American Milking Devon

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American Milking Devon
Livestock Conservancy (2022): critical[3]
Country of originUnited States
Distribution
  • United States
  • Canada
Usedual-purpose, milk and beef
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    500–600 kg[4]: 244 
  • Female:
    400–500 kg[4]: 244 
Coatred
Horn statushorns of medium size
  • Bos (primigenius) taurus

    • The American Milking Devon is an American

    Livestock Conservancy as 'critical'.[3]

    History

    Calves in a field at the National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park
    At Mount Vernon

    In 1624, the first cattle – three heifers and a bull – were brought by

    Devon cattle breed had at that time not yet come into existence.[4]: 244  Over the next two centuries a population of cattle of this type was built up, and gradually spread along the east coast as far south as Florida.[8][3]

    From the early nineteenth century, British cattle were imported to New England with the aim of upgrading the Devon. At first these were

    breed association, the American Devon Cattle Club, was formed in the latter part of the nineteenth century.[4]
    : 244 

    By 1900 the Devon was rarely found outside

    mechanization of agriculture and the development of specialized meat and milk breeds meant that there was little or no remaining demand for triple-purpose cattle; the breeding aims of the Devon were concentrated almost exclusively on beef production.[4]: 244 [3] The American Milking Devon was established as a separate breed in 1978 with the formation of the American Milking Devon Cattle Association; the aim was to preserve the older colonial type of multi-purpose cattle.[4]: 244 [3]

    The Milking Devon is a

    FAO lists it as 'at risk'/'critical-maintained'.[2] It was formerly included in the Slow Food Ark of Taste.[8]

    It is distributed in thirty-four American states, and is also present in Canada.[4]: 244 [2] In 2016 a total population of 211 head was reported;[2] in 2021 the Livestock Conservancy estimated the total number to be approximately 500.[3]

    Characteristics

    The American Milking Devon is of medium size: bulls weigh some 500–600 kg (1100–1300 lb), cows about 100 kg (220 lb) less.[4]: 244  The coat is a dark, glossy ruby-red. The horns are of medium length, white with black tips.[4]: 244 [9] It is physically hardy, with good resistance to harsh weather, and does well on a low-input diet high in forage.[10][3]

    Use

    The Devon was traditionally a triple-purpose breed, reared for draft work, for milk and for beef. The modern American Milking Devon is a dual-purpose animal, providing both meat and milk,[4]: 244  and is also kept for cultural heritage reasons.[3][9] It may still be used for draft purposes.[3]

    References

    1. ISBN 9789251057629
      . Archived 23 June 2020.
    2. ^ a b c d Breed data sheet: Milking Devon / United States of America (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed July 2022.
    3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Milking Devon Cattle. The Livestock Conservancy. Archived October 20, 2021.
    4. ^
      ISBN 9781780647944
      .
    5. ISBN 9789054390176
      .
    6. ISBN 0-88082-180-9
    7. ISBN 9781250108562
    8. ^
      Slow Food USA
      . Archived April 10, 2010.
    9. ^ a b Heritage Breed Livestock Conservation: Milking Devon cattle. Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park. Archived October 20, 2016.
    10. ^ Sustainable Beef: Milking Devon. National Geographic. Archived June 25, 2011.

    Further reading

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Milking Devon.
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