A native of the Volga River Valley northwest of Moscow, the Romanov is a fine-boned, medium-sized sheep known for its remarkable prolificacy. The breed record is nine live, healthy lambs from a single ewe. First exported to France in the 1970’s and, from there, to Canada in 1980 as part of a research program in Lennoxville, Quebec, the Romanov was released to Canadian farms in 1986. The Romanov is hardy, grows well to 30 kg and produces a lean carcass. Because of its fertility, Romanov genetics are finding a place in many intensive commercial operations. Purebred producers cross Dorset rams with Romanov ewes and sell the resulting ewe lambs to commercial producers who use them in accelerated lambing programs. 


Photos courtesy of Half Diamond Farm