.jpg) Ewe and lamb at theChiltern Open Air Museum | |
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Distribution | Europe, North America |
| Standard | Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Association |
| Use |
|
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Height | |
| Wool colour | white |
| Face colour | brown or black |
| Horn status | polled |
| |
TheOxford Down is a Britishbreed of domesticsheep. It was developed in the 1830s bycross-breeding ofHampshire Down andSouthdown ewes withCotswold rams.[2][4] It is reared primarily formeat.[2]
The Oxford Down developed from about 1830, whenHampshire Down andSouthdown ewes were put toCotswold rams. Much of this breeding took place in the area ofWitney in westernOxfordshire, and this gave rise to the breed name.[5] Abreed society, the Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Association, was formed in 1889[5] and aflock-book was published in the same year.[6]: 879
In the twenty-first century it is anendangered breed in the United Kingdom, and is listed as 'at risk' on the watchlist of theRare Breeds Survival Trust.[2][3] A population of just over1000 head was reported toDAD-IS in 2021.[2] Outside the UK, it is distributed ten other European countries and in Canada and the United States; the global population is estimated to be some20000 head, and its internationalconservation status is 'not at risk'.[7][2]
The Oxford Down is a very large sheep, the largest of the Down breeds, robust and powerful. Rams weigh some110–145 kg and ewes90–110 kg.[6]: 879 [5] It is ashortwool breed, white on the body with brown or black wool on the face and lower legs.[6]: 879 [8] It produces the heaviest fleece of any of the Down breeds. Its capacity to produce a large, meatycarcase for further processing has stimulated interest from themeat industry, and it also grows the most wool of any of the terminal sire breeds.[4]
