Paul’s Auntie (Ginny), one of our most important employees at lambing time, begins to prepare her lambing fields, constructing tri-corner pens which are used to house sheep and lambs that have been born later in the day. Romney sheep is a dual-purpose animal. The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed.. Spring has sprung at Romney Marsh Wools, and lambing season is well underway. At lambing time, we bring them into one big field (known as the lambing field) in stages. Expert advice on interior design: why choose British wool? Both our children are so fortunate to grow up on a farm and they love going out with family members to help. Kristina and her family keep over 1,000 Romney ewes, a breed native to the Romney Marsh and dating back to the 13 th Century, along with a small flock of Saxoni Merino sheep. The Romney is truly a versatile breed, as demonstrated by its ability to produce quality meat and wool under diverse climate conditions and management systems. Wool & synthetics – what’s the difference? www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/facts/12-021.htm EID is used as a tool to assess individual merit within the stud flock and as a substitute for the manual tag reading of the commercials. We also build temporary covered shelters in case of bad weather, and a special house for any orphaned lambs. Nowadays they are taxied back in a livestock trailer! High ewe live weight and live weight gain during mating causes high OR - for each extra kg of ewe weight there will be 1-2% higher lambing percentage. These same characteristics, plus the handspinning qualities of the fleece, also make the breed attractive to the small, or spinners flock. Increases in lambing percentage above 170% are mainly due to more triplets and less singles. Numerous flocks boast a lambing rate approaching 200%; other breeders, preferring a range-style operation, may not be as concerned with prolificacy. We hope we can foster on some of the orphaned lambs to other sheep but there are always a few that become our pets. 145 Day Sheep Gestation Table and Lambing Calculator, Information by Treasure Valley Sheep Producers The range of acceptable spinning counts allows breeders to select for coarser or finer fleeces, or they may choose to increase overall fleece weights regardless of spinning count. Kristina and her family keep over 1,000 Romney ewes, a breed native to the Romney Marsh and dating back to the 13th Century, along with a small flock of Saxoni Merino sheep. These traditional three gate pens are covered with old feed bags which cut the wind and give protection to the baby lamb. Early in January our ewes are all scanned to check and sort those carrying singles from twins, which means we can give them all the right amount of food they need. This breed’s quiet disposition, unique fleece characteristics, the flavor and quality of its meat and its lambing percentage make it an excellent choice for purebred, commercial, or crossbred programs. Why wool is the best choice for the environment, Meet Richard - the face of the British Wool story, British wool - the science behind our amazing fibre. Registration Form (with editable fields) Average live body weight of the mature Romney rams is about 110 kg. This year we have Dopey, Spotty, Jesus and Jumpy and last year we had Hungry who was a tiny little lamb but a real fighter who loves food! Other traits making the Romney a top mother breed are a calm, gentle disposition, prolificacy, milk production, ease of lambing, vigorous lambs, and natural mothering instinct. ARBA Checklists, Contact | Site MapCopyright © 2020 American Romney Breeders Association -- info@americanromney.orgSite Design and Hosting by MNWS. The ram and wether lambs grow well from heavy-milking ewes, where weights of 40 to 70 pounds at 60 days of age are common. The main shepherds are my husband Paul and Auntie Ginny. 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American Romney ewe fertility is repeatedly confirmed by high lambing percentages under varied feed and geographical conditions. As the farming wives, Paul’s mother and I assist wherever possible - our kitchens often become the hospitals for any poorly lambs that need extra care and attention. Do your ewes need anything specific to prepare for lambing? 185% lambing percentage; Cost a ewe at lambing about £6 ... low-labour system that would enable me to continue with my other sheep business. We keep traditional pure Romney Sheep which are happier lambing outside. Ewe lambs begin to cycle at 8 to 10 months of age, and mature ewes typically breed from September through January. Uses. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. Our sheep lamb throughout March and April and when they have lambed they are returned to their original fields within two or three days if the mum and lamb are doing well. We caught up with Kristina Boulden, who runs the company in partnership with her husband Paul, to find out more. We’re expecting 1,300 lambs this year so it will be a busy few months! This also helps the lamb to find the udder for that all important first feed. “The Romney gives the base to the female line and the Texel which gives us the conformation in our prime lambs and increases the lambing percentage of the flock. This has enabled the Romney to be adapted to the damp, rainy regions of both coasts, or to the near desert conditions of eastern Washington and Oregon. Adam Curtis Online – why British wool is so versatile, Meet Scottish Regional Coordinator, Julie Brown, Night sweats? Rams begin to reach sexual maturity at six to seven months of age, and grow into medium-to-large sheep, weighing 175 to 275 pounds as yearlings. The Romney is a hardy ewe and has been bred to withstand the local environment. Romney Sheep are very easy sheep to look after and they’re excellent mothers with fantastic natural maternal instincts. My children Oliver and Sophia both help on the farm at the weekends and during the week before and after school, bottle feeding any lambs where the mother does not have enough milk. We always choose the fields closest to home so we can keep a close eye on them. The offspring of Romney rams are suited to the dual purposes of lamb and wool production. They tend to lamb easily, and their higher quality, heavier fleeces are a bonus. Rams are long lived and may still be productive as they near their second decade. Kristina and Paul live on the family farm, which was established in 1882 and includes over 1,300 hectares of land across the Romney Marsh in Kent. Kristina and Paul live on the family farm, which was established in 1882 and includes over 1,300 hectares of land across the Romney Marsh in Kent. Thinking about home renovation this Spring? 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