22 BULLETIN 94, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF 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 in 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. Cotswold 
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 L/ynn, 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 
