Tell me about Ruby Red/North Devon

[Poorbuthappy]

He either helved or he belved. Some calves can both helve and belve!

NB. "Bowlved" is a very rare Exmoor pronunciation of the word belved, if anyone's heard it in relation to mimicking the sound of a red deer stag.

Yes a previous boss says "bowlved"
But I think "blaaaar" describes it pretty well

 

[JP1]

With Galloways the question is can they catch you?

One bought in cow rubbed me about when I tagged the first calf she had with me. I genuinely feel it was not "nasty" and she can stay. Every other cow I (now) have on the place, I know how they react and tag / ring in the field . There's two (Mother and Daughter) where the only protection you need is ear defenders from the claxon shouting down your lug hole whilst you're gripping her beloved calf - clearly decibels are a genetically inheritable trait (@egbert Foxworthy and Daughter)

 

[Jerry]

Dragging this old thread thread up after a summer of looking and dithering and being too busy to get my act together.

But in the last few weeks been to see a few groups and have found some one who has a nice herd and about 20 spring born stirks for sale.

All birth notified and sired by a Priorton bull. Some good genetics in the Dams as well. All calves this year born unaided and often unseen. All birth notified so can upgrade to full pedigree if wanted.

They are run up on the Edge of Dartmoor and some fairly poor and wet ground but well looked after. Have provisionally picked a bunch out and will go back after Christmas to do a final pick as their annual Tb test is Friday. (no history of a breakdown in over 15 years).

Got another group to see who are about 8 months older but think these have been harder done by but hard to tell from pictures alone.

Just now got to get my head around current worming protocols and the paperwork side of things. Have spoken to Animal Health and all fine as regards herd number etc. and vets on side.

 

[beefandsleep]

Nice cattle but maybe a bit on the small side to be a serious proposition for mainstream suck calf production. How do they deal with a Charolais bull?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Nice cattle but maybe a bit on the small side to be a serious proposition for mainstream suck calf production. How do they deal with a Charolais bull?

Small is more efficient, providing carcass specs are met.

 

[bluepower]

Dragging this old thread thread up after a summer of looking and dithering and being too busy to get my act together.

But in the last few weeks been to see a few groups and have found some one who has a nice herd and about 20 spring born stirks for sale.

All birth notified and sired by a Priorton bull. Some good genetics in the Dams as well. All calves this year born unaided and often unseen. All birth notified so can upgrade to full pedigree if wanted.

They are run up on the Edge of Dartmoor and some fairly poor and wet ground but well looked after. Have provisionally picked a bunch out and will go back after Christmas to do a final pick as their annual Tb test is Friday. (no history of a breakdown in over 15 years).

Got another group to see who are about 8 months older but think these have been harder done by but hard to tell from pictures alone.

Just now got to get my head around current worming protocols and the paperwork side of things. Have spoken to Animal Health and all fine as regards herd number etc. and vets on side.

I would be very cautious about calving ease with Devons as in my experience they are not the easiest . To think that they were all born unaided and often unseen is a sheer myth. I kept Devons for 20 years and would have pulled an awful lot of calves off. They cannot be left to get on with it. They will also be lacking in vigour, unless they are crossbred so that makes them fairly dopey for their early days. Watch udders as there are still far too many cows about with bad shaped udders and enormous teats which causes an awful lot of work at calving time. Just my thoughts.

 

[Jerry]

r. Have provisionally picked a bunch out and will go back after Christmas to do a final pick as their annual Tb test is Friday. (no history of a breakdown in over 15 years).

Just had a call, they've passed their annual test on Friday so looks like all systems go for after Christmas.

Big development for this farm as not had own cattle here for nearly 30 years.

But it firmly backs up my view mixed farming here is right for the soil and the business with a focus on grass fed beef and lamb to a high standard selling to a local market.

Im probably completely delusional but one has to try!

 

[Roy_H]

The last Angus bull I had was a cow killer. He was only here one year and left a trail of c sections and dead cows behind. I know you can get that in any breed but it put me off AA.

What generally sells better? AA or Hereford? I'll still be AI to BB because they're the only thing that can really put shape on a jersey but I need something to catch the tail end cows.

Maybe too much N. American influence. Many moons ago Genus had an AA which had a lot of Canadian blood in him . However he was soon turned into beefburgers as he was causing so many bad calvings in heifers.

 

[Jerry]

Well first lot have been picked up today....

 

[ed g]

Look like nice heifers - which herd did you buy them from

 

[jimmer]

Your driving in a field!!!!!

 

[sidjon]

Your driving in a field!!!!!

Boys land

 

[Sid]

I would be very cautious about calving ease with Devons as in my experience they are not the easiest . To think that they were all born unaided and often unseen is a sheer myth. I kept Devons for 20 years and would have pulled an awful lot of calves off. They cannot be left to get on with it. They will also be lacking in vigour, unless they are crossbred so that makes them fairly dopey for their early days. Watch udders as there are still far too many cows about with bad shaped udders and enormous teats which causes an awful lot of work at calving time. Just my thoughts.

Calving ease?
I've supplied approximately 10 calves last spring to a guy who lost loads from his devons.
Whether it was due to poor management, the breed or luck I don't really know.

 

[Sid]

Your driving in a field!!!!!

Cant get into some fields here with a quad let alone a truck...with a loaded box!

 

[Jerry]

Your driving in a field!!!!!

wasn’t even in 4WD....?

 

[Jerry]

Look like nice heifers - which herd did you buy them from

Wallen down near Chagford

 

[Sid]

wasn’t even in 4WD....?

I reckon you might get a bit dry in the summer though.

 

[primmiemoo]

Ben' o'm b'uddies!

 

[neilo]

I reckon you might get a bit dry in the summer though.

@Jerry almost deserves it for posting pictures of a truck & trailer on a grass field without leaving a mark just now.

 

[Jerry]

@Jerry almost deserves it for posting pictures of a truck & trailer on a grass field without leaving a mark just now.
[/QUOT

@Jerry almost deserves it for posting pictures of a truck & trailer on a grass field without leaving a mark just now.

I’ll remind you of that when I’m burnt to a crisp come June