TORR DOWN SOUTH DEVONS
GOOD AS GOLD
THE STORY CONTINUES ......
Located at Trentham, in the State of Victoria, Australia.
The stud was formed in October 1967, at “ Torr Down ”, Kingston, South Devon, England.
Between 1967-82 Torr Down South Devons were exported to Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, U.S.A., Zambia and the first South Devon to Brazil in 1974.
Emigrated with family and a nucleus of 22 South Devons, to Victoria, Australia in 1982, including:-
TORR DOWN GALAXY 11 POLL [Age 5 ]
TORR DOWN AUDREY 5 [Age 12 ]
Both Breed & Interbreed Champions, at Royal & Country Shows in Australia.
Polling has been developed since 1980,with only superior type animals retained. Occasional introduction of top English Poll and Horn bloodlines to widen the genetics, now sees the stud 95% poll.
TORR DOWN NATALIE 53 POLL & NATALIE 86 POLL
PADDOCK TO PALATE
Winner of mature class two years in succession, culminating in the Supreme Gold Award, in the first Australian National Grand Final, with South Devon Heifers.
Heifers and Bulls exported to China.
Semen from Torr Down Hermes 3, Heterozygous Poll, exported to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, U.S.A. & the U.K.
TORR DOWN HERMES 3 [Age 3.5]
Twice Breed Champion Royal Melbourne Shows
Weight 1165 kgs, Eye Muscle 138sq cms, Scrotal Circ 41cms.
Progeny Birth Weights Av 40.7 kgs, 80% Polls, [ 51% dams horned ]
E.B.V’s
G.L B.W. M. 200 400 600 M.V.
-0.5 +0.2 +3 +4 +13 +13 +3
61% 86% 53% 79% 74% 75%
Bred from all English Full Blood Genetics
SEMEN AVAILABLE
Potential qualifications to most countries.
TORR DOWN ZENITH 18 POLL [Age 2 ]
Hermes 3’s Dams Full Brother sold at auction for $8,000
TORR DOWN PRIDE 76 POLL [Age 3 ]
A Hermes 3 Daughter
Torr Down Hermes 3 Progeny Performance
South Australia, Government Sponsored Trial.
Mated to Hereford Cows, Hermes 3 cross progeny had higher carcase weights and eye muscle scores than Limousin & Angus x progeny at average age of 451 days
Western Australia. Prestigious Feed & Efficiency Trial, involving 26 South Devon Bulls by 18 different sires. The only Hermes 3 son was the top performing bull by a substantial margin.
Canada. A Herd bull Trial, involving 24 South Devon Bulls. The only Hermes son had the highest weight gain over 72 days, of 3.6 lbs per day.
The average was 2.6 lbs per day.
South Africa. In a Feed Efficiency Trial all 3 Hermes 3 sons gained the
highest accolade, a Gold Merit award. Fed for 4 months they gained
1.875 kgs [ 4.13 lbs ] 2.155 kgs [4.74lbs] & 2.161 kgs [4.75 lbs ] per day
Their feed conversion rates were 5.42, 5.20, & 5.11 kgs of feed to gain 1kg [ 2.2lbs ] of weight.
The best bull [a poll] has been chosen to represent the breed against all breeds, at the Pretoria Show on August 29 ’07.
United Kingdom
SEXTON POLL HERMES 1 [ Age 9 months ]
Hermes 3’s first progeny
200day weight 397 kgs, 400 day weight 736 kgs.
SEXTON POLL HERMES 2 [ TWIN ]
Another Hermes 3 Son sells for a new breed Auction price of Pounds Sterling 6615. At 21 months he weighed 928 kgs.
United States of America
Dr Jane Homan,
Oak Hills Farms, Wisconsin
Two Torr Down Hermes 3 Sons at 2.5 and 2.75 months (approx)
Weights on entering trial University of Wisconsin
720 and 790 pounds (lbs) at 201 and 210 days of age
Daily gain after birth ( 75lbs ), 3.2 lbs (1.45Kg ) per day and 3.4lbs (1.55Kg ) per day
MARVEL 2
Senior South Devon Male Champion at the National Beef '08
Sold to new NSW South Devon Stud and Commercial Breeder.
Weight on 15/05/08 - 909KGs @ 704 Days
Rib / Rump 7/5 mms, EMA 131 sq cms
MARVEL 2 at Bendigo Show
MARVEL 3 [ Photo at 21 months ]
Gene Star tested tenderness 6 Stars, feed efficiency 4 Stars
Used on majority of cows for spring '09 calving
TORR DOWN ACCLAIM POLL [ Age 8 ]
Now sold into his fourth herd.
Spring 07 sons available in 2009
Senior Herd Sire
TORR DOWN MAJESTIC 3 POLL [Age 4 ]
Gene Star tested - tenderness 6 stars, feed efficiency 5 Stars
Has covered all Torr Down cows for spring 08 drop
Homozygous.
[ To date 19 progeny, all poll from Heterozygous
Horn & Poll Dams]
Majestic 3 Progeny
PRINCESS 54 [ MAJESTIC 3 Daughter Age 2 months ]
SNOWDROP 136 [ Age 22 months]
Natalie 119 [ Age 20 Months ]
Monarch 8 [ Age 30 days ]
Majestic 3 cross Angus steers [ 7-8 months ] sold June '08 for $630.
Majestic 3 cross heifers 7-8 months sold June '08 for $661. ( 322Kgs )
South Devon genetics, when infused with other British Breeds, will increase growth and carcase weight, as well as improving docility and maternal traits.
When mated to Bos Indicus breeds, docility and fertility will be improved, along with carcase and marbling qualities.
Enquiries welcomed -: to
John & Sue Harvey
Torr Down South Devon Stud
P.O. Box 23, Trentham Victoria 3458 Australia.
email : jsharvey@nex.net.au
ph / fax 61-3-54241001
website : www.southdevonbeefcattle.com.au