THE DUAL-PURPOSE BREEDS OF CATTLE 319 



DEVON CATTLE. Figs. 59, 60. 

 By L. P. Sisson 



361. The Devon is a dual-purpose breed of cattle, 

 containing both beef and dairy types. Because of the 

 bright red color the animals are sometimes called 

 " Rubies." 



362. History in England. From time immemorial 

 there has been known in the south and west of England 

 and on the borders of Wales, especially in the county of 

 Devon, a breed of cattle of uniform red color, rather long 

 and graceful horns, well- 

 rounded and symmetri- 

 cal bodies and straight, 



broad backs, rather 

 lighter in bone than 

 some other breeds and 

 shorter in the legs, thus 



possessing many of the F[Q 59 . _ Devon bull . 



characters of the present- 

 day Devon. They were gentle and hardy, active and 

 accustomed to gaining their living while roaming over the 

 bleak moors or rocky hills of their rough native country. 

 Here they were known as the " red " cows. They were 

 the main reliance of their owners for dairy products. 

 These mountain-bred cattle were sought after as " feeders" 

 in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, as well as in Hereford. 

 Among the early breeders of importance should be 

 mentioned the Quartly and Davy families, through whose 

 efforts the Devons were greatly improved. For several 

 generations the Quartly family devoted themselves to 

 improving the Devons, and Francis Quartly, who began 



