Robert Bakewell (1725 - 1795) was a revolutionary in the field of selective breeding. He was brought up at Dishley, near Loughborough in Leicestershire.

Robert Bakewell was the first to bred cattle to be used for food. Before, the main use for cattle was for pulling ploughs, but he crossed long horned heifers and a Westmoreland bull to eventually create the Dishley Longhorn. He made this possible by allowing only the best animals to breed, increasing the weight of his sheep and also greatly improving the taste of mutton. As more and more farmers followed his lead, farm animals increased dramatically in size and quality. In 1700, the average weight of a castrated bull sold for slaughter was 370 pounds. By 1786, that weight had more than doubled to 840 pounds. However, after his death, the Dishley Longhorn was replaced with short horn versions.

He is best known for creating a breed of sheep known as the New Leicesters. These were much improved on previous sheep, but were later replaced with Border Leicester crosses, which had thicker wool and could withstand the British climate better.

1725 births | 1795 deaths | Natives of Leicestershire | English biologists | English farmers | Selection