| The most critically rare of all the rare breeds of sheep in the U.S. today according to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy |
| CVM/Romeldales |
The CVM sheep generally have a clean face,
although sometimes wool is found on the forehead. The
body is sturdy and well-boned, with a long, straight back.
Neck and shoulders should be largely free of skin folds.
Mature rams will weigh from 225-275 pounds while mature
ewes range from 140-175 pounds. Romeldales come in
two varieties: white and colored. White Romeldales
should have entirely white fleece, while they may exhibit
spots on their face, ears or legs. The natural colored
Romeldales come in a large variety of colors and color
patterns, including dark grey, black, moorit, white,
silver and spotted. Natural colored Romeldales can be
solid, reverse badger and can have spots which are
especially prevalent on their faces. Unlike many colored
sheep, the CVM's will not fade with age, but rather darken
from birth to their first year. The original CVM's had a
barred face badger pattern which can still be seen in the
sheep today. Strong twinning and easy easy lambing were
part of the original breed selection process. CVM ewes are
known to breed while still suckling with lambs at their
side if exposed to a ram. Ewes are protective, dedicated
mothers, prolific and long lived. Rams are aggressive and
virile breeders, able to cover more than the standard number
of ewes.
although sometimes wool is found on the forehead. The
body is sturdy and well-boned, with a long, straight back.
Neck and shoulders should be largely free of skin folds.
Mature rams will weigh from 225-275 pounds while mature
ewes range from 140-175 pounds. Romeldales come in
two varieties: white and colored. White Romeldales
should have entirely white fleece, while they may exhibit
spots on their face, ears or legs. The natural colored
Romeldales come in a large variety of colors and color
patterns, including dark grey, black, moorit, white,
silver and spotted. Natural colored Romeldales can be
solid, reverse badger and can have spots which are
especially prevalent on their faces. Unlike many colored
sheep, the CVM's will not fade with age, but rather darken
from birth to their first year. The original CVM's had a
barred face badger pattern which can still be seen in the
sheep today. Strong twinning and easy easy lambing were
part of the original breed selection process. CVM ewes are
known to breed while still suckling with lambs at their
side if exposed to a ram. Ewes are protective, dedicated
mothers, prolific and long lived. Rams are aggressive and
virile breeders, able to cover more than the standard number
of ewes.
The California Variegated Mutant, or CVM, is a mutation of the Romeldale
sheep, a dual purpose breed developed by A. T. Spencer in the early 1900's. Mr. Spencer
crossed New Zealand Romney rams with his Rambouillet ewes to increase the staple and
length of fleece and to improve the carcass quality . Through many years of selective breeding,
the American Romeldale breed was developed.
During the 1960's, Glen Eidman found a multi-colored ewe lamb in his purebred
Romeldale flock. Two years later, a ram lamb with the same coloration pattern was born.
When the ewe and ram were crossed, the resulting offspring also had this unique color
pattern. Through subsequent breeding and further mutations, the CVM breed was
developed over a 15 year period. During that time, Mr. Eidman did not sell any of the
CVM sheep so as to have complete control over the breeding. In 1982, the entire flock
was dispersed. There are fewer than 20 breeders in the country today............YellowCreek
Cottage is one of these few breeders.
sheep, a dual purpose breed developed by A. T. Spencer in the early 1900's. Mr. Spencer
crossed New Zealand Romney rams with his Rambouillet ewes to increase the staple and
length of fleece and to improve the carcass quality . Through many years of selective breeding,
the American Romeldale breed was developed.
During the 1960's, Glen Eidman found a multi-colored ewe lamb in his purebred
Romeldale flock. Two years later, a ram lamb with the same coloration pattern was born.
When the ewe and ram were crossed, the resulting offspring also had this unique color
pattern. Through subsequent breeding and further mutations, the CVM breed was
developed over a 15 year period. During that time, Mr. Eidman did not sell any of the
CVM sheep so as to have complete control over the breeding. In 1982, the entire flock
was dispersed. There are fewer than 20 breeders in the country today............YellowCreek
Cottage is one of these few breeders.
Annually, each sheep grows an average of 6 to 12 pounds of wool with an average yield
of 65 %. Fleece should be bright, dense and uniform from front to britch. Staple length
averages 3 to 6 inches with a Bradford count of 60 to 64. The wool is soft and can be
worn "next to the skin" with a well defined crimp from base to tip with no kemp present.
Truly it is the wool developed with the hand spinner and fiber artist in mind.....easy to spin...
wonderful to work with....an absolute delight. No wonder it is so sought after by the fiber
community.
of 65 %. Fleece should be bright, dense and uniform from front to britch. Staple length
averages 3 to 6 inches with a Bradford count of 60 to 64. The wool is soft and can be
worn "next to the skin" with a well defined crimp from base to tip with no kemp present.
Truly it is the wool developed with the hand spinner and fiber artist in mind.....easy to spin...
wonderful to work with....an absolute delight. No wonder it is so sought after by the fiber
community.
| YellowCreek Cottage |
| Our flock has OPP tested negative and foot rot free. We are currently members in good standing with ARCR/Linda Pfeiffer/registrar, ALBC (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy) along with the National CVM Conservancy, Inc. (www.nationalCVMconservancy.com) |
| Located in historic Bath, Ohio (330) 606-3588 |
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