Lonk
{{Use British English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{use list-defined references|date=September 2021}}
{{Short description|British breed of sheep}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name = Lonk
| image = Lonk ram, ewe and lamb.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Ram, ewe and lamb
| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=120}}|DAD-IS (2021): endangered{{r|dad}}|RBST (2021): at risk{{r|rbst2}}}}
| altname = Improved Haslingden
| country = United Kingdom
| distribution = {{ubl|Lancashire|Yorkshire}}
| standard =
| type =
| use =
| weight =
| maleweight = average 79 kg{{r|dad}}
| femaleweight = average 54 kg{{r|dad}}
| height =
| maleheight = average 77 cm{{r|dad}}
| femaleheight = average 66 cm{{r|dad}}
| skincolour =
| woolcolour = white
| facecolour = black or mottled
| horns = horned in both sexes
| note =
}}
File:Lonk Ram, Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911.jpg from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911]]
The Lonk is a British breed of domestic sheep. It belongs to the group of black-faced hill breeds of northern England,{{r|cabi|p=851|ryder|p2=462}} and is found in the hills of the central and southern Pennines of Lancashire and Yorkshire.{{r|rbst|st}} It is documented from the mid-eighteenth century; a flock book was started in 1905.{{r|ass}}
History
The Lonk has been reared on the fells of Lancashire and Yorkshire for several hundred years; a herd with records going back to 1740 is still in existence.{{r|rbst}} 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 {{langx|enm|wlonk}}, {{langx|ang|wlanc}}, with meanings including 'proud' and 'bold';{{r|cabi|p=851|bos|p2=1291}} it may be a word for the coarse grazing of its area of origin;{{r|cabi|p=851}} or it may derive from 'lanky'.{{r|bbc}}
A breed society, the Lonk Sheep Breeders' Association, was established in 1905, and a flock book was begun in the same year.{{r|rbst|dad}}
Like other traditional breeds, the Lonk was threatened by the mass slaughter of flocks during the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak;{{r|ahs}} some genetic material was placed in storage.{{r|bbc}}
In 1999 the total breed population was reported to DAD-IS at 3645 head.{{r|dad}} 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.{{r|cabi|p=851}} In 2021 the breed was listed by the FAO as "not at risk";{{r|barb|p=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".{{r|rbst2}}
Characteristics
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.{{r|rbst}} 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.{{r|cabi|p=851|rbst}}
Use
Like most other British sheep, the Lonk is reared for its meat and for its wool. Lambs can reach a killing weight of approximately {{nobreak|36 kg}} on moorland pasture alone.{{r|cabi|p=851}}
Ewe fleeces weigh about {{nobreak|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.{{r|cabi|p=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.{{r|ass}}
References
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{{British livestock|R.1}}