Romanov sheep originated in the Volga Valley, northeast of
Moscow. The name Romanov comes from the royal family of Russia. These sheep
were first noticed in the 18th century, and were later imported into Germany
and then France. In 1980, the Canadian government brought in 14 Romanov ewes and
4 rams for testing and put them into quarantine for 5 years. After that, some
were brought to the United States.
Romanov ewes tend to lamb by the litter. Most other sheep
give birth to singles and twins, while the Romanov average about 2-5 lambs per
lambing. When the lambs are born they are pure black but when they get older
they turn gray. Romanov wool (a mixture of gray wool and black guard hair) is
used for rugs, mats, and wall hangings.