A native of the Volga River Valley northwest of Moscow, the Romanov is a fine-boned, medium-sized sheep known for its remarkable prolificacy. The breed record is nine live, healthy lambs from a single ewe. First exported to France in the 1970’s and, from there, to Canada in 1980 as part of a research program in Lennoxville, Quebec, the Romanov was released to Canadian farms in 1986. The Romanov is hardy, grows well to 30 kg and produces a lean carcass. Because of its fertility, Romanov genetics are finding a place in many intensive commercial operations. Purebred producers cross Dorset rams with Romanov ewes and sell the resulting ewe lambs to commercial producers who use them in accelerated lambing programs.