Oxford

Sheep · Meat · 0 live listings

Oxfords were developed in Oxfordshire, England, in the 1830s from Cotswold and Hampshire sheep. They are the largest of the Down breeds, with a brown face and wool topknot, and are used as terminal sires for heavy, fast-growing lambs.

At a glance

Purpose
Meat
Origin
Oxfordshire, England
Mature weight
Ewes 200–250 lb
Lifespan
10–12 years
Temperament
Docile
Best fit
Market lambs, show
Species
Sheep
Category
Livestock
Group
Meat
Registries
Breed association, Scrapie program tag, NSIP (genetic evaluation)
Papers
5 categories
DocilityVery docile
HardinessNeeds good feed
Fleece workAnnual shearing
Beginner fitBig, fast growers

Scales follow breed-club and veterinary consensus; individual animals vary. Listings show what each seller has on file.

The tradeoffs, honestly

Oxfords are large and need good pasture and feed. Their size can make handling and lambing harder than with smaller breeds.

Common questions

Are Oxfords good for 4-H?

Yes. They are docile, grow quickly and are easy to lead, which makes them popular for market lambs and showing.

What health tests should they have?

Ask for OPP, CL and Johne's results for the flock, and check that each sheep carries official scrapie ID. Codon 171 scrapie genotype (RR is resistant) is worth asking for on breeding rams.

How do Oxfords compare with Suffolks?

Both are large meat breeds. Oxfords are heavier-wooled with a brown face, and are often calmer. Suffolks have bare black faces and are more common.

Market, past 90 daysFull index →
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Typical rangeNot enough sales yet for a rangeLive listings0
Health tests to ask for
Veterinary exam on fileScrapie genotypeOPP negativeJohne's negativeCL (caseous lymphadenitis) negativeCD&T currentDNA parentage verifiedOfficial scrapie ID recorded

Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.

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