Red Devon Cattle - Dual Purpose CattleNew Zealand History
Customer demands for the square, blocky, chiller carcass further depleted the breeding base as animals were sent to slaughter. Their resistance to disease and their tolerance of all weather conditions ensured their survival in srnall pockets. In 1954 Mr G. Holmes of Rakaia, South Island imported cows from Tasmania to found the Holmslee stud adding several excellent imported bulls from England and Tasmania. Fairnington Orange 43rd, one of several foundation cows imported by Mr W. Kearney and Mr A. Beazley still features in many Northland pedigrees. Later Mr H. Squires of Cannington founded the Squireleigh Herd both he and his son having good show results. Hedley Squires was invited to judge at the Royal Show in England, he later imported Essington Buccaneer a Royal Show winner.
The Devons ability to thrive in hard conditions, its docility and the production of more beef per hectare resulted in increased popularity through the seventies and early eighties. In 1980 performance recording was taken over by the Beef Plan computer system, this is still a mandatory requirement of the Association, the first breed to introduce this rule despite some initial resistance. Darcy Gilberd imported Bourton Marquis in 1982, a polled bull as this factor was becoming popular with dairy farmers when buying a terminal sire for dairy beef. Polled cattle were integrated into the register and such AI bulls as Minety Dollies Objective and Dingle Objective have influenced the spread of polled animals. The Meat Industry insist that no horned animals go to the works so all horned calves require dehorning. World influences an the viability of farming, and the fashionable trend of using large exotics for cross breeding caused Devon numbers to fall drastically in the early nineties. Membership of the Association dwindled to under thirty recorded herds. Even these loyal breeders reduced the numbers of registered cows to only their better animals. Happily this past two years has seen an increase in numbers and the welcome setting up of new herds. If sustainable farming is to continue it will be the hardy, reliable, no nonsense breeds that provide the best profits and Devons are ideal for meeting these criteria. The enthusiasm for Devons in the commercial market place in 1999 shows their attributes are now being more widely recognised and augers well for the breed.
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Devons came to New Zealand with the British pioneers. In 1838 James Busby imported 20 heifers and a bull from England. He used this nucleus to develop animals for the haulage teams as well as providing the smallholders with meat and milk. Drovers loved them for their docility and for the sweeping horns that helped define widths on the primitive tracks. Northland has stayed faithful to Devons. Names such as Hansen and Dodds being associated with the breed well into the 1960's. With the coming of rnetalled roads their use as draught animals declined and beef production became their main purpose.
In 1972 Mr D.J. Gilberd spear headed a drive to re-establish Devons throughout New Zealand. Acquiring Red Devons from every available source he was instrumental in forming the first Devon Breed Society. He enlisted the help of Dr Clive Dalton to find a sound classification system to standardise breed characteristics. Several Devon Clubs were formed, the Northland Club continuing toward the next millennium. Supporters of the Northland Hoof and Hook Contest the late Mr M. Porter and his wife had one 17 month old Devon heifer yielding 75.70% saleable product.
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