The Lonk is a British breedofdomestic sheep. It belongs to the group of black-faced hill breeds of northern England,[4]: 851 [5]: 462 and is found in the hills of the central and southern PenninesofLancashire and Yorkshire.[6][7] It is documented from the mid-eighteenth century; a flock book was started in 1905.[8]
The Lonk has been reared on the fellsofLancashire and Yorkshire for several hundred years; a herd with records going back to 1740 is still in existence.[6] It is particularly associated with the area around Haslingden, and is also known as the Improved Haslingden. The origin of the word 'Lonk' is unknown; it may derive from the Middle English: wlonk, Old English: wlanc, with meanings including 'proud' and 'bold';[4]: 851 [9]: 1291 it may be a word for the coarse grazing of its area of origin;[4]: 851 or it may derive from 'lanky'.[10]
Abreed society, the Lonk Sheep Breeders' Association, was established in 1905, and a flock book was begun in the same year.[6][2]
In 1999 the total breed population was reported to DAD-IS at 3645 head.[2] In 2003 a survey found that there might be close to 40 000 head of unregistered stock, but by 2012 this figure had fallen to 20 000.[4]: 851 In 2021 the breed was listed by the FAO as "not at risk";[1]: 120 in 2021 it was reported to DAD-IS as "endangered", and was listed on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as "at risk".[3]
The Lonk is of medium size, though larger than most upland breeds. The face and legs are clear of wool; the legs are mottled black-and-white, the face may be mottled or black; the fleece is white. Both sexes are horned.[6] It is strong-boned, agile, long-lived and hardy, and is well adapted to the environment of its area of origin and to the poor grazing of the fells. It can be kept year-round on upland pasture.[4]: 851 [6]
Like most other British sheep, the Lonk is reared for its meat and for its wool. Lambs can reach a killing weight of approximately 36 kg on moorland pasture alone.[4]: 851
Ewe fleeces weigh about 3 kg; the wool is rather less coarse than that of many other moorland breeds, with a Bradford count of 44s–56s. It is almost entirely free of kemp.[4]: 851
Ewes kept in lowland conditions may be mated to terminal sire rams, producing fast-growing hybrid lambs that may be ready for slaughter in twelve weeks.[8]
