The first Devons brought to the American colonies arrived from England in 1623. The were delivered to the settlement at Plymouth, MA. The Devon breed was used mainly as a draft animal because of its strength, intelligence, and speed.
Through the years, Devons were cross-bred with other imports to develop the American Milking Devon. Milking Devon cattle are a triple-use breed. They are used as draft animals to pull plows and provide both milk and meat for their owners.
In the spring before planting, farmers would go through their fields with their oxen pulling a “stone boat”. The stone boat was a large wooden sled onto which they would load rocks, which had risen through the soil over the winter. Once the rocks were removed from the field, the farmer could plow without damaging his plow blade.
Oxen (draft cattle) work in pairs to pull plows. A double wooden collar called a yoke goes over the animals’ heads and rests on their shoulders.
The animals vary in color from a light red or chestnut to a deep, rich red. The hair usually becomes long and curly during the winter, but it's short and sleek during warmer months. They have medium-sized, curved horns, light in color with dark tips.
A mature bull weighs between 1700 and 2200 pounds, while the cow ranges from 950 to 1300 pounds. Devons have relatively short legs and broad, deep chests. When treated well, they're very docile, and they quickly learn to understand and respond to a number of commands.