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Leicester Longwool

life science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

The Leicester Longwool is a special kind of sheep from England.

Leicester sheep, Virginia
Leicester sheep, Virginia

People use these sheep to make other breeds better. They are known for having a lot of meat. They also produce a very heavy fleece. This sheep has many different names. Some people call them the English Leicester or the New Leicester.

English Leicester Lambs
English Leicester Lambs

It is a very important animal for farmers.

This breed has a very specific look. The face is shaped like a wedge. It is covered in white hairs. Sometimes the face looks like it has a blue tinge. The lips and the nostrils are black. The sheep should not have horns on its forehead. Its legs are straight and wide apart. The hooves on its feet are also black.

English Leicester Lambs
English Leicester Lambs

The wool is one of the most amazing parts. The fleece is very dense. This means it has thick clumps of wool. These clumps are called the staple. The wool is also lustrous. That is a word for a nice shine. It has a clear crimp. A crimp is a wave in the wool. The fiber diameter is 32 to 38 micrometres.

Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 12 182 2 Leicester Schur-Widder des Herrn Stone
Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 12 182 2 Leicester Schur-Widder des Herrn Stone

A man named Robert Bakewell helped create this breed. He lived in the 1700s. He worked in Dishley Grange in Leicestershire. Bakewell was a leader in modern animal breeding. He used new ways to pick the best livestock. In the 1700s, these sheep grew slowly. They also had coarse bones. Now, they are bred to grow very fast.

Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 12 182 2 Leicester Schur-Widder des Herrn Stone
Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 12 182 2 Leicester Schur-Widder des Herrn Stone

These sheep are found in many different places now. You can see them in Australia and New Zealand. They are also in Sweden and the United States. In the United Kingdom, they are quite rare. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust says they are endangered. There are fewer than 500 breeding females left in the UK. These sheep are strong and have good temperaments. They can live on flat land or hilly country.

Leicester sheep, Virginia
Leicester sheep, Virginia
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File:Leicester sheep, Virginia.jpg
Leicester sheep, Virginia.jpg
File:Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 12 182 2 Leicester Schur-Widder des Herrn Stone.PNG
Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 12 182 2...
File:English Leicester Lambs.jpg
English Leicester Lambs.jpg
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