• Dual-purpose
• Ewes are prolific, protective, dedicated mothers
• Easy lambers
• Largely free of skin folds
• Long, straight backs
• Long-lived, gentle
• Fleeces are non-fading
• Reg. CVM Romeldale Sheep
• Perfect for small farms
• Fleeces are a favorite among hand spinners
• Wool is next-to-skin soft
• ARCA/ALBC members

CVM ROMELDALE SHEEP

Romeldale Sheep are the most critically rare of all the rare breeds of sheep in the U.S. today accoring to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. 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.

Romeldale/CVM sheep are perhaps the best choice for small farms because they have wonderful wool, produce a good carcass, and thrive in even the most extreme weather. This breed does not require a lot of heavy maintance, and they were bred to be resistant to many of the problems that plague other breeds.