The depth of the Devon’s history is as exciting as it is long.
With the Devon Cattle Breeders Society celebrating the 170th anniversary of the 1st Davy’s Devon Herd Book in 2021, the year has been earmarked as the breed’s time to shine. The Devon’s attributes include an intuitive perception of when agriculture is most in need of its strengths. Now is such a moment.
As agricultural systems continue to be in the spotlight worldwide, environmental schemes evolve and international trade deals develop; the astute resilience of Devon cattle addresses all these issues: future proofing farm businesses.
So the DCBS will be celebrating its Herd Book’s birthday in Red Ruby style, by bringing some unique contributions to the party: positively working in net zero systems, combating input costs, and securing bonuses on premium beef.
Origins
The breed is thought to be a combination of the Longifrons and the Urus, going back into the mists of time. Similarities in colour, shape and size suggest connections to other red British native breeds and the continental Salers.
Stories of international cattle trade not only go back to the early 1800s (with France), but also to the Pheonicians who came to The Westcountry for tin in the Bronze Age – bringing cattle with them as currency.
The breed became known as the Devon in the 1700s, presumably due to the high density within that county; although the geographic population of the Devon spread beyond The West Country even then.
Purpose
As an established beef breed today, many will be aware that the Devon was classed as a dual-purpose breed in modern history. Stalwarts of the breed will remember an odd Devon still running through milking parlours into the early 1970s.
Historically, versatility is even more deeply embedded in the Devon’s genes: in the 18th and 19th centuries the breed was also valued as a plough ox – working for 5 or 6 years before fattening out. Such oxen were also prized for their swiftness in harness: unladen wagons returning to fields in catchy weather would often travel at 6 mph – a speed unrivalled by other breeds.
Dangerous times
During the Napoleonic wars, when meat scarcity inflated prices to such an extent butchers’ trade endangered the breeding population; Francis Quartly of Champson was responsible for preserving some of the best Devon bloodlines. He was to the Devon breed, what Robert Bakewell was to the rest of British livestock.
Although the late 19th century to mid 20th century witnessed terrific Devon breeding stock exports to South America and Australasia; British Red Rubies were again put under extreme pressure in the 1970s and ’80s, due to the rise of supermarkets and their buying criteria.
During the 1960s Devon cattle were fulfilling a specific carcass market for shipped export of beef: sized for hanging compactly in the below-deck bulks; running parallel to which was a strengthening encouragement by the then Ministry of Agriculture for a switch to continental breeds in the name of efficiency. Based on increased animal size, the concept was to increase kilo meat to livestock unit output; which in turn provided efficiency in processing plants supplying supermarkets (more kg meat per carcass hook).
The turn of the millennium reinstated the Devon’s place in agriculture, by two means. The growing demand for premium beef, by chefs and the more diligent consumers, therefore increasing market share. Add to that stewardship schemes and reducing carbon footprint at farm level – systems that the Devon excels in, and the Red Ruby is firmly part of farming’s future.
Devon Cattle Breeders Society
Society records date back to 1851 when Lt. Col. John Tanner Davey (South Molton) published the first ‘Davy’s Devon Herd Book’. 132 bulls and 483 females were included in this edition, while Volume 144 (2020 entries) is currently set to list 58 bull and 1641 female registrations.
The Devon Cattle Breeders Society was formed in 1884, continually publishing Davy’s Herd Book from that time.
The Society’s purpose is to:
- maintain the purity of the breed
- improve the breed
- promote the breed
- publish Davy’s Devon Herd book
- manage registrations and transfers of cattle and membership subscriptions
- hold Society Show & Sales
With a depth of roots that proves the Devon’s adaptability in changing times, while remaining true to breed character; the DCBS is committed to successfully launching members, breeders and Red Rubies alike into the next 170 years.
Two histories of the breed have been published, 100 years apart:-
History of the Devon Breed of Cattle by James Sinclair (ed), 1893 Vinton & Co Ltd (London)
Red Rubies: A History of the Devon Breed of Cattle by Clive Thornton, 1993 Gabriel Communications (Manchester)
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