Milking Devon Cattle for Sale

The Milking Devon has been bred in the USA from the Devon, which originated in Britain and is thought to be descended from the same aboriginal breed as the Hereford and the Sussex. In 1623, two heifers and a bull from north Devonshire, England, were received by a member of the Plymouth Colony. They represented 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 thrive on coarse forage in a wide range of climates. Over the years, other cattle were imported and contributed to the development of the American Milking Devon, which emerged as the ideal multipurpose breed. None could surpass it for draft work; the milk produced was excellent for cream and cheese making, and the carcass yielded quality beef even on poor forage. In more recent times, the role of cattle as draft animals has diminished, and the Devon has been largely replaced by high-producing dairy breeds like the Holstein and Jersey, with which it could not compete in terms of quantity. In 1952, the American Devon Cattle Club recognized the need for the breed to transition into a specialist beef market to survive. At that time, a small group of breeders formed a separate association for dairy cattle, maintaining triple-purpose stock, including Milking Devon cows for sale. Although that association gradually dwindled, their efforts allowed many of their animals to be traced into the new registry established in 1978. This registry represents a gene pool of authentic triple-purpose cattle, including South Devon heifers for sale, capable of thriving and being productive under minimal management conditions in harsh environments.

The Milking Devon, known for its striking red color that ranges from deep rich red to light red or chestnut, is a breed that may display white on its tail switch, udder, or scrotum. This medium-sized breed sees mature cows weighing approximately 1,000 – 1,200 pounds, while bulls can reach between 1,400 – 1,700 pounds. They feature medium-sized curving horns that are light-colored with dark tips.

The Devon cow is particularly elegant with her compact rounded form and exhibits a docile temperament when treated with kindness. With very few calving difficulties, Milking Devon cows provide adequate milk production for raising calves, making them ideal for small farms. The Devon bull is also recognized for his ease of handling and even temperament.

As a triple-purpose breed, the Milking Devon is adept at thriving on low-quality, high-forage diets in severe climatic conditions. They are known for their health, longevity, and ability to flourish with good care and management.

Today, Milking Devons are still in demand, often sought after as oxen. The qualities that early colonists prized in these animals are still evident in modern-day Milking Devons. Those interested in farming should consider looking for American Milking Devon for sale, as they produce Jersey-quality milk without the Jersey's reliance on grain. Milk production is influenced significantly by feed, and Milking Devons boast high butterfat and protein levels, often matching or exceeding Jersey and Guernsey standards, with butterfat percentages reaching 6% or higher.

Milking Devons typically have smaller calves, which enhances calving ease; however, the Milking Devon cow also produces high-component milk in moderate volumes, allowing her to wean large, healthy calves. This breed readily adapts to varying demands, whether for a sucking calf, milking, or both, which helps her maintain condition and breed back on schedule.

For those looking for Milking Devon cows for sale, it's worth noting that Milking Devon steers, heifers, bulls, and dry cows fatten easily. This breed is an excellent choice for producing grass-fed beef with no grain supplementation, due to their remarkable efficiency in converting forage into growth and marbling. A reasonable dress-out percentage of 60% is common in well-bred steers.

Milking Devon steers marbled easily, even under less favorable conditions, with their fat being an appealing creamy white. When focused solely on cow-calf beef production, the Milking Devon cow does not require stripping when fresh, even though she lactates generously; she easily adjusts her milk volume to meet the demands of her calves. This natural flexibility makes the Milking Devon suitable for straight beef, dairy/beef, or even once-per-day milking programs.

Milking Devon cows also gain condition effortlessly. After grazing on pasture throughout the summer, herds can successfully winter on hay, stockpiled hay, and/or grass silage while still maintaining reserves for spring calving and freshening. Furthermore, Milking Devon steers can gain as much weight during winter on dry hay as they did when they were intensively rotated on perennial pastures the previous season. Those interested in acquiring South Devon heifers for sale will find that these attributes apply similarly.

(The above information was cited from the following sites, which also feature listings for American milking Devon for sale and milking Devon cows for sale: https://www.thecattlesite.com/ and https://www.milkingdevons.org/. You can also find South Devon heifers for sale on these platforms.)