Legends: the great Potheridge President....

Potheridge President was destined to be at the top or near the top in all of the traits scored at the Armour bull test....and he wound up the very first Devon bull to become a Certified Meat Sire.

The 12 bulls, representing eight breeds, were first subjected to electronic testing and then an "eyeball" evaluation by the expert cattlemen who were the judges. Then a group of Angus and Hereford brood cows were bred by the bulls (just imagine the results if it had been Devon on Devon).

The bulls had anywhere from 10 to 41 calves; President was second, siring 41. At the 140-day test level,

President's calves again finished second, gaining 1.43 pounds per day of age. As Dr. R. H. White, director of the test, summed up the results:

"In comparison with the other breeds on the test, it is interesting to note
that the progeny of Potheridge President was the second top gaining group among the calves representing 12 sires. His calves were among the very tops for cutability and carcass value. And finally we note that one Devon had the highest carcass value."

There's a wonderful and hopeful postscript to this story:

Potheridge President is still around. At least his daughter can be found at Don and Heather Minto's Watson Farm in Jamestown, RI. Not only that, but the Minto's have come up with some Potheridge President semen and they plan to line breed the daughter and begin a revival of the President's family.

Keep in mind that the Minto's farm will be on our annual meeting farm tour in October.

 

NADA President Gearld Fry on four prize-winners that are a part of our Heritage:

These four animals are the type that was in demand up until about 1975.  They were the best converters of any kind of forage by any kind of breed.  It was these Devon that earned the nickname “The Butcher’s Choice” because of the tenderness, taste and juiciness of their meat.

Devon like this worked for their producers 12 months a year, yielding quality meat.  Every animal of this body type I have ever been around has always had a very calm disposition.  Take a look and (maybe) weep.