The Red Devon cattle (Ruby Reds) are one of our oldest native breeds, having their origins in Pre-Roman Celtic Britain. Since then they continued to prove a popular choice with farmers due to their docility, rapid maturity, hardiness, easy calving, and their ability to reach maturity on grass alone. In more recent years however, the breed fell out of favour, as more rapidly growing continental breeds were in demand by both the farmer and butcher because of their speed of maturity and the quantity of higher priced cuts they produce. However, the meat has always been of a lower-eating quality than that of the slower maturing grass-fed traditional breeds, a factor increasingly recognised by today's more discerning consumers.

It is indeed the very qualities that once made Devons so popular in the past that now makes them the ideal choice for an upland organic system such as ours. All the meat we sell is produced from animals kept under full Soil Association organic standards, which means they are given no routine medicines (indeed we have not had to treat any of our cattle for over 4 years) and are fed only on home produced grass and hay. Our cattle spend the majority of the year out of doors, having a high heat tolerance (not so relevant in Wales) and a very thick and waterproof coat (very relevant!!!). Another reason for chosing Red Devon Cattle was the fact that this breed have, for thousands of years, lived and evolved on the Devonian Sandstone soils of Northern Devon. The underlying geology of the Black Mountains of Wales is almost identical to that of northern Devon meaning that we suffer from the same mineral and trace element deficiencies (and indeed excesses) and consequently have similar soils. The Red Devon Cattle, together with the other red native breed, the Hereford, are perfectly suited to this soil type and its lack of certain essential minerals.

Red Ruby Devon beef is recognised across the world as the taste yardstick of all other beef. The early maturity and intra-muscular fat (marbling) make Red Ruby beef succulent and full flavoured, earning it the enviable reputation of being the "Jewel in the Crown of the British Beef Industry".

Go ahead and enjoy the Red Ruby Experience.