View source for Biology:Oxford Down

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox sheep breed
| name          = Oxford Down
| image         = Chiltern Open Air Museum Oxford Sheep (cropped).jpg
| image_size    = 
| image_alt     = 
| image_caption = Ewe and lamb at the Chiltern Open Air Museum
| status        = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=147}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2022): at risk/endangered{{r|dad}}|[[Organization:Rare Breeds Survival Trust|RBST]] (2022): at risk{{r|rbst2}}}}
| altname       = 
| country       = United Kingdom
| distribution  = Europe, North America
| standard      = {{nobreak|[https://www.oxforddownsheep.org.uk/description Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Association]}}
| use           = {{ubl|meat|terminal sire}}
| maleweight    = 110–145 kg
| femaleweight  = 90–110 kg
| maleheight    = 86 cm{{r|dad}}
| femaleheight  = 76 cm{{r|dad}}
| skincolour    = 
| type          = 
| woolcolour    = white
| facecolour    = brown or black
| horns         = polled
| note          = 
}}

[[File:Oxford Down - geograph.org.uk - 477017.jpg|thumb|250px|Oxford Down sheep at a livestock show]]
The '''Oxford Down''' is a British breed of domestic [[Biology:Sheep|sheep]]. It was developed in the 1830s by cross-breeding of Hampshire Down and Southdown ewes with Cotswold rams.{{r|dad|nzsheep}} It is reared primarily for meat.{{r|dad}}

== History ==

The Oxford Down developed from about 1830, when Hampshire Down and Southdown ewes were put to Cotswold rams. Much of this breeding took place in the area of Witney in western Oxfordshire, and this gave rise to the breed name.{{r|rbst}} A breed society, the Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Association, was formed in 1889{{r|rbst}} and a flock-book was published in the same year.{{r|cabi|p=879}}

In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed in the United Kingdom, and is listed as 'at risk' on the watchlist of the [[Organization:Rare Breeds Survival Trust|Rare Breeds Survival Trust]].{{r|dad|rbst2}} A population of just over {{val|1000}} head was reported to [[DAD-IS]] in 2021.{{r|dad}} Outside the UK, it is distributed ten other European countries and in Canada and the United States; the global population is estimated to be some {{val|20000}} head, and its international [[Biology:Conservation status|conservation status]] is 'not at risk'.{{r|dad2|dad}}

== Characteristics ==

The Oxford Down is a very large sheep, the largest of the Down breeds, robust and powerful. Rams weigh some {{val|110|–|145|u=kg}} and ewes {{val|90|–|110|u=kg}}.{{r|cabi|p=879|rbst}} It is a shortwool breed, white on the body with brown or black wool on the face and lower legs.{{r|cabi|p=879|rbcs}} It produces the heaviest fleece of any of the Down breeds. Its capacity to produce a large, meaty carcase for further processing has stimulated interest from the meat industry, and it also grows the most wool of any of the terminal sire breeds.{{r|nzsheep}}

== References ==
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{isbn|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>


<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{isbn|9781780647944}}.</ref>


<ref name=dad>[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ext-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=GBR&specie=Sheep&breed=Oxford%20Down&lang=en Breed data sheet: Oxford Down / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Sheep)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2022.</ref>

<ref name=dad2>[https://dadis-transboundary-ext-ws.web.app/?species=Sheep&transboundary=Oxford%20Down&lang=en Transboundary breed: Oxford Down]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2022.</ref>

<ref name=nzsheep>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200118190242/http://www.nzsheep.co.nz/index.php?page=oxford Oxford].  New Zealand Sheepbreeders' Association. Archived 18 January 2020.</ref>

<ref name=rbcs>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220125182505/https://rarebreeds.co.nz/oxford.html The Oxford: A Rare Breed of British Origin]. Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand Incorporated. Archived 25 January 2022.</ref>

<ref name=rbst>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220709013250/https://www.rbst.org.uk/oxford-down Oxford Down]. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 9 July 2022.</ref>

<ref name=rbst2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220928145017/https://www.rbst.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=5ee279d9-48ec-411d-962d-2115212bc0be Watchlist 2022–23]. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 28 September 2022.</ref>



}}

==External links==
*[http://www.oxforddownsheep.org.uk/ Oxford Down Sheep Breeders' Association UK official website]
*[http://www.lyndonirwin.com/04sheep11.htm 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Oxford Show]



{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxford Down}}
[[Category:Animal breeds on the RBST Watchlist]]

{{Sourceattribution|Oxford Down}}