Red Poll

Red Poll heifers at the Walcha Show, New South Wales, Australia

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 dairy herds in England as well as in the United States in the state of Texas. They are known for easy calving and successfully rearing a high proportion of their calves.^[1] They are sometimes used for conservation grazing.^[2]

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.^[3]

They are considered to be part of the "Suffolk Trinity" with the Suffolk sheep and the Suffolk Punch heavy horse.^{[citation needed]}

Red Poll cattle were imported into Australia in the mid-19th century 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]

These cattle were introduced to the United States by G. P. Taber of New York State in 1873.^[5] The Red Poll dual purpose bred is the oldest registered breed in the United States and is celebrating its 125th year. The breed is beginning to be re-introduced into some areas of the western US for the small ranch and backyard beef and 4H as docile nature makes them easy for the novice.^{[6][Full citation needed]}

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.^[7]

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.
• Lincoln Red, a horned red breed from Lincolnshire.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Red Poll

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