 Origin: Britain
Distribution: North America
Uses: Milk, meat, and draft
Status: Critical
Breed Features: The Milking Devon is a lovely red color normally shown with horns. They are well known for their heat or cold tolerance, hardiness, and ability to survive on rough forage. They are long lived and have good temperaments with good training. Cows can weigh in at 1,000 to 1,500 lbs and in good conditions can produce up to 12,000 lbs of milk annually.
History: Devon cattle were developed in the Devonshire region of Britain. They were a true, tri-purpose animal good for milking, meat, and especially good at pulling. Even today teams of Devon oxen are highly prized for their intelligence and ability and are often referred to as the “thoroughbred” of working cattle.
The Devon breed has split into two major types. One type is being developed to be more of a beef animal, known as the Beef Devon, and the other type remaining true to the original tri-purpose type, the Milking Devon. The tri-purpose type has since vanished in Britain but has remained in tact here in North America thanks to devoted enthusiasts of the breed.
Breed Associations:
American Milking Devon Association
Registrar- Sue Randall
135 Old Bay Rd.
New Durham, NH 03855
603-859-6611 |
