Red Devon
(local/other name)

(most common name):
• Devon
(transboundary/brand name):
• Devon
(local/other name):
• Beef Devon
• North Devon
• Red Ruby
• Red Ruby Devon

The Red Devon was in danger of becoming a watered-down breed during the 18th century due to the practice of marketing off the best cows.

To stop this, a breeder in North Devon (Francis Quartley) purchased the best cows from 1793–1823 and used them to improve the herd he had inherited from his father. By doing this, he and his family helped provide the foundation for the modern Devon.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-20

You can also go to:

My Daily Cow® England and read about other English cattle breeds.

The Cow Wall® A-Z Cattle Breed Picture Reference to see other breeds of cattle in the world.