Red Poll

Red Poll heifers at the Walcha, Show

The Red Poll is a dual purpose breed of cattle developed in England in the latter half of the 19th century.

Description and uses

The cattle are red, preferably deep red with white only on the tail switch and udder. They are naturally polled (without horns). Red Poll cattle are mainly used as beef suckler cows although there are a few milking herds in England. They are known for easy calving and successfully rearing a high proportion of their calves.^[1] They do well on poor soils such as the thin sands of many parts of East Anglia.

History

The Red Poll originated as a cross between Norfolk Red beef-type cattle and Suffolk Dun dairy cattle (both of these breeds are now extinct). The parent Suffolk breed was also polled – Norfolk cattle had horns but the gene for horns was bred out in the Red Poll breed. The original name for the breed, adopted in 1863, was Norfolk and Suffolk Red Polled cattle, and the first standard description was agreed in 1873, with the first herd book compiled in 1874. The breed became the Red Polled in 1883, and then Red Poll in 1888, when the Red Poll Cattle Society was formed.^[2]

Red Poll cattle were introduced to the United States by G. P. Taber of New York State in 1873.^[3]

These cattle were imported into Australia in the mid 1800s where they are now used for beef production. The first identified breeder in Australia was James Graves, around 1870, although there is evidence of earlier herds.^[4]

The Red Poll breed was first brought to New Zealand in 1898, but a herd was not established until 1917, when 22 animals were transported from Australia.^[5]

Gallery

Red Poll cow and calf

Red Poll bullock on Cambridge Midsummer Common

Red Poll face

See also

• Senepol, a hybrid with African N'Dama cattle originating in the Virgin Islands.
• Sussex cattle, a horned red beef breed from the south east of England.
• North Devon (cattle), a horned red beef breed from Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.

References

1. ^ Breed calf rearing comparisons
2. ^ Red Poll Cattle Society website History page
3. ^ Department of Animal Science - Oklahoma State University (1996-06-11). "Red Poll". Breeds of Livestock. http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/redpoll/index.htm. Retrieved on 2006-07-13. 
4. ^ ABRI, University of New England (2003-12-22). "The Introduction of Australian Red Poll". http://redpoll.une.edu.au/intro.htm. Retrieved on 2006-07-13. 
5. ^ "Red Poll Cattle". Bateman New Zealand Encyclopedia (6th ed. ed.). Auckland: David Bateman Ltd.. 2005. ISBN 1-86953-601-0. 

External links

• Red Poll Cattle Society website (United Kingdom)
• List of Red Poll breed associations

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