The Rural Voice, 1991-11, Page 22NEW ROMANOV BREED HELPS
SHEPHERD EXPAND FLOCK
Despite what seems like over-
whelming odds against it, Tim Roberts
is determined to be self-employed, and
to earn a living from sheep in southern
Ontario.
"Lucky for me I'm stubborn," he
says. "The more people that tell him
it'll never work," says his wife, Chris,
"the more determined he becomes to
prove them wrong."
The Roberts bought their 90 -acre
farm in Elgin County in 1985, and
started with 140 breeding ewes and
seven rams, mostly Cheviots. Today
they have a herd of 730, including 230
ewes, of which 55 are Romanov ewes.
They are having good luck with this
breed and plan to increase the number
of Romanovs in the herd.
Romanov sheep, originally from
Russia, are relatively new to Canada.
In 1980 Agriculture Canada imported
16 ewes and seven rams, established a
herd, and had a dispersal sale in 1986.
Since then, Romanov popularity has
story and photos
by June Flath
grown at a remarkable rate. By 1989,
there were 271 Romanovs registered
in Ontario, the third largest group
following Suffolk and Dorset breeds.
Romanovs have a number of
genetic strengths. Ewes, for example,
have excellent mothering qualities and
are known for high milk yield. A
study in the United States, says Agri-
culture Canada, reported 130 -day pro-
duction of 39L. Some Romanov lines
also possess four functioning teats.
Both rams and ewes can be mated
early, rams as early as three to four
months, while some ewes have
lambed as early as eight months.
Separating litter -mates before 70 days
Tim Roberts of Elgin County is determined to make a full-time living as a shepherd,
and hopes that the Romanov breed will keep him in sheep production.
is recommended to prevent the risk of
ewes being mated by male siblings.
The Lethbridge test station left 20
lambs with male siblings up to 90
18 THE RURAL VOICE
days. Eleven lambed at eight months
producing 16 lambs.
Gestation ranges from 139 to 149
days, and ewes can be bred again 30 to