 A native
of the Midland Counties of England, the
Leicester Longwool, as it is known there, has
been used to improve many other breeds of
sheep.
Their wool quality is in between
the Lincoln and Romney in fibre, diameter and
length; 32-38 micron and 180mm in
length.
Rams are used to cross with the
Merino for the production of first cross ewes
for prime lamb mothers, particularly in wetter
and colder areas. The length, lustre and
relative softness of their wool makes it very
suitable for handcraft purposes.
In
England the wool is in great demand for heavy
woolens in the clothing industry and the sheep
are known for their adaptability to live and
thrive under a wide variety of conditions and
climate.
In 1826 they were one of the
first pure breeds to be imported into
Australia.
|
