In my farming life, I’ve had the chance to work with several different breeds of cattle. However, there’s one breed that has always been the favourite on our farm: South Devon cattle. Their unique combination of characteristics make them perfect for our modest family farm. In this post, I’ll delve into the reasons why South Devon cattle have been the core of our herd for decades and why I believe they deserve more recognition.
What is the South Devon cattle breed?
South Devons are predominantly a beef breed of cattle. Historically they were a multi-purpose breed, reared for both beef and dairy production. However as other dairy breeds have become more successful, South Devon cattle are primarily a beef breed today.
South Devon cattle origins
The South Devon cattle breed originated in the South Hams region of Devon, England. This region is known for its fertile pastures and mild climate, which are ideal for cattle rearing. The South Hams’ rolling hills and picturesque valleys provided ample grazing land for South Devon cattle, allowing them to thrive and develop their unique characteristics.
The breed is thought to have descended from North Devon cattle and Channel Island cattle. This suggests that South Devon cattle have a complex genetic heritage, drawing on the strengths of both these breeds. North Devon cattle are known for their hardiness and adaptability, while Channel Island cattle are prized for their milk production. The combination of these traits likely contributed to the development of the South Devon breed’s desirable qualities.
Early records from the 14th century describe red cattle in the region. These records provide evidence of the presence of red cattle in South Devon for centuries, indicating a long history of cattle farming in the area. The distinctive reddish-brown coat of South Devon cattle is a characteristic that has been passed down through generations, reflecting their ancient lineage.
By the late 18th century, South Devon cattle were well known throughout England. This suggests that the breed had become established and popular in other parts of the country, demonstrating its adaptability and desirable qualities. The reputation of South Devon cattle for their hardiness, good beef quality, and docile temperament likely contributed to their widespread popularity during this period.
For a more in-depth study of the history of the South Devon cattle breed’s origin, see this paper from the British Agricultural History Society (BAHS).
South Devon cattle characteristics
South Devon cattle typically have a coat of medium red, a similar colouring to the continental Limousin breed of cattle. They do not have any other markings, and other features like their muzzle should be free of blotches. Any signs of white on their body or darker colouring around their muzzle usually suggests they have another breed crossed in.
South Devon cattle are renowned for their docile temperament and good maternal ability. Docile cattle are gentle, calm, and easy to handle. They are not easily agitated or aggressive, making them pleasant to work with. This sets them apart from other slightly more productive breeds that can be flighty or even aggressive. Aggressive cattle are prone to becoming agitated or even violent, making them difficult to manage and potentially dangerous.
Despite some continental breeds becoming more popular for their ability to grow faster and give higher carcass weights, South Devon beef is of a very high-quality and is renowned for its tenderness, flavor, and marbling.
The characteristics of the South Devon breed are described in greater detail by the South Devon Herd Book Society.
South Devon cattle disadvantages
No cattle breed is perfect, and South Devon cattle are no exception. Today, their growth rate is not considered the fastest with breeds both native and continental outperforming them. Similarly they have a smaller frame than some of these breeds. South Devon cattle are still decent performers in both of these respects, but there are other breeds that are both bigger and faster growing than South Devon cattle.
Although South Devon cattle make good mothers, some of their negative traits become apparent during calving season. Calves can grow large before birth, and once born can be quite sleepy. We often give help at calving and first feeding to get our calves out and up and running. Experienced cows may also develop large teats, which sleepy newborn calves can find tricky to get first feeds from.
Our first-time-calving heifers that have been put with our South Devon bull almost always require help at calving, and there can be a lot of pulling involved. I was stuck late one night by how easily I alone was able to calve a heifer that had been put to an Angus bull. The slender calf came away so easily. It really hit home how much extra effort is needed for South Devon calves at calving season.
There is also such a thing as too much docility. Some of our cattle are so docile, they can be difficult to move through our handling system. They’ll quietly stand stock still rather than proceed down the race.
Black South Devon cattle
Some farmers with longer memories may refer to black South Devon cattle. Although historically a dual purpose breed, South Devon cattle are rarely kept primarily for dairy anymore. As more productive dairy breeds became popular in the 20th century, one way South Devon cattle farmers tried to keep apace was to cross in the Friesian breed.
This was indented to boost the South Devon’s dairy credentials whilst still being useful as a beef animal. The result of this crossbreed is a South Devon shaped cow that is entirely black. As we now put black South Devon cows to a red bull, we occasionally have black cows with red calves as the Friesian breeding is thinned down.
One of our black South Devon cattle that has given birth to a red calf.
Breeds that are more popular than South Devon cattle
As more productive breeds such as the Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle dominate the dairy industry, South Devon cattle still have their place in the beef industry, however they tend to be less popular at market than some other breeds, both continental and native.
Limousin cattle are probably the most dominant beef breed in our region, attracting higher prices at market than most. Their larger frames and speedier growth make them a natural replacement for the South Devon cattle where productivity is the prime directive. However their temperament can be poor in comparison, making them tricky to handle.
Aberdeen Angus are a native breed that are more popular for beef production. Their tendency to produce smaller, slender calves make calving much easier, which is why we’ve started crossing this breed into our herd.
The 3 reasons why we prefer South Devon cattle on our farm
Ultimately, cattle breed selection is about balancing multiple positive and negative traits to make an informed decision. A breed may not be the best in a particular characteristic for that still to be an important driver in selecting that breed.
- Temperament: South Devons are incredibly docile and easy to work with. I’ve worked with aggressive cattle and its unnecessarily stressful when cattle handling involves extra risk. South Devons are relaxed and very easy to handle.
- Tasty beef: I always enjoy the taste of my beef. Just the other night at the pub, some friends were telling me they’ve decided not to bother with any other beef than ours from the farm.
- Good mothering: Calving can be tricky and slow calves hard to get going, but once they’re up and running, the South Devon cows make good mothers. We’ve had much more trouble with other breeds that we’ve tried to bring into the herd like British Blues, where we often had to put calves to suck repeatedly in the early days.
South Devon cattle are a well-performing beef breed in productivity terms, but it’s their temperament that makes them beloved by our farm. Whilst other breeds outperform them both in production and at market, ease of handling makes cattle rearing a much more relaxing venture.