A and J Cottey
Little Dart Raffe
Witheridge
Devon
EX16 8QA

Telephone: +44 (0) 1884 861566

Contact Angus and Joy Cottey

Angus and Joy Cottey have built up an outstanding herd of Devon Ruby Red Cattle on their farm, Little Dart Raffe, at Witheridge, Devon, where they they produce beef, reared in a traditional manner and of premium quality, for a niche market, and also export semen from their bull Cutcombe Jaunty.

They direct sell their meat direct to the public in either 10kg or 20kg boxes, and, although all packs may vary slightly, they will all contain the following:



Fillet Steaks
Rump Steaks
Sirloin Steaks
Roasting Joints (Topside, Brisket and Rolled Rib)
Stewing Steak/ Chuck steak
Mince/Sausage

10 kg box. £70.00 (£7.00/kg or £3.21/lb)

20kg box. £130.00 (£6.50/kg or £2.98/lb)


The beef is supplied chilled but not frozen. We will be happy to freeze the meat for you but only for a limited time.



Only steers (male) go to make up the beef. The slaughtering is done at an approved abattoir within half an hours drive in order to reduce stress. A master butcher does the butchering in Crediton. The meat is hung for a complete 3 weeks to improve the flavour and tenderness. Devon beef is renowned for its excellent taste and marbling. The animals roam free to eat grass and are reared for a full ten months on their mothers milk, remaining with the herd as an extended family unit their whole life.

We welcome visitors to see the animals at any time (but please phone first to ensure we are in). We are members of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which promotes environmental conservation and natural farming methods. We hope you enjoy the beef we are sure you will taste none better!

Angus and Joy Cottey started their herd of Devon Red Ruby Cattle in 1995, the first two animals were a wedding present from the Halsbury Herd. A few purchases were made from the West Hele, Hackpen, and Woodscombe herds with a couple of commercial bulling heifers. This was the foundation of the Garradon herd.

For the formative years pure bred pedigree bulls were hired in from Forde Abbey, Bywood and Brightley, a truly impressive range of sire to start a foundation stock for any beef herd. From the start Angus and Joy were assisted by Angus parents who had a lifetime of cattle stockmanship behind them. It was thanks to them that Angus and Joy were able to keep the animals on their land at Gerrydown Farm, Winkleigh, hence the pedigree name of Garradon. The oldest known spelling of the farm name. Angus and Joy also had full time occupations, Angus is a Police Officer and Joy is a Midwife, and keeping the animals at Gerrydown allowed some flexibility in their management.

One of the problems that faced the herd, and its future, was that it was kept on a grass keep basis. There was no room for the use of concentrates to improve performance. The herd had to be healthy, live off grass and show a profit. Silage and hay were fed in the autumn and winter. Cattle are weaned at 9-10 months of age and under some sufferance are brought indoors for the winter, the rest of the stock are out wintered.

The bull is put in with the stock on the 10th June each year. (The Wedding Anniversary!) which produces a nice tight spring calving from 20th March to end of April the following year. The aim is to calve outside where the mother and calve can go straight onto lush spring grass.

The herd has been Brucella tested negative and TB tested each year, also negative. The herd has not had any cases of BSE and escaped culling through foot and mouth in 2001, mainly due to very stringent bio security measures.

They also export semen from their bull Cutcombe Jaunty. Cutcombe Jaunty having served successfully for three seasons, had to be moved on, but Angus and Joy recognised an outstanding Bull in Jaunty and took semen from him. It is their intention to export this to New Zealand and Australia. Jaunty ranks as within the top 10% of his breed, based upon signet figures (follow the link to semen sales to find out more)

Visit Devon Red Ruby Website

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Last Edited 02/02/2008    Copyright © 2000-2008 Witheridge