Romney Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Romney Sheep breed is a large breed of sheep that is sturdy with a long well-developed body and has wool from head to hoof. Their wool is quite long and full giving them a soft teddy bear appearance. The wool covers its head but leaves it wide face clean which is covered by a fine white hair emphasizing their black noses.

ROMNEY SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
Sturdy, well built with a strong solid body that is covered with a soft springy coat of hair giving them a teddy bear appearance.
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Other Names:	Kent or Romney Marsh
Breed Size:	Large
Main Purpose:	Meat and wool
Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat, Wool
Temperament:	Calm
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?	Novice to intermediate level of sheep keeping
Sheep Associations:	Romney Sheep Breeders Association
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to Romney Sheep Breeders Association breeders/members directories 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 Romney Sheep breed have a long, muscled body with strong wool covered legs and a broad wool covered head. A smooth clean white face and alert pixie type ears..
Color(s):	White and various colors
SHEEP ⇒ EWE RAM Breed Weight: 68 to 90 kgs 102 to 124 kgs Breed Height: Unclear they are a large breed Unclear they are a large breed Hair: Heavy full coat Heavy full coat Ears: Small to medium, pointed, alert with a downward twist Small to medium, pointed, alert with a downward twist Horns: No horns No horns 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 breed once a year and mostly produce enough milk to wean their lambs. They are prolific, good milkers and great mothers with excellent instincts and a high fertility rate.
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 with mature ewes sometimes producing triplets
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
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SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION
They have a fine quality of meat even in the older sheep. Their meat is lean and is known for its superb tastes. Their lambs are large, lean convert feed very well and are relatively fast growing.
Meat Production:	Yes, Quality: Excellent
SHEEP ⇒ LAMB HOGGET/MUTTON Approx. Maturity Weight: 58 kgs 79 Kgs
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SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION
They Romney sheep are produces of a good quality wool of staple length. Their fleece is unique in that it hangs in separate locks and has minimal cross fibers them. Their wool is said to have the finest of fiber diameters than most other breeds of sheep. Their fleeces spinning count is consistent over their entire body. Some consider it to be one of the finest wools in Britain.
Wool Production?	N/A, Quality: Medium coarse and lustrous. Bradford count 44s to 52s
Wool is used to Produce:	Ideal for hand spinning, blankets, knitting and cloths and felts.
SHEEP ⇒ EWE RAM Age they Produce from: 6 to 8 months 6 to 8 months Approx. Length: 15 to 20 cm 15 to 20 cm Microns: 31 to 36 31 to 36 Approx. Quantity: From 4 to 5 kgs a year From 4 to 5 kgs a year
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GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROMNEY 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 American Romney Breeders Association breeders/members directories for more information
General Information:	The Romney have a unique fleece in that it is lustrous and hangs in separate locks with minimal cross fibers between the locks.

HISTORY

The Romney sheep breed which was once called Romney Marsh sheep has origins that can be traced back to more than 700 years ago. This makes the breed on to the oldest known sheep breeds that were possibly around in the 13th century where the 1346 plague (black death) had a major affect on the sheep farming industry in Romney.

The Romney sheep were first imported into America 1904 where they were imported by William Riddell and Sons. They were residents of Monmouth Oregon and the breeds popularity took off and grew rapidly through America.

The American Romney Sheep Breeders Association was started in 1912 founded by Joe Wing who was a great judge of sheep and a world traveler.

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