Blue Texel
The Blue Texel, , is a Dutch breed or strain of meat sheep. It is a colour variety of the Texel, which originates on the island of Texel in the Wadden Sea. A flock-book for blue sheep within the Texel breed was started in 1983, and a breed society was formed in that year. History 

The Texel originates on the island of Texel in the Wadden Sea. Blue-woolled lambs were sometimes born in Texel flocks, but little attention was paid to them until the 1970s, when deliberate breeding for blue colour began, and some blue flocks were established. A flock-book for blue sheep within the Texel breed was started in 1983, and a breed society was formed in that year. By 2008–2009 numbers had risen to about  head; in 2021 the total population was estimated at about , with  registered breeding ewes. Its conservation  status was listed by the FAO as 'not at risk' in 2007; in 2023 it was listed in DAD-IS as 'endangered/at risk'. Outside Holland, the Blue Texel is reported by Belgium and Germany; it has also been exported to the United Kingdom. Characteristics 
 Head should be narrow with a white halter mark
 Flat poll with no wool and head covered in fine hair with white tips on the ears
 Medium-sized sheep with a well-muscled body
 Fleece must be dense 
 They should stand square and balanced
 Ideal color is a darker head and shoulder, light blue color on the back, and dark again around their back end. Black fleece with little or no white markings is not acceptable

Use 
Blue Texels are typically used as a terminal sire in commercial flocks to add muscle and other meat characteristics to the lambs. Their fleeces are also becoming more popular due to their unique colour pattern. Blue Texels are a new breed in the show ring and often catch the eye of the judge. See also
 Beltex

References 

Sheep breeds
Sheep breeds originating in the Netherlands