DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROMNELET SHEEP

Abstract

In 1935 the Canada Department of Agriculture undertook the development of a new breed of sheep at the Experimental Farm, Manyberries, Alberta. The foundation stock consisted of 15 Romney Marsh rams and 520 Rambouillet ewes, with introductions of 1 Targhee ram in 1942 and 6 Romeldale rams in 1944. Two of the Romeldale rams were used again in 1945. The flock has been closed to outside introductions since 1945 and the breed which resulted has been named "Romnelet".Following the first cross, the F1 animals were inter-mated and no back-crosses were made. A genealogical study up to, and including, 1955 showed the average annual size of the breeding flock to be 10 rams and 338 ewes and the average generation interval 3.5 years. On the average, there were 13 rams and 301 ewes selected per generation. The mean inbreeding coefficient of the 1955 lambs was 8 per cent.Romnelets are polled, open-faced, free from skin wrinkles, with white face and legs and a fleece of [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] staple wool. Means and standard deviations of performance traits in the new breed under range conditions are reported.