The Red Devon Cattle www.reddevoncattle.com

Devon cattle are one of the oldest beef breeds in existence today. The Pilgrim Fathers took red cattle from Devon when they travelled to North America and in 1627 a pilgrim named Edward Winslow arranged an importation of a bull and three heifers.

It is also likely that similar cattle were exported to ireland before 1580. Today a considerable number of pedigree and commercial herds of Devon Red Rubies are dotted all over the great Exmoor area and the number is increasing.

The first volume of Davey's Devon Herd Book was published in 1851 by Colonel John Tanner Davey. In 1884, the copywright was acquired by the just-formed Red Devon Cattle Breeders Society. Between 1956 and 1972, the Herd Book was closed and in these years it was not possible to grade up to full pedigree status.

In 1960, following the development of poll strains of the breed using Red Poll. Red Angus, Red Galloway and North American poll Devons, a poll register was opened. Today, there are' five sections in this register from register A for poll bulls proven to be homozygous to Register E for any poll Devon that is being upgraded to pedigree status.

Data on conformation and production are considered essential by today's Red Devon Cattle breeders. Over 80 per cent of them participate in the Breed Improvement Scheme and Genetical Survey, a pioneer effort by the breed society when it was launched in 1967.

Initially, Red Devon Cattle were classified on a points basis for various aspects of conformation, the points were added together, the animal was placed in one of three categories and any serious faults recorded. In this way some 3,451 Devons were classified between 1967 and 1971.

In 1911, the system was modified, points were discarded and a system of five grades, from A to E, was introduced. Up to December 1975, 5,605 cattle had been graded.

In 1971, a Register of Merit scheme was introduced to recognise cattle outstanding in both conformation and on perfonnance. To join this elite band females must be classified Excellent A or B, have minimum weights of 500lb at 300 days, 625lb at 400 days and 750lb at 500 days.

Red Devon Cows must have produced three living calves by the age of five years, three months and any three progeny must have reached minimum weights of 600lb at 200 days for bulls, 500lb at 200 days for steers and 4701b at 200 days for heifers. Any three progeny must be classified Excellent A or B.

Farming Red Devon Cattle is something that once you have had devons you get to appreciate their quiet temperment and docile nature. The bonus is that they are fast maturing which means money on the hook sooner. There are many attributes that make the Red Devon breed something worth looking into. www.reddevoncattle.com