The Garthmyl South Devon Herd was founded in 1972, after much experimenting with many different cattle breeds. What was important was finding a breed that could survive and thrive in the given environment and management conditions. Like the Red Poll herd, the South Devons are expected to calf as 2 year old heifers, raise a live calf and get back into calf for the next season. The herd was established by using AI and specifically chosen bulls over Red Poll cows. The cattle have been graded up to pure by specific bull selection since then. The South Devons presently at Garthmyl have been selected for their natural soft fleshing, neat tidy udders, sound feet and jaws, docility and performance in our dry environment. A policy of using home bred polled sires and culling horned cattle has meant that now all breeding females are polled. The current sires are "Garthmyl Hector" and "Garthmyl John Paul", with the addition of "Woodah Highlander" for the coming season. |
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"Woodah Highlander" |
"Garthmyl Hector" and "Garthmyl John Paul" |
Garthmyl sells both sires and females. The bulls are sold mostly to other beef breeders. Birth weights and weaning weights are available on all stock and cattle are now graded for type, palatability and tenderness. These assessments are available for those interested. |
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Ken Elliot Garthmyl Middlemarch, RD 3 Otago New Zealand email: |
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