Comparing ram lambs with those of other breeders is one way Southern Texel Breeders' Club breeders keep improving their sheep.
At the inaugural ram lamb presentation day, held in Gore recently, about 10 Texel breeders from throughout Southland brought some of their ram lambs along and talked to the group about their breeding.
Southern Texel Breeders' Club chairman Mark Shallard said it was a day to get the group of breeders together and compare how the ram lambs were doing and to promote the Texel breed.
''It's a really good turnout, 10 breeders showing their stock.''
As part of the day, the club ran a sire service auction, raising more than $1600 for the club.
''We have a silent auction to fundraise. It's a great way of sharing some genetics around the breeders,'' he said.
Breeders on show included Hugh and Kathie Gardyne's Esselmont Texels, Peter and Marion Black's Blackdale Stud, the Paterson family's Waikaka Genetics, Brent and Heather Busby's Cromarty Flock, Peter and Corina Morris' Koi Downs Texels, George and Kathryn Smith's Tamlet Texels, Hamish and Miriam McKay's Braemore Farms, the Tayles family's Malton Texels and Mr Shallard and wife Tania's Kaweku.
Club secretary Hayden Peter, of Greeline Stud, and PGG Wrightson livestock genetics representative Callum McDonald were also at the presentation day.
Breeders all spoke about their processes on farm, how the ram lambs were at birth and at weaning and the key aspects of what set them about from other ram lambs in their flocks.
They all were aiming to increase the genetics in their studs by breeding for certain traits, including growth, fertility, eye muscle and others.
At the presentation day a trophy was also awarded to Cromarty breeders Heather and Brent Busby, of Myross Bush.
They were presented with the Southern Texel Breeders' Club trophy for the exhibition with the highest combined points at the Gore A&P Show.
The group followed the presentations with a meeting and then a meal at the Gore RSA.
-By Nicole Sharp