Beef Devon cattle anyone have some?

unioncreek · #1 03/08/05, 05:25 PM

I've been reading lately about beef type Devon's and how well they finish on forages. Does anyone have any and what is the prices on heifers/cows.

Any info appreciated.

BobG

Jena · #2 03/09/05, 08:06 AM

I have South Devons. Devons and South Devons are different breeds, but I love my South Devons. Great mommas, great attitudes and the fastest growing calves in the pasture. I have gone to see some to buy and been asked to pay $1800 for bred cows and $1200 for open heifers. In the end, I bought some older cows, with heifers on them, for $800. That was 2 years ago. The heifers just calved this year. One had an exceptional calf, but we had to pull him.

Jena

unioncreek · #3 03/09/05, 08:46 AM

Jena,

Do the South Devons finish out on just forage as good as the Beef type Devons? From what I have been reading they will fatten on a forage and thus will work good for grass fed beef. I just in the preliminary stages of trying to decide if this would be a worth while venture.

Thanks,

BobG

Jena · #4 03/09/05, 06:15 PM

I don't do grass fed, so I don't know. I have a hard time believing some of the claims people make about foraging ability. Any steer will finish on grass...it just takes forever (IMHO).

Jena

unioncreek · #5 03/10/05, 08:52 AM

Jena,

I have just been looking at finishing calve on grass and selling at butchered beef. I was raised on grain fed beef and if I want to eat beef it has to be good. I have a neighbor who raises Highlanders and pasture finishes them. I bought a quarter off of him to try and it was like eating wild game and he is now getting $4.00/pound. The beef type Devons are said to fatten on grass with good marbling, so I thought I would check around. I may have to wait to get a few more cows since I lost over half my pasture this year due to one of the pasture being sold.

Bobg