Lincoln Red
(most common name)
(transboundary/brand name)

(historical breed name):
• Lincolnshire Beef Poll
• Lincolnshire Red Shorthorn (until 1960)
• Polled Lincoln Red

The Lincoln Red began with red Dutch cattle brought to England in the 17th century. They were developed into a dual-purpose breed and then became known as the Lincolnshire Red Shorthorn. In 1895, the Lincoln Red Shorthorn Association was formed.

The Lincoln Red is today a composite of Shorthorn descendants with incrossing from Maine-Anjou, Charolais, Chianina and Limousin. Because of this, the native Lincoln Red went into decline; since 2001, a population of Lincoln Red (Original) has been identified and is listed as endangered (with a count of 388 breeding females in 2016).

The Lincoln Red is now also found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and Hungary. In Hungary, they were part of the development of the Pankota Red. In Canada, they were part of the development of the Fort Cross, which was Charolais × (Lincoln Red × Hereford).

Today, the Lincoln Red is a beef breed which also has a good dairy yield, making it valuable as a suckler cow. Polled Lincoln Reds are the majority of the population with loose horns and scurs being acceptable; fixed horns are no longer acceptable.

For the history of Shorthorns, see Beef Shorthorn.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-18

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