American Milking Devon
A red American dual-purpose breed, kept for milk and beef and now critically rare
A dual-purpose breed from the United States, kept for milk and for beef. It descends from the Devon cattle of New England, which came from the North Devon of south-west England, and it is now one of the country's rarest breeds.
- Cattle first reached Plymouth Colony in 1624: three heifers and a bull
- Split into a separate breed in 1978 to protect the old multi-purpose type
- Coat is a dark, glossy ruby red; horns medium, white with black tips
- Bulls weigh 500 to 600 kg; cows about 100 kg less
- Livestock Conservancy classes it critical; about 500 head in 2021
What do American Milking Devon cattle look like?
This is a medium-sized breed of the humpless taurine kind. The hide is red, with a dark, glossy ruby depth to it. The horns are moderate in size, white with black at the tips. There is no hump over the shoulders. Weight is moderate too: a bull runs from about 500 to 600 kg, while a cow is roughly 100 kg lighter, putting her between 400 and 500 kg. Cows and bulls look alike in colour and horn, though the bull is heavier through the neck and shoulder, and the overall frame is compact.
Where does the American Milking Devon come from?
Edward Winslow carried the first of these cattle to the Plymouth Colony, in the land that became Massachusetts, in 1624. The shipment was three heifers and one bull, sent from the port of Plymouth on Devon's south coast. The name Devon may come from that port alone, since the English Devon breed did not exist at the time. Over two centuries the animals multiplied and moved down the eastern seaboard as far as Florida. From the early 1800s British stock was brought in to improve them: English Longhorns first, then Durham Shorthorns, then North Devon animals from Devon and Norfolk. An 1855 herd book was the first; the American Devon Cattle Club followed later in that century. By 1900 the breed was seldom seen beyond New England.
What the American Milking Devon is known for
Hardiness is what this breed is known for. The animals stand up to severe weather and hold their condition on a plain diet of forage, needing little or no grain. That thrift made them useful to settlers along the eastern seaboard, where grazing was rough and winters were cold. The same qualities explain why cattle of this sort were once kept in such numbers across the eastern states.
How the American Milking Devon is bred and kept
The first herd book came out in 1855, and a breed club, the American Devon Cattle Club, was formed later in the nineteenth century. Through the 1800s breeders brought in outside blood, starting with English Longhorns and going on to Durham Shorthorns and North Devon stock from Devon and Norfolk, in an effort to improve the local cattle. As the twentieth century wore on, selection for beef alone took over, and the older multi-purpose type dwindled. In 1978 a separate association, the American Milking Devon Cattle Association, was set up to keep that old colonial strain going. Herds are found in thirty-four American states and in Canada.
American Milking Devon, drawn
What the American Milking Devon is kept for
Historically the Devon was a triple-purpose animal: it pulled carts and ploughs, gave milk and was fattened for beef. Today the American Milking Devon is a dual-purpose breed, kept for milk and for meat. Cows are milked on the farm and calves are raised for beef. Some animals are still broken to the yoke for draft work, and a number of owners keep the breed for its place in agricultural history rather than for output. On a mixed farm one herd can supply the dairy and the freezer while the oxen work.
The land and climate of the American Milking Devon
These cattle came out of New England, and they suit temperate country with cold winters and coarse grazing. They spread south along the east coast as far as Florida, and today they are found across thirty-four states and in Canada, so the range of climates they meet is wide. The breed does best on pasture and forage rather than on grain.
At a glance: where it belongs
Land and climate
Keeping American Milking Devon cattle
Forage is the mainstay: pasture and hay keep these cattle in condition, and they need little or no grain. Because they tolerate severe weather, farms that cannot provide elaborate shelter can still keep them.
Numbers, conservation and the herd book
Numbers are small. A count in 2016 came to 211 animals, and five years later the Livestock Conservancy put the total at about 500. That body rates the breed critical, its highest level of concern; the FAO's DAD-IS database lists it as at risk or critical-maintained, and an FAO report of 2007 called it endangered. The breed is spread over thirty-four American states and also appears in Canada. It once featured on the Slow Food Ark of Taste. The American Milking Devon Cattle Association, formed in 1978, handles the breed's affairs.
From the American Milking Devon
Questions people ask about American Milking Devon
Where does the American Milking Devon come from?
It comes from the United States. Its ancestors were Devon cattle taken to the Plymouth Colony in 1624 from south-west England, and those American cattle in turn came from the North Devon breed.
What is it kept for?
Milk and beef. The old Devon was a triple-purpose breed, working as a draft animal as well, and the modern Milking Devon may still be yoked. Some owners keep it mainly for its place in farming history.
How rare is it?
Very rare. The Livestock Conservancy lists it as critical, and the FAO database calls it at risk or critical-maintained. A 2016 count found 211 animals; the Livestock Conservancy estimated about 500 in 2021.
What does it look like?
A medium-sized, humpless animal with a dark, glossy ruby-red coat. The horns are of moderate size and white with black tips. A bull weighs around 500 to 600 kg, and a cow about 100 kg less.
Where is it found today?
In thirty-four American states, mostly on small farms, and also in Canada. Herds are kept for milk, for beef and often for both, with a few animals still used for draft work.
Good reading and sources
- American Milking Devon on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "American Milking Devon", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryCow rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Sizes, colours and customs differ from one herd, valley or breeder to the next. Folk beliefs are described as tradition, never as advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-16.
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