Why South Devons?

Why South Devons?

The South Devon is ideally suited for the modern pedigree or commercial suckler herd, its outstanding maternal strengths combining with its low-cost beef performance to make it an essential component for efficient green beef production.

Indeed, the breed has a place in any beef production unit looking to maximise efficiencies and resources to increase a herd’s economic performance and to complement arable systems for regenerative soil health.

Its flexibility makes it an easy cross with an extensive range of other breeds, native or continental, for additional hybrid vigour and to suit all management systems.

Beef animals consistently produce R & U grades, and finish quickly and efficiently at the desired carcase weight required by today’s beef processor and butcher.  More kilos = more £s

VIEW CASE STUDYS

South Devons add value through:

Growth from grass

Highly competitive growth rates and feed efficiency from low-cost forage diet

Naturally milky mothers

Plentiful rich milk; hardy and versatile; long-lived and productive

Ease of management

Exceptionally quiet temperament; easy and safe to handle

Adaptability and sustainability

Easily adapts to its environment and nutrition; long years of production; premium for well-finished cull cows

Superior eating quality

Marbled, well-grained meat; grass-fed suckled linked to Omega-3 health benefits

AHDB Native Beef Breed Rankings

The AHDB National Beef Evaluations were launched in late 2018, providing the first set of EBVs for UK beef cattle based on commercially sourced data.  Performance and pedigree data flows into the evaluation from most of the largest UK beef processors in the UK, from the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), and from pedigree breed societies.  Updated EBVs are released three times per year, in April, August and December.

The South Devon is currently ranked against five other native beef breeds.  In the April 2024 AHDB Native Beef Breed evaluation the South Devon breed ranked highest for:

  • Carcase weight by almost 15 kg per carcase above its next competitor
  • Average daily carcase gain from the breed’s high conversion efficiency from low cost feed
  • Carcase conformation (joint top) with carcases falling into the desired processor categories

The data suggests that compared to the overall population of both native and continental beef animals, a higher proportion of South Devon sired animals are finished as bulls rather than steers (14% South Devon, 12% continental, 7% native)