Guide to Sheep Breeds

(Page 9 of 11)

September/October 2008
Janet Wallace 
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North American Romanov Sheep Association
P.O. Box 1126
5990 Beecher Road
Pataskala, OH 43062-1126
740-927-3098

RELATED CONTENT

Romney 

Size: large
Appearance: long locks, wool on face and legs; range of colors
Fleece: fine, lustrous, long locks, high yields; sometimes shorn twice a year
Breeding: seasonal
Lambing rate: can approach 200 percent
Behavior: quiet temperament; little herding instinct but easily managed
Use: meat; fleece
Origin: marshy areas of England
Environment: best adapted to cool, humid environments; resistant to internal parasites and hoof rot
ALBC rating: not listed

Romney is an excellent dual-purpose breed. The white and colored fleece is highly valued by handspinners. The lambs grow more slowly than some other breeds, but produce a heavy carcass with delicately-flavored lean meat.

American Romney Breeders Association
744 Riverbanks Road
Grants Pass, OR 97527
secretary@AmericanRomney.org
 

St. Croix 

Size: small to medium
Appearance: most are white with colored spots; rams have a mane
Fleece: hair, sometimes mixed with wool and hair
Breeding: year round and can sometimes breed twice a year
Lambing rate: 150-200 percent
Behavior: excellent foragers, docile, alert but easily managed; good flocking instinct
Use: meat, milk
Origin: Caribbean, possibly originally from West Africa
Environment: adapted to a range of climates, including high heat and humidity; in cold climates, they produce a heavy coat that sheds in the spring
ALBC rating: threatened

St. Croix, also known as the Virgin Island White sheep, are used for meat production and sometimes in dairies. They have exceptional resistance to parasites, early maturity and easy lambing.

St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders of North America
P.O. Box 1439
Goldendale, WA 98620-1439
admin@StCroixHairSheepBreeders.org 

Shetland 

Size: small
Appearance: multicolored; short tails
Horns: rams usually have spiral horns; ewes are polled
Fleece: fine fleece with short staple; a range of colors
Breeding:
Lambing rate:
Behavior: alert, even wild; strong maternal instinct
Use: fleece, meat
Origin: England
Environment: can thrive under harsh conditions
ALBC rating: recovering

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