62 South Devon Cattle. 



the two South Devon competitors (Mr. Vesper's) gained third 

 and fifth prizes, the milk yield being 167-4 and 167-14 lb., and 

 the butter production 6 lb. 10| oz. and 5 lb. 4 oz., the ratio of 

 butter being 25-()6 and 26-86 respectively, the South Devons 

 secuiing second and third in milking tests. They did better 

 in 1910 by securing both first and second in the milk and 

 butter tests at the Bath and West Show, one cow producing 

 over 7 gallons of milk and the other over 3 lb. of butter. At 

 Tring Cowslip 5th was third for butter and fourth for milk, 

 and at the Dairy Show Honesty 7th gave 125-7 lb., and Mr. 

 Cundy's Iris 122-8 lb., in the two days' milkings. The breed 

 also won distinction at the Dairy Show, where Messrs. Whitley's 

 Fancy (bred by Mr. T. Willing) captured the Spencer Cup with 

 12()9 points, with Mr. Vosper's Ladybird third, scoring 120-5 

 points, and both giving over 50 lb. of milk in the day's test. 



Mr. J. S. Wroth reports that one of his cows was in milk 

 for 261 days, and gave 1,047 gallons, equivalent to 4 gallons 

 a day, and during one period of lactation six cows belonging 

 to Mr. R. E. Cocks, who possesses a large milking herd at 

 Ranelegh, Wembury, averaged 969 gallons. 



As previously indicated, the animals mentioned are but 

 typical, but it would be no difficulty to find a vast number of 

 South Devons which could be guaranteed to produce from three 

 to four gallons daily during the period of lactation, and when 

 they have served their day in the dairy they can be rapidly 

 ripened for the butcher. 



The South Devon is par excellence a dual purpose animal. 

 The breed has been known at Smithfield for twenty years or 

 more, and their bulky and symmetrical carcasses, with their 

 record of rapid flesh forming, has commended them to the 

 butcher, who looks for quality combined with substance, and 

 it has been found that the breed is exceedingly profitable, 

 producing heavy rounds and being very good in the loin, with 

 deep, thick ribs, while the proportion of lean meat to fat is 

 exceptionally high. 



It is no unusual circumstance to find steers in the Christmas 

 markets with a live weight of a ton or more, and on many 

 occasions that weight has been greatly exceeded by the colossal 

 bulls which have figured so prominently in the Royal and 

 other showyards. 



Probably the heaviest beast yet bred was Coleridge Hero, 

 a noted prize-winning bull, bred by Mr. W. J. Crossing. His 

 live weight was 30 cwt., and when killed at Plymouth in 1907 

 his flesh was found to be of a very rich colour and fine quality. 

 He was 6^ years old, and his dead weight 18 cwt. 7 lb. — fore- 

 quarters were 5 cwt. 10 lb. and 4 cwt. 3 qr. 6 lb. ; hind-quarters 

 4 cwt. 13 lb. and 4 cwt. 6 lb. He carried 19 score of loose fat. 



