Devon Cattle. 51' 



At this time cattle shows were not generally established, 

 and it was not, therefore, possible to test the merits of the 

 different herds. It was about 1831 that the Devon Agricultural 

 Society was established at Exeter. After this other shows were 

 started with the result that many began to take an interest in 

 the breed and to desire to obtain well-bred stock. This 

 naturally tended to increase the number of better class animals, 

 and to restore to Devonshire the prominent position she had 

 held in the cattle world. 



In 1851 Colonel Davy brought out the first volume of the 

 " Devon Herd Book," which in 1885 was taken over by the 

 Devon Cattle Breeders' Society. This herd book, started on a 

 small scale by a single individual, has now grown to a large 

 size. The number of entries in the book has reached a total 

 of 286 for bulls, and 689 for cows. 



The publication of the herd book tended to focus 

 attention to the different strains of blood, and, with the 

 development of railways and better facilities for shipping 

 cattle, has brought about their introduction into numerous 

 counties in the kingdom, whilst they are exported to America, 

 Australia, and to many foreign countries where now large 

 numbers of valuable herds have been established. They 

 are exceedingly popular in these countries, as they soon 

 accommodate themselves to, and will stand the change of, 

 soil and temperature. 



The general practice in the management of Devons is for 

 the cows to drop their calves in the autumn. Calves are almost 

 always suckled by the cows, and the custom is to put two 

 calves on to one coav. These are suckled by the cow for three- 

 and-a-half or four njonths, when they are weaned. Another 

 calf is often then put on to the cow, so that during one milking 

 period she may suckle three calves. After calving, the cows 

 usually receive long hay and two pounds and upwards of some 

 concentrated food such as cotton cake, bean meal, &c., the kind 

 given varying according to the market price. 



The cows are generally let out every day, when fine, for air 

 and exercise. The system of putting two calves on one cow is 

 at once seen to be an economical one, as it sets free one half 

 of the cows for dairy purposes. The Devon cow soon becomes 

 accustomed to having a second calf " mothered on to her," and 

 will make an excellent foster mother. 



In the early spring, the calves are turned out to grass as soon 

 as the weather permits. In the autumn they are brought in as 

 yearlings and kept through the winter in a store condition, 

 chiefly on hay and mangolds. During the second summer at 

 grass, they are treated in very much the same way as the first, 

 but the following winter they receive a little concentrated food, 



