She’s a grazier without, and a butcher within.
Dr. Anderson, vetinarian, 1850s
About the breed
Source: https://www.facebook.com/MilkingDevons/
In 1623, two heifers and a bull from north Devonshire, England, were received by a member of the Plymouth Colony. They were the first importation of cattle from Britain, although the Spanish had introduced cattle in the south.
Their immediate value was as draft animals. Cattle from Devonshire had long been recognized in England for their speed, intelligence, strength, willingness to work, and ability to prosper on coarse forage, in a wide range of climates.
In later years, other cattle were imported and contributed to the American Devon, which developed as the ideal multipurpose breed. None could surpass it for draft work; the milk was good for cream and cheese making; and the carcass developed fine beef on poor forage.
The 1868 American Devon Herd Book, Vol. 2, was published in Springfield, Massachusetts. This herd book contained the perfect description of Devon Cattle.
“The late experience of the breeders of Devons only confirms their former opinion of the excellent qualities of the breed, for the three grand objects for which neat stock are kept, namely, milk, work, or beef, and their adaptation to many sections of our country, in preference to any other breed; also that they will produce as much milk, work, or beef, from the food consumed, or on a given quantity of land, as any other breed…The only objection ever presented to the breed, is “they are small;” but we can keep more of them, and that on shorter pastures and coarser food.”
In more recent times, the importance of cattle for draft animals has all but disappeared and the Devon has been replaced by high producing dairy breeds like the Holstein and Jersey, with whom it could not compete for quantity.
In 1952, the American Devon Cattle Club decided that the breed had to move into a specialist beef market in order to survive.
At that time, a small group of breeders decided to form a separate association for dairy cattle and maintain triple-purpose stock. That association slowly dwindled, but thanks to their efforts, many of their animals can be traced into the new registry which was re-formed in 1978. This registry represents a gene pool of genuine triple-purpose cattle able to survive and be productive under minimal management conditions in a harsh environment.
From ALBCA:
In the mid-1970s, during preparation for the American Bicentennial Celebration, Old Sturbridge Village and Plimoth Plantation attempted to upgrade the authenticity of their agricultural interpretation by exhibiting appropriate breeds documented in their respective archives. The historic documentation indicated that Milking Devon cattle should be one of the centerpiece breeds. The difficulty in finding this once popular breed was the inspiration for the creation of the first North American livestock conservation organization, which was to become the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Devon cattle come from the southwestern peninsula of England, where the breed was developed over several centuries. The name comes from Devonshire, though similar cattle were also raised in the neighboring counties of Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset. Devons were valued for the production of both high quality beef and the rich milk used in Devonshire cream. They were also regarded as the quickest and most active oxen in the British Isles, reputed to trot at six miles per hour while pulling unladen wagons. The breed had the reputation as an easy keeper, able to thrive on rough forage.
The Pilgrims brought Devon cattle with them to New England beginning in 1623. The hardiness and practicality of the breed combined with the ready availability of Devon cattle near the ports of departure, made Devons an obvious choice for immigrants to the Americas. The breed became well established in New England during the 1600s and spread down the coast as far as Florida during the 1700s and 1800s. Cattle also went west, as Devon oxen were the draft animals of choice on the Oregon Trail. Herd books for the breed have been published since 1855.
By the late 1800s, the Devon had gradually been replaced by the Shorthorn, a more productive multi-purpose breed. By 1900, Devon were rarely seen outside of New England. It was only in this region that the breed remained popular, continuing to be valued for hardiness and the ability to thrive under rugged conditions, qualities in which it was superior to the Shorthorn.
By the 1950s, the market for dual-purpose cattle had disappeared, and the Devon breed was nearly extinct. In response to this challenge, the breeder community split. The majority of breeders began to select their animals intensively for beef so that they could compete with other beef breeds. This population was called the Devon or the Beef Devon breed. The remaining breeders continued to select their animals for the traditional purposes: milk, meat, and draft. This population was called the American Milking Devon cattle breed. The American Milking Devon breed is now distinct from other Devon populations in the world and closest to the breed’s original type. It is unique to the United States.
The Milking Devon breed barely survived the next two decades, reaching its low point in the 1970s, when fewer than 100 cattle remained. The persistence of a few New England dairy farmers and teamsters protected the breed from extinction. Today, there are over 400 Milking Devon cattle in existence and the population is increasing. The breed is a favorite exhibition animal at historic sites because of its attractiveness and well-documented history.
Milking Devon cattle are ruby red with black-tipped white horns. Cattle are medium in size, with cows averaging 1,100 pounds and bulls 1,600 pounds. The appearance is compact yet fine, with a straight topline, square set legs, and well-formed udders. As with most dual-purpose breeds, the Devon population exhibits a range of dairy and beef characteristics. Relatively few strains are being actively selected for dairy production, though this type persists because the lighter dairy-type animals are said to make the best oxen.
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Association
American Milking Devon Cattle Association
The Association promotes the historic, and now rare, breed of cattle known as the American Milking Devon
It supports and encourages members of the Association who keep these cattle.
It maintains the official herd book of the breed and issues certificates of registration.
It gives guidance on and provides a forum for discussion of issues related to the breed.
It seeks to conserve the genetic stock and promote the viability of the triple-purpose milking-style Red Devon.
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John L. Hall III is a 10th generation farmer and owner of Maple Breeze Farm in Westbrook, CT. John’s family has raised American Milking Devon Cattle on the farm in Westbrook continuously since 1635. John has been the President of the American Milking Devon Cattle Association since 2005. John and his wife Bonnie, maintain a herd of 70 American Milking Devons. They raise, train and sell young males for future teams of oxen; sell breeding stock and market their beef products at the farm and at Farmer’s Market. Over the years, John and Bonnie have enjoyed meeting other Devon breeders and promoting the breed when they take vacations across the country.
6.17.2020 Bonnie Hall: Building a Future on Old-Fashioned Farming
If things were different, Bonnie Hall would be a vegetarian.
A farmer for 23 years, Bonnie, with her husband, John, raises a rare heritage breed of cattle, American Milking Devons, as well as pigs. John’s ancestors established Maple Breeze Farm in Westbrook in the early 17th century and they sell beef, pork, eggs, and other products directly from the farm and through farmers’ markets.
“The big, huge slaughterhouses…they’ve had COVID go through,” she says. “And that’s why I would be a vegetarian if I didn’t eat our own meat.
“Because [the spread of the virus in large slaughterhouses among people who work there] tells you everything you need to know right there, when you look at how animals are raised and kept and how they’re killed and processed,” she continues. “Gross. I’d be a vegetarian.”
Bonnie’s great love for animals is clear to anyone who talks to her. While she never imagined she’d one day become a farmer, as a teenager growing up in Madison, she was thrilled to take care of a family friend’s horse.
“In exchange for taking care of her horse every day, I got to ride the horse,” she recalls. “I felt like I was the richest girl ever. I walked a mile every day, up and back, to take care of the horse, clean the horse, feed the horse. It was a dream.”
Years later, during her first marriage, she worked on a horse farm in New Hampshire, and as a single mom back in Connecticut, she volunteered at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme.
“There was such a peace about being outside, being with the animals and all of that,” she says. “I loved the horse farm and just smelling a horse.”
While cows are not horses, at Maple Breeze Bonnie found a new love in the Devons, their glistening chestnut-colored coats, the calves with their long, awkward legs and almond-shaped eyes.
Read more
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Videos
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Devon Beef Cattle
Websites
Old Time Farm
1919 Harrisville Road Stoneboro, PA 16153
https://www.facebook.com/Shelly.OldTimeFarm/videos/
https://www.oldtime.farm/pages/american-milking-devon-cattle
Devons for dairy
Devons for dairy
The American Milking Devon’s 4% butterfat content is comparable to that of Jerseys, and is the basis of Devonshire cream. The milk averages 3.75% protein, and produces large, fat calves. Devon cows readily adjust to demand, and average 217 days in lactation. Their moderate production of about three gallons per day is ideally suited to the family farm.
Devons for beef
American Milking Devons fatten easily on grass, efficiently converting forage into growth and fat. The marbled meat is well-flavored, tender, and of prime quality. A 60% dress-out can be expected.
