Tell me about Ruby Red/North Devon

[Jerry]

Im thinking about adding a small beef enterprise to the farm, mainly to complement by lamb direct sales as I get a lot of customers asking for beef as well who I currently direct to some one else who runs longhorns.

Im thinking North Devon's for a number of reasons:

Good eating qualities
Small breed that is meant to be pretty docile and easy to handle
Happy to graze not the best grass and are hardy
Can be out wintered in a normal year on my free draining ground
Should complement the sheep side of things nicely
I quite like the look of them and Dad used to run a few 40plus years ago so would like to do the same.

Do they live up to the hype of the breed society?

Will they thrive on second class grass and winter forage crops on arable ground?

 

[bluepower]

Im thinking about adding a small beef enterprise to the farm, mainly to complement by lamb direct sales as I get a lot of customers asking for beef as well who I currently direct to some one else who runs longhorns.

Im thinking North Devon's for a number of reasons:

Good eating qualities
Small breed that is meant to be pretty docile and easy to handle
Happy to graze not the best grass and are hardy
Can be out wintered in a normal year on my free draining ground
Should complement the sheep side of things nicely
I quite like the look of them and Dad used to run a few 40plus years ago so would like to do the same.

Do they live up to the hype of the breed society?

Will they thrive on second class grass and winter forage crops on arable ground?

I have some for sale with calves at foot , genuine cattle but coming out of a stewardship scheme. If you want to retail meat you will not find anything better for eating quality.

 

[jimmer]

There's only really two choices for a devonian
And Souths won't do on rough grazing as well......

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Get some galloways

 

[Jerry]

There's only really two choices for a devonian
And Souths won't do on rough grazing as well......

That's very true......

(But Dad was from Sussex so what he really wanted down here was Sussex Reds, but I was born down here and have much more of an allegiance to the proper Devon cattle)

 

[topground]

Get some galloways

He wants something docile and easy to handle. I have a Sheeted Somerset whose grand dam was a galloway cross and she is a bugger for not doing doing what she doesnt want to do!

 

[Jerry]

I have some for sale with calves at foot , genuine cattle but coming out of a stewardship scheme. If you want to retail meat you will not find anything better for eating quality.

Send me some more details....

But how do they fit with my questions above?

Will they do outside over winter, will they live of fresh air like the breed society say, are they easy to handle?

 

[Jerry]

Get some galloways

Can I catch them?
;-)

 

[Bury the Trash]

Get some galloways

If he was closer to the moor i would agree.

 

[JP1]

Can I catch them?
;-)

Sure. Buy and retain on temperament but I completely see why you'd go for rubies in Devon

 

[Jerry]

If he was closer to the moor i would agree.

Indeed, and see lots up on the moor or close to it.

Here Im about 2 mile from the coast!

 

[Jerry]

Sure. Buy and retain on temperament but I completely see why you'd go for rubies in Devon

One of the reasons, and its a big one, is it is a local breed, its recognised by a lot of the public and has a nice story behind it.

That's not really a barrier I see in the lamb sales, for that the grass fed angle is very good, coupled with locally farmed. That ticks a lot of boxes for my buyers.

My thought process with beef is that the buyers will buy into a local breed as well, cattle breeds having a higher profile I guess, if that makes sense.??

 

[JP1]

One of the reasons, and its a big one, is it is a local breed, its recognised by a lot of the public and has a nice story behind it.

That's not really a barrier I see in the lamb sales, for that the grass fed angle is very good, coupled with locally farmed. That ticks a lot of boxes for my buyers.

My thought process with beef is that the buyers will buy into a local breed as well, cattle breeds having a higher profile I guess, if that makes sense.??

You've also got to keep cattle you like

 

[Martyn]

One of the reasons, and its a big one, is it is a local breed, its recognised by a lot of the public and has a nice story behind it.

That's not really a barrier I see in the lamb sales, for that the grass fed angle is very good, coupled with locally farmed. That ticks a lot of boxes for my buyers.

My thought process with beef is that the buyers will buy into a local breed as well, cattle breeds having a higher profile I guess, if that makes sense.??

There is a breeder called Frankins at Trebarwith, North Cornwall, the herd has been there for hundreds of years and tough as boots, eat a lot of Heather, bracken, gorse and pp grazing always look well and out al year round. Don't think he's massive on the society front but very good stockman.

 

[jimmer]

That's very true......

(But Dad was from Sussex so what he really wanted down here was Sussex Reds, but I was born down here and have much more of an allegiance to the proper Devon cattle)

I've only been a native for 18 months and I bought a Ruby bull last week

 

[Jerry]

There is a breeder called Frankins at Trebarwith, North Cornwall, the herd has been there for hundreds of years and tough as boots, eat a lot of Heather, bracken, gorse and pp grazing always look well and out al year round. Don't think he's massive on the society front but very good stockman.

Thank you. Will look that up.

 

[Jerry]

I've only been a native for 18 months and I bought a Ruby bull last week

Glad to see you have seen the light!!

 

[Wooly]

That's very true......

(But Dad was from Sussex so what he really wanted down here was Sussex Reds, but I was born down here and have much more of an allegiance to the proper Devon cattle)

I came the other way.... Devon to Sussex......... but have Sussex cattle, although I did buy a token Devon cow.

Both excellent breeds that can turn poor quality grazing into meat without concentrates.

The main trouble you will have in Devon is the bl##dy TB situation. I suggest whatever you buy, make sure they are pedigree. At least then if they are taken out by TB they will be valued higher.

 

[gone up the hill]

I came the other way.... Devon to Sussex......... but have Sussex cattle, although I did buy a token Devon cow.

Both excellent breeds that can turn poor quality grazing into meat without concentrates.

The main trouble you will have in Devon is the bl##dy TB situation. I suggest whatever you buy, make sure they are pedigree. At least then if they are taken out by TB they will be valued higher.

Not always the case that pedigree's make more than non pedigree's on the TB table valuation charts.

 

[An Gof]

Im thinking about adding a small beef enterprise to the farm, mainly to complement by lamb direct sales as I get a lot of customers asking for beef as well who I currently direct to some one else who runs longhorns.

Im thinking North Devon's for a number of reasons:

Good eating qualities
Small breed that is meant to be pretty docile and easy to handle
Happy to graze not the best grass and are hardy
Can be out wintered in a normal year on my free draining ground
Should complement the sheep side of things nicely
I quite like the look of them and Dad used to run a few 40plus years ago so would like to do the same.

Do they live up to the hype of the breed society?

Will they thrive on second class grass and winter forage crops on arable ground?

They are beautiful cattle. My wife would love a small here but my father always uses to say the ground here was “too good for them” and they would just end up fat.
Not sure that is entirely correct as the Prince of Wales maintained a herd at the Duchy Home Farm at Stoke Climsland, now Duchy College.
They could do well with you. @bluepower is on the coast on some light land like yours.