Red Poll
Encyclopedia
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
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 polledPolled livestock
Polled livestock are livestock without horns, of species that normally have them. The term refers both to breeds or strains which are naturally polled through selective breeding and also to naturally horned animals which have been dehorned...
(without horn
Horn (anatomy)
A horn is a pointed projection of the skin on the head of various animals, consisting of a covering of horn surrounding a core of living bone. True horns are found mainly among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae and Bovidae...
s). Red Poll cattle are mainly used as beef
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
suckler cows although there are a few dairy
Dairy cattle
Dairy cattle are cattle cows bred for the ability to produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made. Dairy cows generally are of the species Bos taurus....
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. They do well on poor soils such as the thin sands of many parts of East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
.
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.They are considered to be part of the "Suffolk Trinity" with the Suffolk sheep and the Suffolk Punch
Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch, also historically known as the Suffolk Horse or Suffolk Sorrel, is an English breed of draught horse. The breed takes the first part of its name from the county of Suffolk in East Anglia, and the name "Punch" from its solid appearance and strength...
heavy horse.
Red Poll cattle were imported into Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
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.
These cattle were introduced to the United States by G. P. Taber of New York State in 1873. 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.
The Red Poll breed was first brought to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1898, but a herd was not established until 1917, when 22 animals were transported from Australia.
See also
- SenepolSenepolThe Senepol breed of beef cattle were developed on the Caribbean Island of St. Croix from N'Dama cattle, imported in the late 19th century, by crossing with Red Poll cattle. The Senepol breed combines the N'Dama characteristics of heat tolerance and insect resistance with the docile nature, good...
, a hybrid with African N'DamaN'DamaN'Dama are a breed of cattle from West Africa, of the Bos taurus-type. Other names for them include Boenca or Boyenca , Fouta Jallon, Fouta Longhorn, Fouta Malinke, Futa, Malinke, Mandingo , N'Dama Petite...
cattle originating in the Virgin Islands. - Sussex cattleSussex cattleSussex cattle are a red breed of beef cattle from the Weald of Sussex, Surrey and Kent in south eastern England. Descended from the draught oxen long used on the Weald they were selectively bred from the late 18th century to form a modern beef breed which is now used in many countries around the...
, 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 RedLincoln RedThe Lincoln Red is an old breed of beef cattle, originating from Lincolnshire in eastern England. They were selectively bred from the indigenous draught cattle of the region by crossing with the Durham type Shorthorn to produce a dual purpose breed. They are now exclusively a beef breed.Lincoln Red...
, a horned red breed from Lincolnshire.