Romanov sheep

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Romanov sheep

The Romanov sheep , also known as Romanov sheep , is a breed of domestic sheep from the group of Nordic short-tailed sheep , which also includes the Guteschaf , Gotland sheep (also called hornless Swedish fur sheep), Norwegian Spelsau, Dalasau and Steigar, Icelandic sheep and Shetland sheep .

origin

The Romanov sheep originally comes from the Volga valley near Moscow , from the area around the city of Romanova (today's Yaroslavl ), where it was bred from indigenous breeds towards the end of the 17th century. It was first mentioned in writing in 1802.

use

Romanov sheep used to be bred for fur. The warm fleece was and is valued in Russia - a coat made from it weighs no more than 2.5–3 kg and is still in good shape after ten years. Felt boots, socks and gloves are also made from the wool of the Romanov sheep. Both the black skins of the lambs and the white skins of the old sheep are used. Even today people try to achieve good skin quality, and in fact after tanning the hides are lighter and much softer than those of most other sheep. At the same time, Romanov sheep have a very good milk yield.

features

Romanov sheep are undemanding and insensitive to both weather and disease resistance. They endure cold and temperature fluctuations. In Russia, they can cope with winter temperatures of -25-30 degrees as well as with hot summers. The legs and the mostly hornless head are black, they have a white blaze on the forehead. Otherwise, Romanov sheep have blue-gray mixed wool made from black short and long white hair. The lambs are born black, the black fades to gray over time.

In the past, Romanov sheep were much smaller than they are today, roughly the size of the Skudden today . Today Romanov sheep in Germany and Eastern European countries are mostly medium-sized, in France and the Netherlands they are sometimes significantly larger and heavier; they are also often crossed with meat breeds there. So there are Romanov rams that weigh 65–70 kg and also those that weigh 80 kg; there are also ewes that weigh 45–50 kg and those that weigh 65 kg. The fleece of the rams weighs 3–4 kg, that of the sheep 2–3 kg, with the smaller animals a little less. Romanov sheep are very adaptable, so you will find slightly different sheep in different areas.

Reproduction

Romanov sheep have an aseasonal oestrus cycle and are highly fertile. Two lambings per year are possible; on average, a Romanov sheep gives birth to 5 to 6 lambs per year. Quadruplets, quintuplets and sextuplets are not uncommon. Despite multiple births, Romanov sheep generally lamb alone without any problems. The age of first parent is 15 months. The gestation period lasts 140–153 days (approx. 5 months). Romanov sheep live on average 14-15 years old.

attitude

Romanov sheep are relatively easy to handle; Aries too are meek. If you are already busy with the lambs, they become tame and trusting. If you don't do that, Romanov sheep are shy and will flee when you approach them. They whiz in all directions instead of staying together in the herd like other sheep.

Duration

The Romanov sheep are rare today and are classified as endangered by the FAO .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c James R. Gillespie, Frank Flanders: Modern Livestock & Poultry Production. Cengage Learning, 2009, ISBN 978-1428318083 , p. 503
  2. ↑ a b ROMANOV (Romanovskaya). In: NG Dmitriev (ed.): Animal genetic resources of the USSR. FAO, Rome 1989, ISBN 92-5-102582-7 . (on-line)
  3. ↑ Carol Ekarius, Deborah Robson: The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook. Storey Publishing, 2011, ISBN 978-1603427111 , p. 183.

Web links

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