Graeme has used innovative methods to promote Devon cattle. He was the first Devon breeder in Australia to recognise the value of television to promote the Devon breed and his own bull and female sales. He has used imaginative and fresh ideas to promote his Devon cattle in print media.

Graeme is closely involved in the operation and conduct of bull and female sales, beef field days, beef cattle trials, shows with Devon cattle and other public displays.

His work at the production level encompasses all aspects of cattle management from design of breeding programs, selection of bulls and females, progeny evaluation, feeding and nutrition of livestock, pasture management and whole farm management in all its forms.

Graeme was formally trained as an agronomist. He has completed numerous post graduate courses and training in crop and cattle production and marketing.

He has worked in all manner of broad acre crops from winter cereals to summer crops. He has also worked in a multitude of other more diverse types of crops (vines, turf, rice, lupins, peanuts and many others). At one stage he headed the research and development program in crops for a large American corporation in Australia.

Following his early role in crop production he was variously involved in the manufacture and distribution of consumer products at senior management levels.

After successfully establishing a manufacturing business for overseas absentee owners he moved into advertising and marketing. He was managing partner in an advertising company specialising in the introduction of new products to consumers. During this period he commenced producing marketing campaigns for rural based companies.

Since 1984, Graeme has owned and operated properties specifically for cattle production. After initially selecting property in marginal beef producing country he sold and moved to an area noted for strong beef production.

Graeme was president of the Devon Cattle Breeders Society of Australia for six years in the late 1990's. During this time Graeme presided over great change in the breed. He introduced the Devon Performance Register for commercial Devon cattle. He successfully restructured the administration of the breed so that successive boards were able to make it a more efficient organisation. The DCBSA is now a truly profitable beef breed society, which provides high levels of service to members at minimal costs. He introduced the concept of Devon cattle becoming a global breed. This was brought about by offering systems used in Australia to other Devon producing countries. Today, Devon breeders worldwide use communication, pedigree recording and performance recording systems developed in Australia.

The following is a testimonial (June 2003) from Dr Peter Parnell, Director NSW Agriculture Beef Industry Centre, Armidale NSW. Formerly: Breed Development Manager , Angus Society of Australia:

“In my role as a scientist and advisor servicing the Australian beef industry I have had the privilege of knowing Graeme Barnes for several years. Graeme is a progressive and enthusiastic cattle breeder who has succeeded in achieving widespread industry recognition as one of the leading beef seedstock producers in Australia. Graeme is the Principal of Barnstaple Devons, the largest producer of Devon bulls for seedstock sales in Australia. Barnstaple Devons is currently at the pinnacle of Devon breed in Australia, as demonstrated by its dominance in objective measurement and success in show ring performance. I believe that the success of Barnstaple Devons is largely due to Graeme's ability and willingness to seek and adopt new ideas and innovation in the breeding, production and marketing of genetics.

Graeme has a vision for Australia to become a leading exporter of beef genetics in the global marketplace. He has already successfully marketed Devon genetics into several leading beef producing countries and has identified the potential to significantly expand this market. Devon cattle are among the oldest recognised breeds in the world, and the first purebred British-bred cattle brought to Australia. Devons have a broad genetic diversity and a range of maturity patterns that enables them to perform in a wide variety of situations. Unlike many other modern cattle breeds, Devon cattle are well placed to take advantage of the swing back to the superior eating qualities of the British breed cattle. Australia has arguably the world's best resource of Devon genetics, but this resource is largely unknown in other countries.

Graeme is an excellent communicator and has always shown a willingness to share his knowledge and experience with his peers in the industry.”

Dr Ralph Kuhn B V Sc [Hons] (Univ of Sydney)
Consulting Beef Cattle Veterinarian

Dr Ralph Kuhn is a specialist beef cattle veterinarian. He has serviced the Devon herd of Devon Genetics Australia since 1996. He is involved in all aspects of reproductive monitoring of bulls and females.

All bulls are subjected to a pre-sale semen and soundness examination. Each year, all females (including cows and maiden heifers) are tested for reproductive fertility and efficiency. Ralph endeavours to ensure that all animals bred for seedstock production are sound and functional in every way.

Prior to the annual joining season, he fertility tests and exams some 1500-2000 bulls in the region for both seedstock producers and commercial herds. Ralph provides a full gamut of bull tests ranging from physical and structural assessment through to semen collection and evaluation, and serving capacity testing.

Ralph has developed a speciality in reproductive management and surgery of the external male genital tract of beef bulls.

Ralph's veterinary consultancy is involved in pregnancy testing approximately 40000-50000 cows per year and associated reproductive consultancy. His work for DGA includes all aspects of fertility monitoring of females and the design and conduct of artificial breeding programs.

He is the government appointed veterinary officer at Artificial Breeding Centres in the region. Ralph is also the supervising veterinary officer at the quarantine and collection centre for Devon Genetics Australia.

Ralph came from a rural background. He completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Sydney University in 1981. He has always had a leaning towards production animal medicine (particularly beef cattle) and aspects of reproductive management. After graduation he spent a short time working in Gloucester NSW. In April 1982 he commenced working at the Coolah Veterinary Clinic and is now a principal of the practice.

Ralph's practice covers an area of some 45000 sq km in Central and Northwest NSW. His work is approximately 75% large animals of which 80% is beef cattle medicine.

This is arguably one of the largest specialist beef cattle practices in NSW. The practice is committed to the ongoing education of clients. In this vein it provides extension services in all aspects of production animal medicine. These include areas such as parasitology, reproductive benchmarking, drought management and many other specific aspects of animal disease. The clinic runs these activities in its own right (often sponsoring guest speakers) or in conjunction with other local service providers.

To maintain a practical approach to beef cattle, Ralph is deeply involved in a commercial family farming enterprise, this being a 700-800 breeding cow operation. As a consequence he has developed an interest in the interaction of nutrition and production with profitability. He has 200 cows performance recorded with Breedplan and has long-standing associations with customer feedlots.

Ralph has a good understanding of the feedlot sector. He consults to a number of smaller opportunity feeders in the region for ration formulation and management assessments.

Email contact for Dr Ralph Kuhn: coolahvet@dodo.com.au

Gordon Bevan has long time practical experience in the livestock industry. He has managed large properties and herds of all breeds of cattle, large merino flocks and prime lambs.

Gordon's work with the Devon herd has extended over many years since 1996. He has contributed valuable advice about stock selection, matings and health of the herd. His guiding experience has brought positive change to the herd.

For many years Gordon was chief classifier and trainer of classifiers for the Santa Gertrudis breed in Australia and Pacific Rim countries.

At various times he has been a specialist speaker at field days in Australia and overseas, cattle judge at Royal Shows and in foreign countries and inspector for British, European and Bos indicus breeds.

Gordon has undertaken further education in the selection, reproduction, maintenance and meat grading of beef cattle. He is deeply involved with all aspects of stud and commercial cattle including showing, stud promotions, stud sales, commercial selling and grading of livestock.

His work encompasses the management and selection of stock for large AI and ET programs and in particular ET programs for foreign governments. He is well known for his work in the selection of livestock and rural properties and the subsequent planning of land use.

Part of Gordon's ongoing interests is his own herd of Santa Gertrudis cows. His outside interests extend to other animal species such as angora goats and deer.

Sylvia has been associated with Devon cattle breeding at Devon Genetics Australia since 1999. With DGA she is involved with all levels of farm work, management of cattle and often as part of the decision making about aspects of cattle breeding programs. She has been part of external artificial breeding programs using genetics supplied by DGA to outside breeders.

She is enthusiastic about her vocation and has a genuine love for reproductive work with cattle. Silvia has been a regular part of the team during her studies and will be formally accredited as a practicing veterinarian at the end of 2004.

Sylvia was born in Illinois USA in a farming background. Her life has revolved about cattle and horses. Her love of large animals has focused on breeding and reproduction. Initially educated at various universities in the USA, she travelled to Australia for training in Veterinary Science at Sydney.