THE MUTTON BREEDS OF SHEEP 339 



very stately appearance and is a very attractive sheep. 

 The color of face and legs is a darker brown than that of 

 the Shropshire, but it is often flecked with gray, which 

 may even predominate on the nose (Plate XII). 



The ewes are very prolific, probably more so than any 

 other breed, even triplets being not uncommon. They 

 are heavy milkers. The lambs grow very rapidly and 

 are of good form, and the ewes yield large fleeces. The 

 one shortcoming of the breed is that it does not seem hardy 

 under American climatic conditions. It succumbs easily 

 to invasions of internal parasites and to pulmonary dis- 

 orders. 



393. Uses of Oxford sheep. Oxfords are especially 

 useful to produce mutton lambs to be marketed in the early 

 summer, at four to five months of age. Under high feeding 

 the ewes of many families will produce 150 per cent of lambs. 

 The rams are well adapted for mating with smaller breeds 

 for the production of lambs to be fattened at eight to ten 

 months of age. There is a considerable demand for pure- 

 bred rams for this purpose. Oxfords will yield about 10 

 per cent more wool than Shropshires that is rather coarse 

 in quality and of long staple. They produce longer and 

 coarser wool than any other Down breed. 



394. Distribution. This breed is found most largely 

 in the states east of the Mississippi river and north of 

 the Ohio river, and in Canada, appearing not to be suited 

 to range conditions. It has spread from its original terri- 

 tory in England to almost every country where other 

 English breeds have gone, which includes most of the lead- 

 ing live-stock countries. It is adapted to small farms 

 where intensive methods are practiced. 



395. Organizations and records. In 1881, the Ameri- 

 can Oxford Down Record Association was organized, with 



