Lincoln

The Lincoln is a large, dual-purpose longwool sheep that comes from the eastern lowlands of England. Mature rams can weigh well over 113 kg, making the breed one of the heaviest in the world. Its calling card is the fleece: long, lustrous wool that falls in distinct ringlets or locks, with a longer staple than any other breed produces.

Farmers keep the Lincoln for wool, meat, and crossbreeding. Hand spinners and fibre artists rate the fleece highly for its sheen and length, and the heavy frame gives a decent carcass too. Breeders around the world have also used Lincolns to add size and fleece weight to other longwool and crossbred flocks.

In temperament the Lincoln is easygoing and unhurried. The sheep move slowly, handle easily, and tolerate people well, which suits farmers who want a placid animal rather than a flighty one.

Who it suits

The Lincoln suits farmers who have the camp space and feed to carry a large sheep, and who want a heavy, high-value fleece. Its calm nature makes it manageable for smallholdings and fibre enthusiasts, though the size and the grooming a long fleece demands mean it is not the breed for those after a low-input flock.

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

During the agricultural improvements of the 1700s, breeders reworked the old Lincolnshire sheep into a more uniform type. Crossing with Robert Bakewell's improved Leicester stock tightened the conformation and lifted the meat quality while keeping the long, heavy fleece.

By the 1800s the Lincoln was an established breed and one of the most influential longwools anywhere. It was exported widely, including to Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, where it added frame size and wool weight to local flocks and helped shape new crossbred types.

The Lincoln is a comparatively rare breed today and is listed as one to watch by conservation bodies, but wool growers and pedigree breeders keep the longwool tradition going.

The Lincoln has a broad, rectangular body set 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 look is of a heavy, low-set animal built to carry a large fleece.

Coat and colours

The fleece is the breed's calling card. Wool grows in long, wavy locks with a strong lustre and can produce annual fleece weights of around 5.5 to 9 kg. White is the standard colour, but coloured Lincolns ranging from silver-grey to near black are bred for hand spinners after naturally pigmented fibre. The face and legs are normally free of wool, with the heavy fleece concentrated over the body.

Lincolns are known for an even, good-natured disposition. They move slowly and without fuss, and they settle around people quickly, which makes routine handling, shearing, and health checks straightforward. The breed does not spook or panic the way some hill breeds do.

Within a flock, Lincolns are sociable and graze quietly together. Around handlers they are tolerant and lead easily on 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 alone. Rams are large and deserve normal caution during the breeding season, but overall the breed ranks among the more manageable large sheep.

Grooming

• Shear at least once a year; some farmers shear twice to keep the long staple manageable.
• Check the fleece regularly for matting, plant material, and dampness, especially over the back and rump.
• Skirt and store fleeces with care if selling to hand spinners, since the wool is the breed's main value.
• 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 camps 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. Conditions in South Africa vary sharply with region and altitude: cooler, well-watered areas such as the KwaZulu-Natal midlands or the southern Cape suit the breed better than hot, dry Karoo terrain. The dense fleece protects against cold and wet weather, but it also holds moisture, so clean, well-drained camps and dry shelter help prevent skin and foot problems. Fencing must be stock-proof to hold a large, strong animal.

As a large grazing breed, the Lincoln gets most of its nutrition from forage. Good grazing in the growing season and quality hay through winter form the base of the diet. Because the animals are big and carry heavy fleeces, they need enough energy and protein to hold condition without running to fat. Concentrate feed is best kept for periods of higher demand rather than fed as routine.

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 run short. Bring in any grain or lush new grazing gradually to avoid digestive upset and bloat.

The Lincoln is a robust, long-lived sheep with a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Most health concerns trace back 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 the wool clean.
• Trim hooves regularly and check feet for early footrot.
• Keep a dosing and grazing-rotation plan based on faecal monitoring.
• Vaccinate against clostridial diseases as your vet advises.
• Provide the right minerals, and avoid copper excess.

Lincolns reach breeding maturity at around 7 to 12 months, though ewes are commonly first put to the ram at about 18 months to let the large frame finish developing. Mating is seasonal, typically in autumn, so lambs arrive in spring. Gestation runs roughly 145 to 150 days.

Litter size is usually one or two lambs; twins are common in ewes in good condition, while triplets are less frequent. Lincoln lambs are large at birth, so ewes need to be in good condition and watched closely at lambing. Ewes generally mother well and produce enough milk, and lambs grow quickly on the dam and good grazing. Given the breed's size, careful selection and body-condition management help keep both lambing ease and growth rates on track.