The following historic description of the breed comes from Charles Plumb's classic Type and Breeds of Farm Animals published in 1906:
Characteristics of the Devon
The Devon is not easily confounded with other breeds, owing to its individuality. The color is usually a bright red, for which they have been nicknamed "Rubies." The shade varies from light to dark.
White is not admissible, excepting about the udder of the cow, or in front of the scrotum of the male, and not beyond the navel with either, nor outside of the flanks or elsewhere on the body. The hair about the eyes and muzzle should be of a creamy tint and the muzzle be flesh-colored. In addition to color as an identifying mark, the head, horns, and neck have distinctive breed attributes. The head is lean and cleanly made, and, with the female, is crowned by a pair of slender horns that are "long, spreading and gracefully turned up, of a waxy color, tipped with a darker shade." The bull's horns grow at right angles from the head or are slightly elevated, are stout and waxy at the base, and are tipped with a darker shade. The neck shows a considerable refinement, with neat head and body attachment. The body of the Devon is medium in size, is blocky of form, and usually carries a well-sprung and deep rib with strong heart girth The legs are small and show more refinement than is the case with some other breeds. In fact typical Devons have often been referred to as deerlike in character, owing to the natural refinement of the breed.
Two types of Devons essentially exist. Those in north Devon have always been of the smaller form, and beef production has been emphasized with them. In south Devon, where the breed is known also as the South Devon or South Hams, the cattle average larger, are lighter colored, tend to be coarser, and are more productive of milk, due, it is said, to the blood of Guernsey cattle. These two types have been more or less intermingled, but the best breeders of to-day advocate adherence to type. Professor Robert Wallace in his work on the Farm Live Stock 0f Great Britain gives a third, a special Somerset type, found in north Devon. These cattle are larger, have a more droopy horn and are coarser than the north Devon type, due to the better soil and climate of Somerset. As exhibited in America, the breed shows at a distinct disadvantage, for in the same show ring the beefy type may and does compete with the dual-purpose type Western breeders appear to favor the north Devon style, while eastern breeders lay emphasis on the dairy value of the breed, as does, in fact, the Devon cattle association.
The size of the Devon accordingly shows considerable variation. Naturally Devons are of the smaller class as seen in beef-cattle classes in America, and this is one objection that has been raised against the breed in this country, together with the fact that the steers will not fatten as rapidly as some of the other kinds. Mature cows, according to Sinclair, weigh from 1300 to 1500 pounds and bulls from 1500 to 2100.
The Devon as a butcher's beast does not attain the high weights of the common beef breeds, nor does it fatten as rapidly as some, but kills out extremely well, with small bone and moderate offal, producing the best of beef, fine of grain and of superior quality. Devons in the past have made a good record at the British fat stock shows, often winning high honors. This applies in particular to the beef type of north Devon. The modern breeders of that section agree that to increase the size will injure the quality, and therefore refuse to do so Sinclair notes one English Devon breeder, whose specialty is steer breeding, who reckons that the weight of a fat Devon steer a little under three years old should be about 800 pounds. In 1891 the first-prize Devon steer at the Smithfield Club Show, London, "not exceeding two years old, was ~ days old and had a live weight of 964 pounds.
Devons as milk producers rank very well. Many New England farmers keep Devon grades or pure-breds, from which they often secure fair yields. The milk is rich in fat, comparing favorably with that of the Jerseys. The breed is essentially unknown in Competitive dairy tests in this country. In the American Devon Record are numerous examples showing that many cows of the breed are ample dairy producers. E.C. Bliss states that his full-grown cows yield an average of 300 pounds of butter a year. J.W. Collins writes: "I have one cow, Lucky 3784, that has produced 2½ pounds of butter per day for weeks, and I have frequently had others that have made 2¼ to 2½ pounds per day." Wallace states that as a breed for milk production "it has and still is inferior. The cows give but a small quantity of milk and tend to go dry early." Alvord, who knew the breed states that some families bred and selected for dairy purposes have made fair records, single animals producing 40 and even 50 pounds a day.
The Devon in crossing or grading has seen much service in the eastern United States. Owing to its long pure inheritance the breed characteristics are usually strongly transmitted. Devon bulls on grade cows will produce a superior class of beef and rich milk. In its native home many steers are grass fed and receive but little grain.
Devon oxen have long ranked very high. In New England and the eastern United States, when oxen were more extensively used than today, the Devon was a favorite sort. Years ago in New England one might have seen many fine yokes of grade Devon oxen, that were highly valued for intelligent and active draft service on the hill farms. No cattle are more light and active of foot for this purpose."
