Romney

The Romney, or Romney Marsh sheep, is a longwool breed from the damp marsh country of Kent in southeastern England. It became especially important in New Zealand, where its open face, strong constitution, and useful meat-and-wool balance fitted pasture-based farming. Romneys are polled, broad-bodied sheep with a long, lustrous fleece; most are white, although natural-colored gray, black, and brown lines are maintained for handspinning and specialty wool markets.

Romney flocks are commonly run on grass systems where rainfall and soft ground would challenge less suitable breeds, though they still need hoof attention and flystrike prevention. The fleece is valuable when shorn, skirted, and stored cleanly, and its staple length makes it popular with fiber users as well as commercial wool pools. Ewes are generally practical mothers for lowland and hill-country farms, while breeders watch for sound feet, open faces, fleece quality, and lamb growth rather than extreme size.