About the Red Devon
Females: 650kg Bulls: 1000kg Height: up to 130cm at the shoulders (vs 150cm or so for Angus) Colour: deep ruby-red coat Horns: naturally horned but most registered cattle are now polled (hornless) Temperament: generally docile and placid
RED DEVON are feed-efficient, mediumsized beef cattle, smaller than many of the modern commercial beef breeds which tend to be heavier and have thicker, denser bones.
The breed was first developed in Devonshire, UK, as dual-purpose milk and beef cattle, and were brought into New Zealand during the 1850s.
They're bred to be hardy, good ‘do-ers' during phases of poor feed or when grazing on hard country. If well fed, they can reach their finishing weight 12 months faster than other beef breeds.
They also known for their gourmetquality, highly-marbled beef.
“We've only ever eaten Red Devon beef since we began farming them and love its flavour, tenderness and marbling,” says Karen Schumcher. “We have a walkin chiller and hang our meat for three weeks. The corned beef is to die for.
“Red Devon beef is the meat of choice for many top New Zealand and UK chefs.”
New Zealand Red Devon genetics are some of the purest in the world. New Zealand bulls are highly sought-after because they are smaller and closer to the original breed standard. Semen from New Zealand bulls has been sent all around the globe, even back to the UK.
They're popular because the New Zealand Red Devon Cattle Breeders Association doesn't allow any crossbreeding into the national herd. In the UK, the breed has Saler (pronounced ' Sa-lair') blood in it.
“You know immediately when you go into a UK herd with Saler bloodlines because the cattle instantly put their heads up and run away,” says Karen Schumacher. “That doesn't happen in our herds. We've been very diligent to try and ring-fence (the bloodlines).
“If you buy from a member of our association you can be assured of getting a purebred animal.”
There is no minimum number of animals needed to register with the association. It runs field trips and farm visits, and members share their knowledge with each other.
The association is now developing a long-term semen bank which would play a vital role in case of a serious bovine disease outbreak.