LyleStanley Division
Roffey Cattle Company
 
A year ago, we were renting additional land 45 minutes from Roffey Cattle Company.  Although a good place for some of our cows, making the 45 minute trip twice a day to take care of the cattle was far from an ideal situation.
 
Recently we were fortunate to purchase a beautiful farm just five miles from the Elk Garden home farm.  We named it LyleStanley, after my father and Maggie’s father.  These two men instilled in us the love of good cattle and the interest in “breeding better” that we share.



Not only is LyleStanley a great location for our cattle, it has a magnificent view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We are finding that it grows lush grass and clover for our Devons.  A wide meandering stream providing water and established large trees providing shade are ideal for a grazing operation. 






When we bought the farm it was already set up with multiple paddocks for rotational grazing, all with available water.





You can see why we are excited at this addition and the prospects it holds for the future. 

We think Lyle and Stanley would be pleased.
   
Offering semen from Roffey Top Cat

Kit Pharo, judge of the 2008 Great Event, chose RoffeyTop Cat as the Grand Champion Bull.  Kit praised him as the proper size for a grass genetics sire and complimented his balance and muscularity.  Top Cat’s maternal sister Roffey Rotogirl Q6 was named Reserve Grand Champion female of the same Show.  Another sister sold in the 2008 Great Event Sale for $5800 as a bred heifer.
Measuring 50 inches at the hips and weighing 1685 lbs.
Roffey Top Cat Roffey Top Cat
Top Cat pictured early winter 2008 Top Cat early this spring 2009.
 
Top Cat’s Sire and Dam
Lakota’s J76 Miss Julie’s Favorite
Lakota's J76
Herd sire in J. Preston Carlton's herd.		 Miss Julie's Favorite
Purchased from J. Preston Carlton 6/04
 

Invest in Top Cat Genetics

        True Devon Breed Conformation
            Top Cat’s bloodlines breed consistently with the quality we and other breeders strive to achieve in our breeding programs.  From his sire and dams pictures one can view what I believe should be typical of the True Devon Breed Conformation characteristics.   Top Cat is “full” behind shoulders known as the chine area, he excels in the floor of his chest being deep and flat (the area of chest behind the point of the elbows).  The chine and chest depth flatness I consider critical areas that need breed improvement.    His width continues from the chine through the loin and throughout the rump.    Top Cat is well balanced—meaning not too long in body length, which tends to cause “banana shaped” loins.  All these confirmation characteristics have a huge impact on volume of % carcass meat yield.  After all, the volume of meat produced on grass must be the one of breed’s goals. 

            Calving Ease
            After two seasons of calving out our first calf heifers at only 2-0 years of age, Top Cat is definitely a calving ease bull.   It is certainly a good feeling to be able to sleep thought out the night feeling confident that all will be well in the morning if a first time calving heifer gives birth during the night!

            Gentle Disposition
            These family members are some of the calmest cattle in our herd. One of the characteristics of the Devon breed that we truly appreciate is their gentle disposition.  Part of why we are in this profession is our love of working with cattle.  The Devon makes it truly enjoyable, unlike some breeds. The entire family around Top Cat exhibits this Devon characteristic at its finest.  They are easy to work and a pleasure to be around.

            Price
            Top Cat is priced at $15 plus shipping.  Volume discounts for 50 units or more.

            In Summary here at Elk Garden and LyleStanley we see the same sought after genetics in Top Cat’s offspring that we have appreciated in his family members the past several years.  I believe that Top Cat could be beneficial to many Devon breeders and other commercial cattlemen who wish to have a calving ease bull without sacrificing muscularity or growth on grass.
 

Thanks again to you all!
 
Click on the dates for previous issues of this website.
November 2008
March 2009
 
 

Several bulls for sale and taking orders for Fall of '09,
for details call 276-768-7886 or email dr133@bellsouth.net
 
“Supreme Beef on Grass” is the motto of the American Devon Cattle Association. Devons have been bred to produce exceptional beef from a grass diet for centuries. In fact, Devon cattle consistently produce better marbled meat carcasses with greater ease than any other beef breed. Devon beef is not just superb, its simply “devine.” To try some of our Devine Devon Beef, give us a call – you’ll be glad you did!