Lincoln sheep

The Lincoln is a large, dual-purpose longwool sheep that originated in eastern England. Mature rams can weigh well over 250 pounds, which makes the breed one of the heaviest sheep in the world. Its defining feature is the fleece: long, lustrous wool that hangs in distinct ringlets or locks and grows a longer staple than that of any other breed.

The breed is kept for wool, meat, and crossbreeding. Hand spinners and fiber artists value the fleece for its sheen and length, while the heavy frame produces a good carcass. Lincolns have also been used worldwide to add size and fleece weight to other longwool and crossbred flocks.

In temperament the Lincoln is gentle and laid-back. The sheep are slow-moving, easy to handle, and tolerant of people, which suits keepers who want a placid animal rather than a flighty one.

Who it suits

The Lincoln fits keepers who have the space and feed to support a large sheep and who want a heavy, high-value fleece. The calm nature makes it manageable for smallholders and fiber enthusiasts, though the size and the grooming demands of a long fleece mean it is less suited to those wanting a low-input, low-maintenance flock.

The Lincoln takes its name from the county of Lincolnshire in eastern England, where long-fleeced sheep had been kept for centuries on the fertile lowland pastures. These early longwools were large, heavy-boned animals valued for both their wool and their mutton.

During the agricultural improvement of the 18th century, breeders refined the old Lincolnshire sheep into a more uniform animal. Crossing with Robert Bakewell's improved Leicester stock helped tighten the conformation and improve the meat qualities while keeping the long, heavy fleece.

By the 19th century the Lincoln was established as a recognized breed and became one of the most influential longwools. It was exported widely to countries including Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, where it was used to add frame size and wool weight to local flocks and to help create new crossbred types.

The Lincoln remains a comparatively rare breed today and is listed as one to watch by conservation groups, but it continues to be kept by fiber producers and pedigree breeders who maintain the longwool tradition.

The Lincoln has a broad, rectangular body carried on short, sturdy legs. The head is bold with a wide muzzle, and both rams and ewes are usually polled. A characteristic forelock of wool falls over the forehead. The overall impression is of a heavy, low-set animal built to carry a large fleece.

Coat and colors

The fleece is the breed's signature. Wool grows in long, wavy locks with a strong luster and can produce annual fleece weights of around 12 to 20 pounds. The standard color is white, but colored Lincolns ranging from silver-grey to near black are bred for hand spinners who want naturally pigmented fiber. The face and legs are normally clean of wool, with the heavy fleece concentrated over the body.

Lincolns are known for an even, good-natured disposition. They are slow-moving and unhurried, and they settle quickly around people, which makes routine handling, shearing, and health checks straightforward. The breed is not flighty or prone to panic in the way some hill breeds can be.

Within a flock Lincolns are sociable and graze quietly together. Around handlers they are tolerant and easy to lead with feed. Toward dogs and other livestock they are generally placid, though, like all sheep, they rely on the flock for security and do best kept in groups rather than singly. Rams are large and should be treated with normal caution during the breeding season, but the breed as a whole is regarded as one of the more manageable large sheep.

Grooming

• Shear at least once a year; some keepers shear twice to keep the long staple manageable.
• Check the fleece regularly for matting, vegetable matter, and dampness, especially over the back and rear.
• Skirt and store fleeces carefully if selling to hand spinners, since the wool is the main value of the breed.
• Trim hooves on a regular schedule to prevent overgrowth and foot problems.

Exercise

• Provide ample grazing; Lincolns are heavy and need room to move and feed.
• Rotate pasture to maintain forage quality and reduce parasite load.
• Allow daily access to open ground rather than close confinement.

Environment

Lincolns suit lowland farms with good grass and reasonably dry footing. The dense fleece gives protection in cold and wet weather, but it also holds moisture, so clean, well-drained ground and dry shelter help prevent skin and foot issues. Fencing must be stock-proof to contain a large, strong animal.

As a large grazing breed, the Lincoln gets most of its nutrition from forage. Good pasture in the growing season and quality hay through winter form the base of the diet. Because the animals are big and grow heavy fleeces, they need adequate energy and protein to maintain condition without becoming overfat. Concentrate feed is best reserved for periods of higher demand rather than fed routinely.

Treats and supplements

Provide a sheep-specific mineral supplement and clean water at all times. Selenium and other trace elements may be needed where local soils are deficient. Introduce any grain or lush new pasture gradually to avoid digestive upset and bloat.

The Lincoln is a robust, long-lived sheep with a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years. The main health concerns relate to the heavy fleece and large frame rather than to inherited weakness. Regular shearing, parasite management, and foot care keep most Lincolns in good condition.

Preventive care

• Shear annually and skirt the fleece to keep wool clean.
• Trim hooves regularly and inspect feet for early footrot.
• Maintain a worming and grazing-rotation plan based on fecal monitoring.
• Vaccinate against clostridial diseases per local veterinary advice.
• Provide appropriate minerals, avoiding copper excess.

Lincolns reach breeding maturity at around 7 to 12 months, though ewes are commonly first bred at about 18 months to allow the large frame to develop. Mating is seasonal, typically in autumn, so that lambs arrive in spring. Gestation lasts roughly 145 to 150 days.

Litter size is usually one or two lambs; twins are common in well-conditioned ewes, while triplets are less frequent. Lincoln lambs are large at birth, which means ewes should be in good condition and monitored closely at lambing. Ewes are generally attentive mothers with adequate milk, and lambs grow quickly on the dam and good pasture. Because of the breed's size, careful selection and body-condition management help keep both lambing and growth rates steady.