The property consisting of 340 hectares was purchased in 2002. We initially trialed British breeds to produce vealers for the local butcher market using Limousins as a terminal sire. At this time we were impressed with the quiet temperament of the Devon cows. It was difficult to explain why the breed has become less popular over the last 20 years. Perhaps with the dominance of feedlots in the industry it had been forgotten that the breed are efficient feed converters, particularly on grass.
Our main sire is Vix Zizia Z16, who was purchased in 2007 from Vic Edwards (VIX Devon Stud, Mullaley, NSW). He had been the grand champion Devon bull at the Sydney Royal Show in 2006 and 2007. He is by the same sire as Palinga Buckeye, who in 2005 was the largest bull of any breed at the Royal Sydney Show. Our breeding herd was established between 2005-2007, and consists of a number of cows sourced from the Vix, Palinga, Wallaton and Barnstaple herds. Of the Barnstaple cattle, nine are sired by Barnstaple Marriot, one of leading bulls in the breed. We have also obtained cows from some of the most successful maternal lines in Australia, including the Plum, Jenny, Periwinkle, Viola, Snowbell and Brassy Lines.