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The English Leicester was a pioneering breed, well suited to wetter regions and rough grazing in
North Island hill country, where the Merino had been
tried and found unsuitable. It was with the earliest sheep imports to New Zealand and was used extensively
as a crossing sire to develop sheep best suited to New Zealand conditions.
In the United Kingdom the Leicester Longwool is a long-established breed. It underwent major changes
in the 18th century when an animal genetics pioneer, Robert Bakewell, began breeding for a smaller earlier-maturing
carcase, greater fat coverage and shorter legs. His success led to the Leicester’s use in developing
other longwool breeds. At the turn of the century the English Leicester vied for popularity with Lincolns
and became established as New Zealand’s third most common breed. However, from the early 1900s
flocks declined, although the breed is still crossed with Merinos to produce the New Zealand Halfbred.
The heavy, curly, lustrous wool is even in length and fibre diameter. Braids, linings for suits,
coatings, costume clothes and furnishing fabrics are among the end-uses.
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Classification
Dual-purpose breed mostly used for creating crossbred ewes and
first cross Halfbred rams. Long, coarse, bulky,
lustrous wool. Meat light in colour, with good texture.
Found
Mainly in Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay in ram
breeding flocks.
Description
Large sheep with long, deep body, open face and wool-covered poll.
Numbers
15,000
Body weight
Ewes: 55–70 kg
Rams: 73–93 kg
Wool production
Fibre diameter 37–40 microns
Staple length 150–200
mm
Fleece weight 5–6 kg
Lamb production
100–150 per cent
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