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Oxford Down
Watchlist; Category 4, At Risk.
The first developments which resulted in the formation of the Oxford Down, began about 1830 when the early Hampshire Down (itself still in the process of development) was mixed with the Cotswold longwool. With further selection, it became the largest of the Down breeds, with mature ewes averaging 88kgs.
It is used primarily as a terminal sire breed used on a variety of the commercial ewe breeds and halfbreds to produce fast growing, hardy lambs which can be finished at a variety of weights to suit the market. The size of the pure breed ensures that crossbred progeny can be grown on to heavy weights without becoming overfat, while their fast growth rate makes them suitable for siring lambs to catch the early market.
The Oxford Down carries a heavy fleece, inherited from its Cotswold ancestry, and lambs are born with a significant birth coat which gives them greater hardiness than many other lowland breeds. As a versatile sire of commercial lambs from a wide selection of ewe breeds suitable for a variety of markets, the Oxford Down is definitely a breed with a very bright future. Breed sales are held at Worcester in July and at Melton Mowbray, Kelso and Builth Wells in September.