Devon (North Devon)
History
- Origin - possibly from Roman times in southwest England but also possibly brought to the region from Africa or the middle east even earlier
- Brought to the United States in 1623 by the Pilgrims
- Records on the breed began in 1850
- Sometimes called North Devon to differentiate from the South Devon breed. South Devon and the American Milking Devon are the nearest relatives
Characteristics
- Ruby red (Devon Ruby) is preferred color for the breed but range from a tawny chestnut to a deep red
- Creamy white horns with black tips
- Medium frames and fine boned with lighter muscling than other breeds with
- Breed sizing
- Females - 1,000 to 1,300 pounds
- Males - 1,600 to 2,200 pounds
- Considered a dual-purpose breed but primarily a beef producer
Advantages
- Better maternal ability than most other beef breeds
- Grazing ability
- Quality beef production
Disadvantages
- Birthing stress with the larger bull and cow weights
- Slow to reach maturity