Red Devons or similar - weights

[SarahP]

I know there are so many variables but I could do with knowing the rough weights for some Red Devon cattle. It is a fairly extensive system with lots of the grazing being on the edge of cliffs etc but they are housed during the winter and are on just silage. Ideally could do with knowing for (to the nearest 100kg):

- Yearlings
- 3-4 month old calves
- Stores @ roughly 18 months
- Finished cattle @ roughly 30 months

Any indications would be much appreciated !

 

[Poorbuthappy]

@bluepower

 

[MattWG]

Yearlings 350
3-4 months 1-150
Stores 4-450
Finished 450-550.
Cows 550-600.
We are a coastal farm and have Devon’s, they will get fat off fresh air but finishing them is tricky

 

[bluepower]

@bluepower

Trying to fight my way out of Devons at the moment. The HLS agreement ends next July and they are on this farm for that reason only now.
I have crossed several to Beef Shorthorn, Charolais and Simmental and the results are interesting.
I have a small bunch of 18 month Red Ruby steers to sell if anyone is interested!
Matt WGs weight estimates are not far out imo.

 

[SarahP]

Yearlings 350
3-4 months 1-150
Stores 4-450
Finished 450-550.
Cows 550-600.
We are a coastal farm and have Devon’s, they will get fat off fresh air but finishing them is tricky

@MattWG thank you so much

 

[SarahP]

Trying to fight my way out of Devons at the moment. The HLS agreement ends next July and they are on this farm for that reason only now.
I have crossed several to Beef Shorthorn, Charolais and Simmental and the results are interesting.
I have a small bunch of 18 month Red Ruby steers to sell if anyone is interested!
Matt WGs weight estimates are not far out imo.

@bluepower what are your beef shorthorn x’s like ?

 

[bluepower]

@bluepower what are your beef shorthorn x’s like ?

Really pleased with thm so far. I hope to keep the heifers to go into th herd. They should have more milk and better growth rate than pure Devons but should be fairly thrifty. I will only know that in a few years time.
If you are thinking of going down that route then choose a good bull with easy calving. I was lucky to have got an easy calver, the calves are certainly lively when they are born, more like Limms!

 

[MattWG]

Yeah we crossed a lot with the shorthorn and they look cracking calves but we were less lucky/picky about the bull and ended up calving quite a few.
In 5 years I’ve only calved 3 Devon’s to the Devon and probably calved 15 out of 70 this year to the shorthorn, an Angus over them might be better