The Romeldale was developed in the early 1900s by A.T. Spencer, who crossed Romney rams which had been exhibited at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition with his flock of Rambouillet ewes.

The breeding focused on producing soft, fine wool and good fleece weight, as well as medium to large market lambs for meat.

After many attempts and selective breeding of the two sheep, a consistent badger-faced color pattern was found and the California Variegated Mutant was born.

Other than color they share most of the same physical and temperamental traits, and are medium to large sheep at 150-275 pounds.

Unusually for natural colored sheep, their fleece tends to darken with age rather than grow lighter.