22 BULLETIN 94, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



THE OXFORD DOWN. 



The Oxford Down originally was a crossbred sheep, having devel- 

 oped from the direct crossing of well-established types. Although 

 improved blood of other breeds has been used hi establishing most of 

 our present ones, evolving an entirely new breed by direct crossing is 

 comparatively rare, the Corriedale of New Zealand and Australia 

 being the only other example. 



The initial crossing that eventually resulted in the establishment of 

 the Oxford breed took place about 1833 in Oxfordshire. Cots wold 

 rams were used upon Hampshire ewes and some Southdown blood is 

 also said to have been introduced. The object was not the estab- 

 lishment of a new breed but improvement in the existing breeds. 



These crossbred sheep first appeared at the Windsor Royal in 1851 

 under the name of Down Cotswold. About 1857 their name was 

 changed to . Oxfordshire Downs. They did not receive a distinct 

 place at the Royal until it was held at Battersea in 1862. As was to 

 be expected, this breed was at first characterized by a striking lack of 

 uniformity, the judges of the Royal criticizing the exhibits of the 

 years of 1862, 1865, and 1868 very unfavorably for this defect. Dur- 

 ing the next 10 years there was a very great improvement in this 

 respect, the type becoming much more permanent. Mr. Samuel 

 Druce, of Eynsham, Oxford, and Mr. William Gillette, of Southhigh, 

 were actively identified with the early development of the Oxford breed. 



The Oxford has extended its sphere of usefulness from its native 

 shire to many parts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It is 

 especially popular for crossing purposes along the "border" of the 

 first two countries. This breed has also been introduced into many 

 countries of Europe, North and South America, Australia, and New 

 Zealand, in which countries it has generally met with success. 



The first importation of this breed of sheep to America was made 

 by Clayton Raybold, who brought them to Delaware in 1846. This 

 was in the early days of the breed, and they were still known as Cots- 

 wold crossbred sheep. In 1853 William C. Rives brought some into 

 Virginia, and R. S. Fay, of Lynn, Mass., made an importation the same 

 year. 



In the United States the greatest number of purebred Oxford 

 flocks are found in New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, 

 and Iowa. In the West there are some purebred flocks, but here the 

 breed is valued chiefly for crossing purposes. Indeed, many flocks 

 are maintained for supplying the range with rams, as the Oxford, 

 because of its large carcass and heavy fleece, has been very popular 

 during the last decade. Wherever the pasture is abundant the Oxford 

 gives satisfaction, but it is in no sense a short-pasture sheep and does 

 not usually thrive under the latter conditions. 



The Oxford is generally conceded to be the largest of the medium- 

 wool breeds. Mature rams range in weight from 250 to 350 pounds 



