Devon Point Farm - American Milking Devons

The Milking Devon is a medium sized triple-purpose breed adapted to survive on a low-quality, high forage diet under severe climatic conditions. They are healthy, long lived, and thrive on good care and management.

The characteristics of the North Devon or Milking Devon are compactness and general beauty, hardiness, activity, intelligence, docility, aptitude to fatten, and quality of milk. Straight, broad, level backs, roundness of form, fineness of bone are descriptions all associated with this beautiful animal.

The breed is red in color and because of this they often are nick named "Red Rubies", varying in shade from a deep rich red to light red or chestnut color, but no black is admissible. They may only show white on the tail switch, udder or scrotum. The skin is yellow to pink in color, visible around the eyes and on the nose. "The head is adorned, in case of the female, with particularly elegant, creamy white, sharp pointed, black-tipped horns of medium length, having good elevation at the junction with the head and curving upward. In the bull the horns are shorter in proportion to thickness, straighter, and less raised."

Today, Devon's are still sought out for use as oxen. Those qualities so highly prized by the colonists can still be found in today's Devon's. Devon's were highly valued as oxen in the establishment of the American Colonies, due to their great strength, intelligence, fast pace, and endurance.

In 1858, William Youatt a noted expert in the field of cattle stated that "the Devon as an aboriginal breed of cattle is a very valuable one, and they seem to have arrived at the highest point of perfection."
Today's breeders strive to maintain these very same qualities in the modern Milking Devon.

The Milking Devon cow is especially elegant with her compact rounded form, and when treated with kindness, possesses a docile temperament. They have very few calving difficulties and adequate milk production to raise a calf and for use on the small farm.

The Milking Devon bull is noted for his ease of handling and even temperament, when treated kindly.

Devons were highly valued as oxen in the establishment of the American Colonies, due to their great strength, intelligence, fast pace, and endurance.

Today, Devons are still sought out for use as oxen. Those qualities so highly prized by the colonists can still be found in today's Devons.

Today's breeders strive to maintain these very same qualities in the modern Milking Devon.

- Courtesy of the Milking Devon Association