Annalong Texel breeder Sam Gordon and his son Alistair – owners of the Lindstair flock – are looking forward to December of this year when they will be taking a group of their top pedigree hoggets to Scotland for an elite breed sale in Lanark
“This is a great honour for us, as we have been invited to participate as guests by the other seven flockowners, who traditionally host the event,” Sam explained.
“Our plan is to take ten of our top gimmers which, by that stage, will be in lamb to our new stock ram Cowal Viceroy. We are part of the syndicate that recently purchased the tip in Scotland. He has an exceptional pedigree with the result that both Alistair and I are confident of making a good showing at the Lanark event, which is a dedicated sale of in-lamb gimmers.”
Earlier this week Provita’s Tommy Armstrong called in with the Gordon family to assess the quality of the hoggets now being prepared for the Lanark sale.
“They are all tremendous examples of the Texel breed,” he said.
“Even more impressive is the fact that, since weaning, their diet has comprised grazed grass only, which is supplemented with ProVitaMin Sheep drench, when required.
Sam Gordon confirmed that the hoggets had recently received their pre-tupping ProVitaMin boost and will go to the ram mid September.
“We have also used the drench extensively on those ewes that we have used for flushing” he added.
“And the results achieved by taking this approach have been very significant. We have doubled the number of eggs produced per ewe since we started drenching with ProVitaMin Sheep drench.”
ProVitaMin comprises a range of chelated minerals, vitamins and trace elements in an ultra-concentrated liquid drench form. It is available for sheep, with or without Copper. Both products ensure maximum mineral, trace element and vitamin bioavailability for fertility in ewes and thrive in lambs.
The product contains 24 different elements at a high level to help correct deficiencies, improve fertility and improve performance. The high level of B vitamins will help stimulate appetite and the chelated metals allow for a slow release benefit.
The range is completed by ProVitaMin – ColSelB12, containing Cobalt, Selenium and Vitamin B12 together with high levels of vitamins A, D and E.