Any South Devon questions for me?

[Australian Cattleman]

Does anyone have any South Devon questions for me with regard to doing ability,milking,temperament etc anything.
Colin

 

[VanC]

Have read a lot of good things about them. Don't know why they're not more popular here. Probably need better marketing by their breed association.

In your opinion, are they better suited as a maternal or a terminal breed?

 

[Australian Cattleman]

They do need promotion and lots of it. Here in Australia the breed has been hindered by hobby farmers and those that do not make their income form cattle. These type of people have been the ones that have held office. Stifling common sense objectives. Too often these people have promoted the SD breed that they would be suitable for all types of country. This is incorrect. They after all are a British breed and do not do well in rugged country. They do need a softer type of country. Hence our move to cross them with our Brahman.Yes the breed is a very maternal breed. The South Devon breed I feel will not grow until more pure females are out there for the rank and file to use to cross a breed of their choice over. Then cattle breeders will see what a powerful productive cow is about. Our best steers are those crossed with Hereford (up to 3/4 SD) black baldy and Brahman. Some pure bloodlines of SD do not lend themselves to be grown out. They can be too late in maturing. We are selling calves tomorrow out of SD Hereford cows sired by Herefords. They are well fleshed and should weigh well. The first cross and up to 3/4 SD cow allows any breed to be crossed over them.as we are doing with our Hereford.
Colin

 

[KMacGinley]

Dispositions?

Nichols farms in Iowa raises some South Devons I believe.

 

[S.R.R.]

They after all are a British breed and do not do well in rugged country. They do need a softer type of country

That is a interesting statement. :? I have always been under the impression that a few of the British breeds are the most adaptable and hardy breeds there are. Please explain further. :?

 

[Jovid]

They after all are a British breed and do not do well in rugged country. They do need a softer type of country

That is a interesting statement. :? I have always been under the impression that a few of the British breeds are the most adaptable and hardy breeds there are. Please explain further. :?

Guess that's why I like my Red Polls as they do well in any type of country.

 

[BA]

The biggest US herd is on the Montana / Wyoming border in some fairly tough country and they do fine there. They can handle some rough country.

 

[Australian Cattleman]

Here in Australia there is rough and tough country that is good but there is a lot of downright poor country that even Brahmans don't do well on. I have seen SD breeders send cattle into Northern Australia and they performed poorly,maybe not due to entirely to the country but to other climatic anomalies,ticks flies and the heat etc. I am in the process of selling my late father's property about 75 miles south east of us (alt 400 feet av rain 40 ") It is country that British breeds fail to do well in though Droughtmasters and other Brahman crosses do well. We live at 3,000 feet in basalt and granite country with plenty of minerals etc available naturally to our cattle,so they do well here.
One thing I have noticed with South Devons is that after they get a bit lean over winter,they respond much more quickly to the change in seasonal conditions than our Brahmans do. Herefords have the same response for us as well.
Thank you for the comments
Colin

 

[topsquar]

most of the South Devons i have seen have big frames and look to be having trouble puting muscle on them, they are soft cattle as well. aussicattleman do you have problems selling horned bulls around glenIness, tenterfield area?

 

[Australian Cattleman]

Not too much trouble once people realise they are not the other Devons. Our cattle are medium to large framed. Our cattle are well muscled with good hindquarters. We have generally stuck with similar type bloodlines. Length and fleshing and good butt profile. The ema on most of our bulls would range from 125 to 135 cms.It does take a little longer to finish off pure SDs but crossed with other breeds its not a problem. My aim is to have a commercial herd of 3/4 South Devon 1/4 Hereford. This keeps them well fleshed and allows them to finish more quickly.
topsquar whereabouts in Australia are you?
Colin

 

[S.R.R.]

Here in Australia there is rough and tough country that is good but there is a lot of downright poor country that even Brahmans don't do well on. I have seen SD breeders send cattle into Northern Australia and they performed poorly,maybe not due to entirely to the country but to other climatic anomalies,ticks flies and the heat etc. I am in the process of selling my late father's property about 75 miles south east of us (alt 400 feet av rain 40 ") It is country that British breeds fail to do well in though Droughtmasters and other Brahman crosses do well. We live at 3,000 feet in basalt and granite country with plenty of minerals etc available naturally to our cattle,so they do well here.
One thing I have noticed with South Devons is that after they get a bit lean over winter,they respond much more quickly to the change in seasonal conditions than our Brahmans do. Herefords have the same response for us as well.
Thank you for the comments
Colin

The last I looked Droughtmasters are 50% shorthorn ie. british. ;-) You must be refuring to pure breeds or anything without some Bos indicus in them eh?