Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Rideau Arcott
Like the Canadian Arcott, the Rideau was developed at the Agricultural Research
Centre of Ottawa. Its bloodlines included Finnsheep, Suffolk, Shropshire,
Dorset, and East Friesian, with just a sprinkling of Border Leicester, North
Country Cheviot, Romeldale, and Corriedale.
The breed matures early, and ewes are highly fertile, with twins and trip-
lets being the norm. In fact, quadruplets are more common than single lambs.
Ewes, which can breed as early as 7 months, wean more pounds of lamb
than any other breed analyzed in the Canadian Sheep Flock Improvement
Program. They are very hardy in cold regions. Although found primarily in
Canada, a few shepherds in the northern United States have started import-
ing the breed.
Romanov
Like the Finnsheep, Romanovs are a northern European “rat-tailed” breed.
These sheep fi rst arrived in North America in 1980 when Agriculture Canada
imported 14 ewes and four rams from France.
It appears that the Romanov's fertility, body size, growth, and carcass
characteristics are similar to those of the Finnsheep. The lambs are born
black, with a silky hair coat over their wool. As they mature, the hair is shed
and replaced by double-coated wool that is just gaining interest with hand-
spinners. The breed was traditionally raised for its fur (or pelts) in Russia.
One Romanov advantage is early sexual maturity, which occurs at 6 months
of age. Ewe lambs fi rst give birth when they are only 11 or 12 months old. They
also have the ability to breed out of season; in Canada, they produce lambs
every 8 months. Romanovs are still rare in North America, but I think their
unique qualities will induce more shepherds to raise them in the coming
years.
