The Oxford Down sheep is a breed of domestic sheep from United Kingdom. It was developed in the 1830s in Oxford County, England.
该品种是通过穿越汉普郡，科茨沃尔德和South Down sheepbreeds, and using the resulting cross-breeds to form the basis of the present-day breed.
The Oxford Down sheep became very popular in many countries and was widely exported throughout Europe and North America.
As farmers focused on producing smaller joints, the breed’s popularity declined in the latter half of the 20th century.
Like other Down breeds, the Oxford Down sheep were overtaken by theSuffolkand imported sheep breeds such as theTexel。
今天,品种享有良好的声誉和折线rs are beginning to realize the potential an Oxford Down ram has. The Oxford Down Sheep Breeder’s Association was formed in 1889, and the first flock book published during that time.
Today the breed is raised mainly for meat production. However, read some more information about this sheep breed below.
Table of Contents
Oxford Down Sheep Characteristics
Oxford Down sheep are large animals with beautiful appearance. They are generally large bodied animals, and both rams and ewes are usually polled.
They have a black or brown face and legs covered in white wool, and have a short fleece. They produce the heaviest fleece of any of the Downsheep breeds。
They also have the capacity to produce a large, meaty carcass and these animals also grow the most wool of any of the terminal sire breeds.
羊毛从3.6至5.4公斤的成熟动物重量为30.0至34.5微米，数值为46至50。羊毛长度为3至5英寸，产量为50％至62％。
Average live body weight of the mature ewes is between 91 and 113 kg. The mature rams are slightly larger than the ewes. And average live body weight of the mature rams vary from 110 to 140 kg. Photo and info fromWikipedia。
Uses
Oxford Down sheep is a meat sheep breed. It is raised mainly for meat production.
Special Notes
The Oxford Down sheep are very beautiful and hardy animals. They are well adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions, and they can do well under conditions of liberal feeding.
They are considered a very valuable breed for market lambs production. The ewes are very prolific, and their lambing percentage of around 150 percent are not uncommon.
The ewes are good mothers, and most of the ewes will nurse twins with little effort. The lambs are usually large and strong at birth.
The Oxford Down is a very good feeder, does well on an abundant feed supply, and is particularly adept at consuming large quantities of pasture and hay.
牛津羽绒杆在穿越小母羊上非常有用，以增加羔羊的体重和大小。
Today the breed is raised mainly for meat production. However, review full breed profile of the Oxford Down sheep in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Oxford Down |
| Other Name | Oxford |
| Breed Purpose | Meat |
| Special Notes | Very hardy and strong animals, very beautiful appearance, well adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions, can do well under conditions of liberal feeding, considered a very valuable breed for market lambs production, ewes are very prolific, the lambs are usually large and very strong at birth, the rams are useful in crossing on small ewes |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Weight | Weight of the mature ewes vary from 91-113 kg, and the mature ram’s body weight is between 110 and 140 kg |
| Horns | No |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Color | 白色的 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | United Kingdom |
