Sheep : ROMNEY

Origin: Romney Marsh, Counties of Sussex and Kent, England

Australian Status:

International Status:

Arrived in Australia: 1839

Australian Population: Ewes: 887     Rams: 57 (2018)

Distribution:

History: The Romney or Romney Marsh, as it was originally known, is one of the oldest sheep breeds, with its origins traced back to the 13th Century and possibly earlier. They are a hardy adaptable breed, indigenous to the Romney Marsh and lowlands of the south east coast counties of Kent and Sussex. These geographic and climatic conditions led to the development of specific traits, including black hooves that are resistant to foot rot, resistance to internal parasites, excellent fertility and milking/mothering abilities, fleeces that withstand high rainfall and a constitution that tolerates harsh, wet conditions.

The sheep were developed from the native European white-faced, long-tailed sheep and by 1800 they were recognised as Romney Marsh or Kent. They were improved in both body type and fleece quality with an infusion of Bakewell's English Leicester.

The first confirmed introduction of Romneys into Australia was by William Deane in 1839, who brought eight with him, "for the express purpose of planting a Merino fleece on a Long woolled Kent sheep." In 1863 William Lyall also brought some back from England to his Westernport property, "Harewood", where they thrived like no other sheep could in the low-lying country bordering Westernport Bay. By 1907 the Sydney based Australian Long wool Flock Book recorded details of seventeen flocks from all mainland states. Two flocks, those of the Yelland family of Newlyn, Victoria and Captain A.E.T Payne of Lilydale, both founded in 1906 were to have a significant and lasting effect on Australia's Romneys for the next fifty years. Captain Payne adhered to English bloodlines whereas the Yellands carefully selected from New Zealand studs, but both influenced flocks into the 1950's, 60's and 70's. There were 100 flocks registered in 1935 and by 1948 there were 520 Romney flocks registered. Sadly the breed declined and it is hard to understand why, for a breed that is a large framed meaty sheep, well covered with a strongish dense semi-lustrous fleece, with good mothering abilities and a constitution that tolerates harsh, wet conditions. Maybe it was the depressed wool prices of the late 20th century, or maybe it was the string of droughts that nullified their ability to tolerate harsh wet conditions. Today there are only nineteen flocks registered.

Romney provided the foundation for the English woollen industry, which was the most important export commodity of the Middle Ages. Their long, dense fleece was highly prized leading to widespread wool smuggling from the 14th to the early 19th centuries. The export of Romneys enabled them to become the world's second most economically important sheep breed. 

Breed traits: Romneys produce a heavy fleece with rams able to cut up to 10kg per fleece and ewes above 5kg. The fleece can be white or coloured and is prized by hand spinners. Depending on the strains of Romney, the micron can range between 30 and 40micron. The fleece should be dense with free opening well-defined staples that are full and oval shaped. It is semi-lustrous and soft, with good bulk and handle. Quality should be maintained from the shoulder to the back of the flank.

Uses: Meat, Wool

Breed Organisation: Australian Romney Association Inc.  http://www.australianromneyassociation.com/index.html

Additional Notes:

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