industry leadership, value creation, and broad impact. Coordinating their 2300-strong membership, BTSS aims to influence the wider sheep industry, accelerate genetic gain in Texel sheep, and deliver high-quality services to breeders.

Key Outcomes

• Economic Impact: Historic benefits estimated at £.3.9M NPV annually; future benefits estimated at £23.5M NPV annually. Reductions in kg CO2e/kg CW of 0.06% per year.  
• Enhanced Selection Tools: Focus on selection for profit traits and education on performance recording and selection indexes. 
• Research Utilization: Fast-tracking new traits and genomic technologies to improve Texel sheep. 
• Strategic Objectives: Industry leadership, value creation, and broad impact through genetic improvement. 
• Influence and Coordination: Leveraging a large membership base to influence the wider sheep industry and accelerate genetic gain.