Romanov Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Romanov sheep breed are a hardy, tough breed that can withstand many harsh climates and environments whilst still producing good lambs, meat and wool.

The lambs mature pretty fast reaching a mature body weight at around 100 days of birth. They can breed throughout the year and have been known to have up to six lambs a birthing.

ROMANOV SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
A short-tailed breed that has a beautiful double coat of wool which shines almost silver grey.
Country of Origin:	Russia
Other Names:	None
Breed Size:	Medium to large
Main Purpose:	Meat and can be used for wool
Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat, Wool
Temperament:	Alert
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Common
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Intermediate to expert farming/keeping level
Sheep Associations:	North American Romanov Sheep Association
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to North American Romanov Sheep Association for more information
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Romanov sheep are a medium to large breed with a compact body that is not too long but in proportion with its long clean black legs. It has a clean black face and most of them have some form or white marking across their face. The lambs are born completely black, but their fleece soon turns a silver grey.

Color(s):

Black and grey

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	68 to 90 kgs	113 to 135 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear they are a medium to large sized breed	Unclear they are a medium sized breed
Hair:	Medium to long, double coated with coarse dark fibers	Medium to long, double coated with coarse dark fibers
Ears:	Medium, pointed, alert and turned downwards	Medium, pointed, alert and turned downwards
Horns:	Polled	Polled
Matures at age:	10 weeks/15 months	10 weeks to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 12 months	5 to 7 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	1 Breeding cycle per year	Cover 5 to 10 Ewes in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
The ewes can breed any time of the year and mostly produce enough milk to wean their lambs. They are very prolific, and some have dubbed them as the most fertile sheep in the world. They are really excellent mother not afraid to challenge any threats to their young and have a high lambing percentage with hardly any lambing problems
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/13 to 19 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 to 2 (twins) some more mature ewes have been known to have 3 to 4. They have been reported to have had up to 6 lambs at a birth.
Lactation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days
Milking From:	4 to 6 weeks after lambing
Milk Quality:	Good
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs
You may Also Like:	10 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk

SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The lambs have a very flavorful tastes are lean and succulent with a weight of 25 to 30 kgs in around 100 days of age. Even the mutton of the Romanov sheep has a tender and exquisite taste of excellent quality, grain and meat to bone ratio.

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality: Good quality tender meat of excellent flavor

SHEEP ⇒	LAMB	HOGGET/MUTTON
Approx. Maturity Weight:	58 kgs	79 Kgs

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Romanov sheep breed produce a wool of Coarse dark fibers.

Wool Production?

N/A, Quality: Coarse dark fibers. A mix of black guard hair and gray wool

Wool is used to Produce:

Rugs, wall hangings and mats

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	10 to 13 cm	10 to 13 cm
Microns:	Varying on the inner and outer coats. 20.9 to 71.9	Varying on the inner and outer coats. 20.9 to 71.9
Approx. Quantity:	From 2.2 to 3.6 kgs a year	From 2.2 to 3.6 kgs a year

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROMANOV SHEEP
A few more interesting facts to know about the breed
Child-Friendly?	No livestock should be left unattended around unsupervised children
Landscape Management?	They are good at landscape management
Where to buy them?	Please refer to North American Romanov Sheep Association breeders/members directories for more information

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Russian Romanov sheep breed are highly prolific and are known for having large litters of lambs. They mature sexually at really early age and have a breed record of 9 lambs in one litter.

HISTORY

The Romanov Sheep breed are believed to have originated from the Upper Volga region in Russia from a town called Romanov for which the sheep were named.

They sheep were imported to Germany after catching the attention of countries outside of Russia in the 18th century. Then from German and then to France

The Romanov sheep were first imported to Canada in 1980. There were 4 rams and 14 ewes that were quarantined in Canada for 5 years and tested before they were sent from Canada to the United States.