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The Guardian World1 min read
Ewe won't believe it: 8ft fleece sheared from sheep
TL;DR
A sheep shearer near Spilsby has removed an 8ft by 8ft fleece, the largest he has ever seen. The fleece came from a Lincoln Longwool sheep, a large heritage breed.
Key points
- Sheep shearer Carl Sutton removed an 8ft fleece
- Fleece measured 8ft by 8ft (2.4m by 2.4m)
- Fleece came from a Lincoln Longwool sheep
- Sheep felt better after being shorn
- Angie Beale keeps Lincoln Longwool as therapy sheep
Mentioned in this story
Carl SuttonAngie BealeSpilsbyOld Bolingbroke
Lincoln Longwool
A sheep shearer says a giant fleece removed from a sheep near Spilsby is the largest he has ever seen.
The fleece measured about 8ft by 8ft (2.4m by 2.4m), according to Carl Sutton, who works across Lincolnshire.
The coat came from a Lincoln Longwool, a large heritage breed.
Sutton said the sheep "definitely felt better" after it was shorn last week.
Angie Beale, from the Black Barn Therapy Farm at Old Bolingbroke keeps some of the breed as therapy sheep.
"They just bring a smile to your face," she said.
A mature ram can weigh in the region of 19 to 24 stone (120 to 150kg).
According to The Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders' Association, the breed is the largest native sheep in the UK.
The animals were bred primarily for their wool, but have declined in numbers.
Sutton said: "They've got wool right from the nose to the tails and everywhere else.
"So, you get a massive fleece. They are big sheep, but that's the biggest fleece we've had."
Beale said: "It was absolutely huge.
"It was a really hot day, and we just couldn't believe it as it was coming off.
"She's such a weight for him to hold anyway, but he did a fantastic job getting it all off in one piece for us."
Sutton said: "We had a nice breeze blowing through, and we got it all off like you do in one.
"It definitely felt better after it."
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Q&A
What is the size of the largest fleece ever sheared?
The largest fleece ever sheared measured about 8ft by 8ft (2.4m by 2.4m).
What breed of sheep produced the giant fleece?
The giant fleece came from a Lincoln Longwool, which is a large heritage breed.
How did the sheep feel after being shorn?
The sheep definitely felt better after it was shorn, according to the shearer.
