In 2003, we were fortunate to add the Kinloch herd to our program at Lakota Ranch. This herd of 27 breeding females and 5 bulls was integrated into both our commercial and purebred Devon programs. We maintain in excess of 100 breeding females to meet the growing demands for Devon seedstock in the United States.

The current breeding program at Lakota Ranch features 4 bulls with exceptional breed characteristics that are being used in natural service, AI, and embryo production. All four bulls are deep bodied and heavily muscled, the correct type for grass. The first is Lakotas 16N of Albion. Kinloch’s Albion A20 was a bull purchased from the breeding program of Bill Harper’s at Kinloch Farm in The Plains, VA We had admired the muscle pattern of this bull and had tried to purchase him for 10 years. The second is an embryo produced calf out of the before mentioned Tomotleys Red Sunset cow who was also the mother of the Lakota H48 bull. This bull, P42, sired by the Rotokawa 688 bull possesses width, depth, and an immaculate hair coat. The third bull, Lakotas P60, a son of Lakotas H48 and Buckeyes T60, is as genetically strong as he is phenotypically correct, we believe he is the best all around bull in the breed. Lastlly we must mention Lakotas P29K, 2006 National Grand Champion Devon Bull, he is a smoother more athletic type bull preferred by many.

The last 6 years we have had a renewed interest in expanding the breeding program through embryo transplant and the use of oversees A.I. sires. We initiated an aggressive plan to flush a group of our top females to produce outcrosses to be used selectively back in the breeding program. We currently sell semen on 10 different Devon sires, old and new. We also have continued to flush cattle and sell embryos every spring and fall.

After doing a search for larger herds that I might purchase some of these animals I discovered that Jerry & Jeremy Engh had the largest herd of Devon’s in America. I called Jeremy and set a time to visit his cattle ranch. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the ranch had been in existence for 40+ years and that they had all of the American Devon history books.

As I looked through the herd of fine Red Devon cattle I was pleasantly pleased with the body conformation and condition of the cattle. That condition was all from consuming grass.

Jeremy and I entered into an agreement for flushing some of his top cows to create other herds. I also purchased a few of his best cows for my own herd.

The Engh’s have a beautiful farm and fine Devon cattle that roam the pastures.

I am very thankful the Engh’s made the decision to remain with the Devon cattle even though they lost their popularity for a number of years.

Now they are very instrumental in rebuilding the herds in America with the many fine gene pools they have maintained.

The Devon’s economic potential captured my attention 56 years ago while working as a Florida livestock packer buyer. The genetic potential of Dr. Jerry Engh’s Devon herd was apparent during my nine years (1972-1981) as Executive Director of the Devon Cattle Association, Inc. Then, over the next 22 years, I have followed the herd’s continued genetic and physical development with professional interest as an animal scientist. Completing my visualization of the evolution of the legend, I served as on-farm consultant at Jerry’s Lakota farm in the mid-1990’s. Dr. Engh’s interest in Devons progressed forward for almost half a century: actually from 1955 when, as a teenager, he bought Devons from the late Senator Wayne Morse (a strong breeder and promoter of Devons for many years). After delay to complete his medical education and training, Jerry reactivated his Devon interest in 1971 at Effingham Plantation, Nokesville, Virginia. Jerry rapidly expanded his Devon herd with purchases of some of the top Devon cattle in America, including entire herds (Bendabout Farms in McDonald, Tennessee and the John Keiffer herd, Montgomery, Louisiana) and champion individuals through regional and national sales. To supplement this strong genetic base, Jerry imported Lufton Guardsman 2nd from England in 1975. Jerry has successfully incorporated and blended the “best of the best” Devon bloodlines from such premier herds as: Wymont Ranch, Devonacres Ranch, D. W. Fortenberry’s Devon Wood Farm, and Fred Wyvill’s (Patuxent) 7-Knolls Farm. Jerry recently brought in semen from some of the top Devon sires in New Zealand.

In 1990, Jerry centered his purebred Devon program at Lakota Farm, Remington, Virginia. He has continued to blend the genetics of polled and dairy Devons with much success (utilizing the dairy Devon genetics to boost milk production and thereby weaning weights). Production data (including brood cow efficiency, feedlot and carcass performance, and ultrasound evaluation) are obtained and utilized in the selection and culling process in combination with bloodline analyses and visual appraisal for soundness and overall merit. To stay current on Devon genetics, performance, and demand, Jerry frequently visits other major Devon-producing countries: Australia, Brazil, England, and New Zealand. He has judged major Devon shows in Brazil and Australia and is a major participant in the Devon World Congress, which is held on a four-year cycle in England, United States, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand. Jerry has participated in showing Devons in county, state, and national shows and has hosted many cattle field days. In my professional opinion, the Devon herd at Lakota Farm is the “Cadillac of the Devon world in America.” It has provided the base for numerous herds and the genetic impulse for the continued progress in many herds. Fortunately, continuity of this strong genetic resource is insured by Dr. Engh’s son, Jeremy, now being affiliated with the further, future evolution of the Lakota herd.

The Texon Project, crossbreeding with Devons, was introduced to Lakota Ranch by Dr. Stewart Fowler to create a composite breed optimum for beef production in the south. Dr. Fowler had long recognized the outstanding attributes of these 2 old breeds. The longhorns brought a history of hardiness, unsurpassed foraging ability, heat tolerance and excellent natural disease resistance. In addition’ longhorns did not have carcass quality problems that had been recognized with Brahma and Brahma cross cattle. Devons provided docility, strong maternal traits and exceptional carcass merit as Dr. Fowler had recognized during his work as a packer buyer. The concept was to utilize the complementary of gene pools to create a breed that would excel in the southern climate. The breed registry was maintained by Dr. Fowler. Matings were largely based on his analysis of progeny and performance data on individual animals. Both Devon bulls mated to longhorn cows and Longhorn bulls mated to Devon cows were used in the initial matings to create ½ blood animals. Although percentages from the 2 contributing breeds was not set at the outset, the need for uniformity for marketing purposes soon made it evident that the Devon would need to contribute 5/8ths to possibly 3/4of the genetic material of the Texon breed. At present, approximately 50 foundation females with percentages from ½ to ¾ Devon and ½ to ¼ longhorn are maintained in the Lakota Ranch herd. Females were sold for the first time from the Texon project in 2002. The breeding program has been closed to the introduction of new genetic material to establish uniformity in the Texon breed.