CATTLE: Lincoln Red

 

Status: ENDANGERED

Country of origin: Lincolnshire, England, UK.

Arrived in Australia: Not sure but here are a few imports found in archives...1902 two bulls, a heifer and a bull calf imported to Queensland, they were top class being from John Evans' famous herd at Burton, Lincoln.

1903 one cow imported to Victoria. 1907 several in-calf heifers and a bull to NSW. 1910 five bulls and five heifers landed in Queensland. 1908 five cows and a bull to NSW bred by Brown, Evans and Todd. 1909 young bull Burton Colonial, another Evans animal, was imported to NSW. 

From 1905 many showed, so a good number here. Much praised as dairy cows. 1914 some showed at Sydney Royal.

1922 eight heifers and two bulls to Roseworthy College S.A. bought by the South Australian government.; two heifers died on the way, one of heat at Colombo and the other by slipping  aboard ship during a wild storm off Fremantle and breaking her back so had to be put down; the rest landed in superb condition.

Many more as there were quite a few here in those times.

Population in Australia: 2022: 165 breeding age cows (estimate from total of 201 registered, ARCBA figures) 

Photo: Lincoln Red Cow and calf in pasture adjacent to Honing Road 1st September 2007, photo by Evelyn Simak. wiki.

International status: Less than 500 in their home country. Some in Canada, the first being taken there in 1964 by Dr. Shaver. Some in the USA. Globally endangered.

History: One of the UK's oldest native breeds. Gene tracing tracks them to Viking cattle introduced about 450-650 AD, thence to the Russian steppes and an ancient bos species. The red cattle of the east of England were well known for centuries.

In 1799 praised by the Board of Agriculture as the best breed to finish quickly.  
Herdbook started 1896 although was recognised as a breed in Coates Herd Book of 1822. 

Known at least until 1926, as the Lincoln Red Shorthorn. Selection for polled animals has since made them a polled breed. When first imported to Australia they were known as Lincoln Reds, Lincolnshire Red Shorthorns and Lincoln Red Milking Shorthorn. Reference was often made to their cherry red colour and lack of white markings (sought in those times when it was thought white attracted insects in hot areas) and great milking abilities; in both England and Ireland Lincoln Reds were winning many dairy milk prizes for quanity of milk and quanitity of butter, yielding 4.6% butter fat; rivalling the Jersey.

Of interest, those taken to Canada were done so due to being the best performers over many tests, account here

 

Traits: Beef. Red colour, invariably described as cherry red.

Polled - sadly, no horned animals registered since the 1970's.

White tail tassle. Broad heads. Coat curled about head, neck, chest on some bulls.

Big animals. Good strong frame. Strong legs. Cows 700-750 kg, bulls 1,000, 1,100kg. They were always the same size historically, unlike some breeds which now are much bigger than originally. 

Thrive on pasture. Slow growing - can be finished in 12 to 14 months but are better after 24 to 30 months,

Easy calving. Fertile..Great mothers. Long lived, like all slow maturing breeds, with no physical problems.

Calves grow quickly due to ample milk supply. Docile nature. 

Hardy. Grow a good winter coat - winter out in all weathers including heavy snow.

Once dual purpose, milk and meat. Dairy uses stopped in the 1940's.

Well marbled tender beef, finely grained, great flavour.

Organisation: Lincoln Red Cattle Society of Australia. Good website.

Notes: ABRI breed.

 

 

 

page by Janet Lane

August 2022