Romney Sheep

Size:

The body weight of Ewes Hoggets is about 45-65kgs and Rams Hoggets 60-85kgs and the colour must be white and clear of any dark spots or black fibre.

Category:

They are a Wool, Meat and breeding animal and the advantages are for production are that they are bred for the fore mentioned three requisites, the handling requirements are a good set of yards rather than just a netting pen, the temperament of them are good and their lambing percentage is 100-150%. Other characteristics of the breed is it carries the Inverdale gene.

The history of the breed:

Romney sheep were imported from Romney Marsh in England in the 1870's and the first registered Romney sheep were imported into New Zealand in 1880 and the New Zealand Romney Sheep Breeders' Association was founded in 1904. The breed is suitable for small blocks but like all animals they must be looked after properly, be it shorn twice a year, feet looked at, drenched and always checked that they do not have flystrike and that they are not being either overfed or -underfed.

Costs:

The cost in the market purely depends on supply and demand as is apparent in this year and the potential return depends again on the market.

Organisation:

The Organisation has its Office in Feilding and the membership of 400 members is found throughout New Zealand.