Red Cow
Zoo Animals
Red Devon Cow
The red Devon cow is known to have existed in southwestern England as early as the Roman era. In 55 B.C., the Romans who occupied that area took note of the red cattle they encountered. The first examples of the breed arrived in America in 1623 when three heifers and a bull were shipped to Edward Winslow in the Plymouth colony. In England, Devon cattle have been bred for increased beef production, larger body weight, and the elimination of horns. In America, however, a few animals have survived with the earlier multi-purpose features that first characterized the breed. This strain of the Devon cattle is therefore known today as the Red Devon milking cow in recognition of the survival of its milk production abilities. In addition, these docile animals make extremely good draft animals. An ox is a castrated bull that with proper training can be used to haul wagons and to plow fields. Typically worked in yoked pairs, there is evidence that they continued to be used in the rice fields of Sandy Island as late as the 1930's.
