Romeldale CVM Sheep
Sheep were added to Bluebird Hills Farm in 2016. The first sheep were 4 Cormos and just a few months later, we acquired several bred Romeldale CVM ewes. Soon we had new lambs frolicking in the pasture. Fleece is harvested once a year from both the sheep and the alpacas. We then blend the sheep fiber with alpaca to create unique yarns and felted objects.
Romeldale sheep are a breed that was first developed in California in the early 1900’s by breeding Romney rams to Rambouillet ewes. They are a fine wooled, white sheep bred for both wool and meat. J.K. Sexton and his family are responsible for advancing the breed in the 1940s and 50s, attempting to increase fleece weight and fineness as well as twinning and strong maternal traits.
In the 1960s, Colored Variegated Mutants (CVM) began to appear in the white Romeldale herds. A partner of the Sextons, Glen Eidman, took these colored sheep and proceeded to linebreed them to encourage production of colored fleeces. He still tried to ensure the traits of easy birthing, good mothering, fine fleeces, and twinning.
Today Romeldale CVM sheep are considered a threatened breed by the Livestock Conservancy. Their colored, fine fleeces are favored by hand-spinners, making them a great addition to the fiber herd. Easy lambing makes them a great addition to the family farm that is new to raising sheep. Their smaller size (160 to 275 pounds) and calmer nature makes them easier to handle than some other breeds.
