Devon Cattle are an iconic part of west country life. Easily spotted with their thick, curly ruby coloured coats, a herd of Devons creates a fine site set against the backdrop of our lush green landscape.

The Devon has been in existence for hundreds of years, indeed one of the oldest of our native breeds. The first Devon Herd Book was printed in 1851 and has been in continuous print ever since. As with most things in life, there is a good reason why the Devon has endured and it’s not just because of its good looks!

The Devon is a very hardy, long-lived animal, able to thrive in all extremes of climate. They can be found in the midst of the winter 1500feet above sea level on top of Exmoor, and also on the pampas of Brazil in searing heat. Indeed, the Devon is one of our great British exports; there are widely found in America, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

Nowadays, with pressures on land and resources of all kinds, we are all beginning to value again the ability of an animal such as the Devon to produce the very finest beef on a low input system. Its enduring qualities ensures the Devon has a future as strong as its heritage is rich and can justly lay claim to being “part of farming’s future”.

If you’d like to find out more about this lovely breed of cattle, they can be seen in the cattle lines at many County & local West Country shows in the Summertime. Also take a look at our website www.redrubydevon.co.uk or contact the Devon Cattle Breeders’ Society.