CVM/Romeldale sheep
generally have a clean face, although sometimes wool is found on the forehead. The body is sturdy and well-boned, with
a long, straight back. Neck and shoulders should be largely free of skin folds.
Mature
rams will weigh from 225-275 pounds while mature ewes range from 140-175 pounds.
Romeldales
come in white, which can exhibit spots on their faces, ears, or legs. Romeldales also are natural colored. Natural
colored Romeldales further break down into two categories: those with at least 5 of any visible parts of the traditional
badger markings listed below are deemed to be CVM’s; while all other animals, solid and patterned, fall into the random-patterned
and solid natural colored category. Natural colored Romeldales can be solid, or can have spots, or striping. The
colors in this breed range from white, taupe and gray, plus all the way to the deepest chocolate and black. The original CVM’s
had a barred face badger pattern which can still be seen today.
Traditional CVM markings:
Badger markings on face: dark eyes
Badger markings on face: dark muzzle
Badger markings on face: striping down sides of face
Dark underbelly
Dark
legs: either black or brown, or both (can have white markings in this area also)
Dark chest (from the chin all the way to the underbelly)
Dark area under tail
Reverse Badger: All above areas are light instead of the traditional black or brown,
and the rest of the animal’s body is dark wool. This pattern can have random light/dark spots also on the animal.
****Using the above traditional CVM markings as an example:
If the animal has 5 or more of the 7 traditional markings, it would be considered a CVM. Otherwise, it
would fall into a random-patterned and solid natural colored category.
Unlike many colored
sheep, CVM/Romeldales will not fade with age, but rather darken from birth to their first year. The other dominant trait
in this breed is that the sheep’s wool softens as it gets older. These two traits alone set this breed apart from
all others. Strong twinning, particularly easy lambing, superior wool and a desirable
meat carcass were all a part of the original breed selection process. CVM ewes are known to breed while still suckling
with lambs at their side if exposed to a ram. Ewes are protective, dedicated mothers, prolific and long lived. Rams
are aggressive and virile breeders, able to cover more than the standard number of ewes.
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 imported New Zealand Marsh Romney rams with his Rambouillet ewes to increase
the staple and length of fleece and to improve the carcass quality.
