The Oxford Down was developed by crossing Hampshire and South Down ewes with a Cotswolds ram. It is a relatively large-bodied sheep with males reaching up to 140kg.
This sheep breed grows a white short wool covering their bodies and legs with a dark brown/black face and a small top knot of wool on their heads.
They generally give birth to a single or twin lamb which come out with a good wool covering and they grow fast making it a great breed for the meat industry.
Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist Status 2019-20
Minority (1500 to 3000 registered breeding females)
Diet
Group Name
Distribution
Herbivore:
Sheep are herbivorous mammals with most breeds preferring to graze on grass and other short roughage, avoiding the taller woody parts of plants
A Flock
The Oxford Down was developed during the 1800s, mainly in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. It has been successfully used throughout northern Europe and America and is a generally hardy breed capable of surviving in most conditions
Fun Fact