Ashott Barton

This basis has now given us a superb young herd. As we decided not to sell Mel we have created two separate Devon herds. The founding herd and a herd made up of Millenniums daughters. In 2008 we turned again to Champson blood and bought the young and handsome Champson Thorald at the spring show and sale. At the end of August the beautiful young cow Champson Ann and her calf at foot have joined Millennium. Sadly the Matriarch of the herd and undoubtedly my special friend, Champson Bribery died on farm aged 15. Several of Mel’s cows are aged 11 to 14and we felt he needed more young wives.
We aim to keep our cows till old age and try to provide a dignified end on farm

The Devon herd was a new breed for a new farm. We brought our herd of Pedigree Dexter Cattle with us to Exmoor in July 2000. The two herds are run parallel but are mostly separate. Weaned calves from each breed live together, and in late summer some adult females and their heifer calves live together. This is so that the bulls do not serve their own daughters. The alternative is to remove the bull and isolate him as happens on many farms.

Shiamala with Ashott Barton Bobby and Singharaja’s Tukana