Heritage and Hard Work: Colcharton Farm Hosts 2025 National Herd Walk

Over 120 South Devon enthusiasts, and breeders gathered at Colcharton Farm, near Tavistock, Devon, to celebrate the 2025 South Devon Herd Book Society’s National Herd Competition Winner. Hosted by kind permission of the Edwards family, the day offered a superb opportunity to tour one of the country’s finest pedigree South Devon herds — a herd built on tradition, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to cattle breeding excellence.

A Herd with History

The Colcharton Herd of Pedigree South Devon Cattle was founded in 1966, following the family’s move from Christow in the Teign Valley. Today, Colcharton is farmed by the partnership of Colin, Lowenna, and Nick Edwards, who have continued to develop the herd with a clear focus on commercial and genetic progress.
Situated on the Devon/Cornwall border, Colcharton is a 420-acre mixed farm, home to 108 pedigree South Devon cows, 12 crossbred cows, and around 180 followers. Alongside the cattle enterprise, the family also runs 750 Suffolk x Mule ewes, which are put to Texel rams for early lamb production. There’s also 30 acres of crimped spring barley, which forms an integral part of the farm’s rotational grassland management.
The Edwards family has focused on breeding polled (hornless) cattle for over 40 years — long before it became fashionable or widely adopted. Their pioneering approach to polled genetics, alongside their eye for stock and management detail, has played a big part in securing this year’s National Herd Competition title — a first for the family, and a moment of immense pride.

Walking Through a Winning Herd

The farm walk gave visitors the chance to view 10 groups of cattle, with an emphasis on pedigree South Devons, while also highlighting the farm’s commercial edge.
The herd is largely spring-calving, with approximately 90 cows calving in spring and a further 30 in the autumn. This split provides year-round management flexibility, bull marketing opportunities, and consistency in output.
One of the first groups viewed was a line of strong in-calf heifers, clearly demonstrating the quality being bred through the use of carefully selected sires. The heifers were uniform, deep-bodied, and walked well on good legs — many showing the hallmark characteristics of the herd’s dominant bloodlines.
The crowd favourite came later in the walk: a group of five young bulls, sired by either Broadwood Haystacks or Trewint Clyde. They were met with admiration for their length, growth potential, and breed character — a real endorsement of the herd’s breeding direction.
Bloodlines, Bulls and Breeding Direction
Throughout the walk, it became clear that strategic sire selection is central to the herd’s success. The herd is run with a mixture of South Devon bulls, each selected for specific traits to complement the existing cow families.

Current stock bulls include:
• Boakley Tiberius – noted for his power and muscling
• Polkinghorne Granger (PP) – a homozygous polled sire adding shape and docility
• Coton Inquisitor 2 (PP) – bringing balance and breeding consistency

The herd has also benefited greatly from bloodlines such as Beckaveans Brutus, Trewint Clyde, and Broadwood Haystacks, which continue to leave a lasting legacy through the cow families on display.
A significant part of the Colcharton strategy is the emphasis on polled genetics, with many of the herd’s females now homozygous or heterozygous polled. This forward-thinking approach benefits both animal welfare and ease of management — something increasingly demanded by buyers and industry stakeholders.
The Myostatin gene is also a key consideration in breeding decisions. The Edwards family select bulls carrying either the O or F94L variants, aiming to combine superior muscle development with calving ease and flexibility.

Commercial Sense with a Galloway Twist

While the herd’s pedigree core remains strong, the Edwards family have taken a commercially savvy approach with their heifers. Most are retained for breeding and calved at two years old to an impressive Galloway bull. This move brings multiple benefits: calving ease, hybrid vigour, and the production of hardy, thrifty calves that finish well on a forage-based system.
These crossbred calves are finished on-farm and sold to a local butcher, offering traceable, high-welfare, native beef to the community — a great example of local food production done well.
Meanwhile, pedigree bulls are reared with great care. A selection is sold annually for breeding, and this year the family were delighted to achieve the highest-priced South Devon bulls at both the Exeter and Worcester Spring Sales. The remaining bull calves are finished as bull beef, sold at under 16 months, demonstrating both genetic efficiency and profitability.

Pride and Passion in the South Devon Breed

Visitors were struck not only by the cattle, but also by the pride and passion the Edwards family have for their breed. Their openness about the challenges and rewards of managing a pedigree herd was refreshing and informative. From handling facilities to feeding systems and grazing management, it was clear that every element of the business has been fine-tuned for success.
The family’s long-standing commitment to the South Devon Herd Book Society was evident, and winning the National Herd Competition for the first time was described as a career highlight. It’s a well-deserved recognition for a family who have consistently pushed the boundaries of what the breed can achieve — particularly in the field of polled genetics.
Breed enthusiasts were quick to praise the herd. One Society member noted:
“This isn’t just a great pedigree herd — it’s a blueprint for how to combine tradition and commercial thinking. The Edwards family have shown what’s possible with patience, good breeding decisions, and a clear vision.”

A Day to Remember

As the walk concluded with refreshments and lively conversation, visitors reflected on a day that was as educational as it was celebratory. Whether admiring a line of cows, discussing bull bloodlines, or exploring the farm’s grassland rotations, there was something for everyone.
Colcharton Farm is more than just a winner of the 2025 National Herd Competition — it’s an example of how heritage, innovation, and family farming can thrive together.