The Rural Voice, 1991-11, Page 2340 days after lambing, without the use
of drugs to bring on the estrous cycle.
While both rams and ewes will breed
out of season, fertility rate is 95 per
cent during fall and winter and only 50
per cent during the summer.
Large litter sizes are Romanovs'
strongest characteristic. Tim's yearly
average is 3.5
lambs per ewe, and
he has ewes in his
herd that have
produced 11, 12,
and 14 Iambs in a
20 month span.
He says he ex-
pects multiple
births. "Rarely is it
a single birth," with
a litter of five occuring every 20 or 25
litters, while one in six or eight will be
a litter of four. With mother and
babies penned together for 10 days,
"the babies," says Tim, "are well
mothered."
The Roberts have three lambings a
year: January, May, and September.
Although they don't buy feed,
occasionally they buy a protein
supplement. They rent 40 to 50 acres
every year and annually send hay,
haylage, and grain samples to OMAF
for analysis to ensure the sheep are fed
a balanced diet.
The Lethbridge Research Station
has made a study of the performance
of different Romanov crosses. Ac-
cording to sheep production scientist
L. A. McClelland, "purebred ewes
carrying
crossbred lambs
have higher
conception rates,
better embryo
survival, and
more vigorous
Iambs at birth
than those with
purebred lambs.
Romanov
crossbred Iambs are hardier than
purebred lambs and survival to
weaning is improved by up to 20 per
cent."
The advantage of crossbreeding is
at its best when the two breeds crossed
are very dissimilar. When breeds are
further apart genetically, they share
fewer common genes. This increases
the number of new combinations that
can occur in the progeny.
The Roberts cross Romanov ewes
"There is rarely a single
birth. He gets a litter of five
every 20 or 25 lambings,
while one in six or eight
will be a litter of four."
Originally from Russia, Romanovs were brought to this country in 1980.
to Dorset rams, which, like Romano
rams, will breed out of season. Thc'
are medium size, 80 to 100 kg, and
produce a fast growing meaty lamb.
A Dorset-Romanov cross improves
the quality of the Romanov carcass,
which tends to be heavy in the head
and shoulders, a weakness in this
breed.
Another Romanov weakness is the
poor quality wool. There is a fine,
white/grey under coat covered by a
black, coarse outer coat. There is a
market for the wool to a few
handspinners, but generally it is not
very popular.
The Roberts sell 40 per cent of
their meat privately to a market they
have developed in their own area.
There is also a growing demand for
breeding stock in the United States.
"Some years," Tim says, "30 to 40
per cent of the farm's income comes
from breeding stock."
Canadian Iamb is top quality, grade
A, says Tim, however there is no tradi-
tion of Iamb meat consumption in
Canada, and what does exist is season-
al. At the moment, he says, the market
is flooded by New Zealand meat.
Over the next two years, Tim plans
to increase the number of Romanov
ewes to the point that they are
breeding only to Romanovs. This in
effect means they will actually reduce
the breeding stock numbers, since
fewer ewes will be needed to product
the same number of Iambs.
He believes sheep farming can pay.
"Yes, for sure. Attention to detail and
a good marketing system" are what's
needed, he says.
More on Romanov sheep
For more information on Romanov
sheep, contact:
• Agriculture Canada, Research
Station, Lennoxville, Quebec, J1 M
1Z3.
• Agriculture Canada, Research
Station, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4B1.
• Bill McCutcheon, Sheep Specialist,
OMAF, R.R. 1, Fergus, Ontario, N1 M
2W3.
• Tim Roberts, R.R. 4, lona Station,
Ontario, NOL 1P0.
• Agriculture Canada Publication
1850/E.0
NOVEMBER 1991 19