Lincoln Red cattle making a comeback thanks to Lincolnshire estate

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A Lincolnshire estate is helping the original population of one of the UK’s oldest breeds of beef cattle recover.

Massingberd-Munby Lincoln Red Beef is one of several businesses on the South Ormsby Estate with big plans to regenerate the area to support the local economy and build up the population of Lincoln Reds.

Herd manager at Massingberd-Mundy Lincoln Red Beef, John Crutchley is responsible for one of the largest herds of the original population Lincoln Red cattle in the world, with each cow being 100% original population Lincoln Red.

John’s farm at the South Ormsby Estate in the Lincolnshire Wolds now has 270 original population Lincoln Reds, a far cry from the 25 cattle that were on the estate at the turn of the millennium.

John said: “When I started breeding them, there was a real worry that they might die out altogether, but with modern, sustainable practices, we’re helping them to make a come back.

“We have 270 of them including fatteners and within a few more years, we’re hoping to have 600.”

Lincoln Red cattle date back to the late 18th century and the breed’s genetic base can be traced back to cattle introduced by the Viking invaders in 440 – 660 A.D.

Although they were Britain’s second largest breed of pedigree beef cattle in the 1920s, their numbers dropped after European breeds became popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

Recent estimates suggest that there are around 500 original population Lincoln Reds left in the UK.

This means the support of Massingberd-Mundy Lincoln Red Beef is having a major impact in helping this ancient population, and the wider breed thrive.

President of the Lincoln Red Cattle Society, Martin Clough said: “They are feed efficient and a good converter for forage, being easily adaptable to regional grazing and climatic conditions.”