American Milking Devon facts for kids
The American Milking Devon is a special type of cattle from the United States. These cows came from British North Devon cattle that were brought to North America way back in the 1600s. Over time, the American Milking Devons became quite different from their British relatives.
Today, North Devon cattle are mostly raised for their meat. But American Milking Devons are "triple-purpose" animals. This means they are good for three things: providing milk, giving meat, and working as draft animals (like oxen pulling carts or plows). They are one of the oldest and purest cattle breeds in America, but they are also very rare.
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History of American Milking Devons
In 1623, some North Devon cattle arrived in the Plymouth Colony in America. This was the first time British cattle came to the Americas. Before this, Spanish cattle had arrived much earlier.
The Milking Devon breed spread along the East Coast of the U.S. Farmers really liked them because they could do so many jobs. They provided milk, meat, and helped with farm work.
However, in the 1800s, another cattle breed called the Shorthorn became more popular. By 1900, you could mostly only find Milking Devons in New England. Their numbers kept dropping, and by the 1970s, there were fewer than 100 of these cattle left.
Luckily, groups like the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste have helped. They work to save rare animal breeds. Thanks to their efforts, the number of Milking Devons has slowly started to grow again. About 600 purebred animals are registered today. There's also a special herd at the National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park. They help people learn about this important and threatened cattle breed.
What Makes Milking Devons Special?
The American Milking Devon is one of the few cattle breeds left that can do three jobs well: provide meat, milk, and work as draft animals. They are medium-sized cattle. A typical cow weighs about 1,100 pounds (499 kilos), and a bull weighs around 1,600 pounds (726 kilos).
Their coat is a dark, shiny red color. Their horns are white, often with black tips. These cattle are active, smart, and quite strong for their size. This makes them good for working as oxen. However, they are very active, so they might not be the best choice for people just starting to train oxen. This breed first came from the USA.
Milking Devons are also very tough and can live well by just eating forage (like grass). While they are not mainly raised for dairy milk today, their milk has a good amount of butterfat. This is similar to the milk from a Jersey cow, though Milking Devons don't produce as much milk.
Images for kids
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Calves in a field at the National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park
See Also
- List of cattle breeds
