Lincoln (sheep)

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The Lincoln Longwool is a breed of sheep from England that has been significantly altered by selective breeding in the later part of the eighteenth century. Cross-breeding with Leicesters improved the breed's meat production qualities.

The Lincoln Longwool is the largest British sheep, developed specifically to produce the heaviest, longest and most lustrous fleece of any breed in the world. Great numbers were exported to many countries to improve the size and wool quality of their native breeds. The versatile fleece is in great demand for spinning, weaving and many other crafts.

The adult has a body weight of about 60 kg, its fleece can weigh up to 7 kg with a diameter of about 40 microns and a staple ranging up to 32".

It is now one of Britain's rarest breeds, categorised as "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust since there are fewer than 1500 registered breeding females in the United Kingdom.^[1]

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