The American Devon Cattle Association presents a representative group of typical Devon cattle of varying ages. These examples are being used in our updated promotion materials. ADCA members may obtain copies of these if requested.
by Jeremy Engh
If Devon cattle have a “secret weapon”, it is that the breed found its way into the hands of practical farmers and cattlemen. The early breeders established and stayed with certain sound selection goals that combined mothering ability, hardiness, growth and carcass merit.
Fortunately, Devon breeders managed to avoid the “bandwagon fads” that from time to time have hit— and later handicapped— many of the other beef breeds in the United States. But let’s get down to specifics. Here are 10 good reasons why you should consider Devon for your pastures:
1. Carcass value
Of the Devon carcasses evaluated in this country, 96% have met the demands of the most stringent beef retailers. That means that their tenderness scores have been 1.5 or better and quality grades of choice or better. Back fat measurements of .35” or thicker have also been achieved. Devon-crossed cattle achieved those same numbers in 89% of the cattle compared to other crosses 62%.
2. Fertility
Everything about Devon strongly speaks to the breed’s fertility. It’s not unusual for a top Devon heifer to breed at 10 months of age, calve before she is two, and rebreed in 45 days. Devon heifers routinely show estrus by 300 days. Devon bull calves have been known to breed cows by 7 months of age. Mature Devon bulls routinely cover 65 cows in a breeding season. The top-selling Devon bull’s semen has a live rate of over 90%. Compare that to the national average of 58%!
3. Maternal ability
Maternal abilities go hand-in-hand with fertility. Devon mothers routinely cycle before they’re a year old. Their rich milk production and high butterfat (4.5%) enables Devon owners to wean calves that exceed half their mother’s body weight.
4. Longevity
The average age of beef cattle in this country is five. The average age of Devon cattle is 7. In 2002, 15% of Devon females in this country were 15 years or older. One of our breeders has cows still producing at the age of 18 and a herd bull who is 14. Devon are structurally sound, have correct udders and robust constitutions. That means that Devon cattle will remain productive in your herd much longer than other breeds.
5. Grass finished
“Supreme Beef on Grass” is our motto! Devon have been bred to produce succulent beef from a grass diet for centuries. Because of this trait, the future of Devon cattle is not tied to grain supplies and high fuel and labor prices. They will always be the most economical to finish. That is why Devon is so popular today in countries from Brazil to Australia.
6. Pre-potency of genetics
Devon cattle did not take part in the feedlot madness that has had a stranglehold on the American beef industry since World War II. This kept the breed firmly in the hands of Devon breeders who insured the integrity of the breed’s genetics. No breed has a purer genetic base than the Devon and we will continue to insure the genetic integrity and stability of the breed.
7. Disposition
Devon has always been “the family’s cow”. They were selected to be the first cattle to come to the New World because they could weather the hazardous trip and thrive in the unfriendly conditions of the wilderness. They provided the colonists with their milk, their meat and their muscle. This close relationship with man has insured that they are first and always, docile!
8. Hide value
Devon have the thickest hides of any cattle in the world. That means that Devon cattle have better resistance to external parasites. It also means that Devon cattle tolerate weather changes and extremes of temperature. All this put together means healthier, tougher, more profitable cattle.
9. Adaptability
The Devon’s robust constitution has enabled them to flourish in the diverse environments of Brazil, Australia, Canada, Africa and the Middle East. You’ll find Devon breeders from Louisiana and Texas up to Washington and Maine. Trials consistently show that Devons not only excel on low nutrition but grow as fast as other purebreds receiving high nutrition diets.
10. Heritage
Link to the History page for a look at the story of the Devon. It has played a part in civilization from Biblical times to the Roman Empire to the founding of our country. For some Devon breeders, this rich history is reason enough to keep the breed growing. All Devon breeders share a deep appreciation for this splendid animal.
There you have my 10 answers to the question “Why Devon?” Others who know the cattle well would add still other answers. That’s why I hope you will contact our Association and visit a breeder in your area. You owe it to yourself to get to know these wonderful cattle.
Because it is a truly win-win-win proposition: good for the cow, good for the cattleman and good for the consumer. Let’s take them in reverse order:
The smart ones figured out a long time ago that grass-fed beef is far better for them. First, it doesn’t contain all those growth hormones, anti-biotics and animal by-products. It’s also lower in fat. Switching to grass-fed beef lowers your risk of a number of diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.
Grass-fed meat has two to four times more omega-3s— the so-called “good fat”. They’re an important building-block in every cell of your body. People with enough omega-3 are less likely to have heart problems. In fact, they’re 50% less likely to suffer heart attacks. They’re also less likely to suffer from depression, attention deficit disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.
In short, just from a health standpoint, grass-fed beef stacks up favorably against chicken, pork and fish.
Feeding cattle is the industry’s biggest expense by far. Grass-fed cows feed themselves! Most Devons spend their lives never tasting grain. So check your budget and see what eliminating feeds bills does to improve your bottom line.
Grass-fed cows are great for the revenue side of your ledger, too. Today’s health-conscious consumers pay a premium for natural beef. It’s a growing market and grass farmers are having trouble keeping up with the demand. Prices keep going up!
And don’t even get us started on direct retail opportunities. It’s not uncommon for some of our members to double their income (or more) by taking their animals right through the final sale.
They’re herbivores, of course. Sure they like grain— just as your kids like sugar. But it’s not good for them. Their stomachs aren’t built to process anything but grass. A lot of the drugs pumped into cows are just to overcome the affects of the grain they’re fed.
So cows do better doing what comes naturally. And Devon do better than most. They routinely breed back in six weeks— wean calves more than half their weight— and even “finish” on grass. Ever hear of British roast beef? Well, it’s Devon. Docility translates directly into tenderness.
Finally, and not to get too sentimental about it, have you ever asked a cow if it wants to spend the last months of its life in a feedlot? Enough said.
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