Devon Milking Cows (New Pics 1/29/14)

[Debby]

Here is Lark. Quite a bit bigger than the baby pictures posted earlier on this thread. She is 22 months old, just over 1000 lbs (according to the weight tape) and 16 days pregnant. I hope.

 

[fivecardstudpts]

How do these guys do in cold weather? Also, how are they for milking? I live in Maine and am looking for one or two milking cows. I have 15 acres, and am looking into getting a heritage breed. I love the look of these Devon's.
Thanks
Jessica

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

Awesome pics!!!
They are beautiful calves!! I am jealous!!
Milking isn't hard at all, as long as you are regular.
And the fresh milk is sooooo good, as well as everything else you can make out of it!!!

Congrats!!!!!

 

[WildRoseBeef]

How do these guys do in cold weather? Also, how are they for milking? I live in Maine and am looking for one or two milking cows. I have 15 acres, and am looking into getting a heritage breed. I love the look of these Devon's.
Thanks
Jessica

Devons were developed in England, and with proper breeding can do just fine in cold weather. Most british breeds like Red Poll, Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn are made for cold weather. Same with the dairy breeds originating in the colder temperate climates like brown swiss in the swiss alps. Of course the Europeans think that cattle can't fare well in the cold and like to keep them indoors, unlike most herds in the US and Canada.

 

[77Herford]

Aaaah. Good treat suggestions. I have some watermelon, too. I bet they like that. But the horse treats are the cleanest for training. Old pumpkin and watermelon is a little hard on the pockets.

Debby

I can't imagine cleaning out those pockets. My horses love Watermelon or most mellons. Yeah, I bet a horse treat would work.

 

[Royd Wood]

Of course the Europeans think that cattle can't fare well in the cold and like to keep them indoors, unlike most herds in the US and Canada.

Thats utter rubbish

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Of course the Europeans think that cattle can't fare well in the cold and like to keep them indoors, unlike most herds in the US and Canada.

Thats utter rubbish

Is it? Maybe I should've said that generally Europeans don't like the idea of cattle being housed outside rather than indoors in barns during cold winters. That sound a bit better?

 

[Royd Wood]

Of course the Europeans think that cattle can't fare well in the cold and like to keep them indoors, unlike most herds in the US and Canada.

Thats utter rubbish

Is it? Maybe I should've said that generally Europeans don't like the idea of cattle being housed outside rather than indoors in barns during cold winters. That sound a bit better?

I think this might sound better - Generally Europeans have good infrastructure which allows cattle to be housed in well designed ventilated buildings.

Barns lol

 

[Debby]

It has been over two years and here's what's going on with the Devons, Lark and Baby Cakes.

AI breeding didn't work, probably due to a combination of things. They are notoriously hard to catch in heat. I'm not an experienced breeder. And the frozen semen I had was of poor quality. Only about 15% were progessively motile.

So I borrowed a wonderful bull, Jack. He stayed with us throught the winter

The next year we had a bull calf and a heifer. They came out peanut sized--a little bigger than a fawn. :/

But the good news is, they fly right out and shoot across the stall, and they grow fast. Now, 14 months later, Lulu is a stout little replacement heifer.

And Ralph is a nice steer.

Meanwhile, I've borrowed another bull who was with us for three months this fall.

I'm sure at least one of the old girls is bred, and maybe both. So next year it is time to start selling and slaughtering or there won't be room for everyone in my five acres of pasture

That might be counting my chickens before they hatch. Or is that another forum?

 

[Debby]

Much to my surprise, I like Devon bulls very much. They basically act like cows except when they're "open for business." But in the interest of full disclosure, I'll say they aren't all like Jack and Russ (the second bull above).

Here's another Devon--a young bull named Duke who stayed on my place between being bought and going to his new home. His new owner wasn't ready for him until after his cows were bred by this years bull and then he took Duke home.

He came as a scruffy, temperamental little guy straight out of the tie barn where he spent the winter.

After a few months he filled out and shined up, but he always treated me with suspicion and would false charge me if ever he felt trapped or frightened. My cows put some manners on him, but I don't doubt that he would have done more than bluff if he had stayed with me long enough to mature. He went to a farm with a real herdsman who knew how to handle him and I understand that he isn't a bad sort now, 2 years later.

Devon bulls are very nice as bulls go, but they all need to be watched. I was never far from an electric fence that I could duck under in a hurry. : )

Here is one more picture of Russ enjoying a back scratch from his owner.

The story is that his original owner used to jump up on his back. Wish I had a picture of that! It sounds like one of those things that is much more fun to watch than to do. :/