Romanov

Known since the 18th century, the breed was developed along the Volga in Russia and takes its name from the upper-Volga town of Romanov (today Tutayev). Its high-quality sheepskin was used for fur coats and its wool for felt boots (‘valenki’).

Its prolificacy is exceptional at 1.8–2.6: twins and triplets are routine, quadruplets common, and ewes can lamb twice a year. The high prolificacy calls for a special lambing management. The breeding goal is to maintain and improve good maternal traits, high prolificacy and lamb-rearing ability.

A fine-boned yet strong, sound sheep with a broad, clean head, a Roman nose and large, lively eyes. A mixed coat covers the body: glossy black guard hairs and silvery-white down fibres about twice as long; rams may carry a black mane. Lambs are born black with white marks on the head and tail tip.