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The Oxford ram is recommended for the following systems:

• Early lamb market. Unrivalled weight for age of the Oxford cross will ensure that the lambs are ready when the market peaks. Typically 18-22kg carcases at 12-16 weeks.
  
• Outdoor lambing flocks on upland farms. The hardy Oxford cross lamb with its good wool cover at birth and high birthweight will minimise losses. Crossed with hill ewes the Oxford will put size and weight onto the lambs.
  
• Heavyweight autumn lamb. The Oxford cross lamb has the capacity to go to big weights without excess fat. Typically 22-25kg carcases at 9 months.
  
• Heavy hogg trade. The Oxford cross has the hardiness and good feet to stand winter finishing on roots and makes a heavy, lean hogg which sells well in the spring.
  
• Freezer trade and quality lamb market. The pure Oxford or Oxford cross lamb is particularly suited to the home freezer market because the large, lean carcases allow larger joints with more meat to be prepared. Oxford lamb is also found to have excellent flavour and eating qualities, making it ideal for premium quality markets.

Purebred Oxford Down Carcases showing great depth of lean meat
(Photo courtesy of Watson & Grain)

Suffolk cross ewe with twin Oxford cross lambs
(Photo courtesy of Oxford Down SBA)