Red Poll Cattle Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Red Poll cattle were developed in the later half of the 19th century in England. They are a dual-purpose breed that has an excellent quality and high yields of both milk and meat.
They are also an economical, hardy and easily adaptive to most climates and environments breeds suitable for most farming type systems. They can be found in New Zealand, Australia, and North America.

RED POLL CATTLE BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
Red Poll is a very productive breed of cattle suitable for most farming systems
Country of Origin:	England
Other Names:	None
Main Purpose:	Meat and Milk
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Can be used for	Breed, Meat, Milk
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most Climates
Conservation Status:	Listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Threatened
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Cattle?	Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level
Cattle Associations:	American Red Poll Association, Red Poll Cattle Society, Canadian Red Poll Cattle Association, Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders Incorporated and Red Poll Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa
Cattle Clubs:	Please refer to the American Red Poll Association, Red Poll Cattle Society, Canadian Red Poll Cattle Association, Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders Incorporated and Red Poll Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa for more information on the Red Poll cattle breed
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the American Red Poll Association, Red Poll Cattle Society, Canadian Red Poll Cattle Association, Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders Incorporated and Red Poll Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa for more information on the Red Poll cattle breed
Child Friendly?	Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children
General Information:	The Red Poll Cattle breed are being introduced into a lot of small ranch and backyard type beef farming systems. The Red Poll cattle have consistently tested in the top 1% of cattle for feed efficiency which is very important for profitability and their ability for grass finishing with their moderate frame. They are a popular choice for young breeders, exhibitions and 4-H type projects due to their nature and size. The Red Poll breed has been a registered breed in the United States of America for 125 years making it the oldest registered breed in the USA.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Red Poll breed is usually a deep rich red color that has white on their tail switch and on the cow’s udders. They have a medium length rounded physique with sturdy legs and a small square face and straight profile

Size:

Medium

CATTLE ⇒	COW	BULL
Breed Color:	Red or Deep rich red	Red or Deep rich red
Breed Weight:	550 kgs	816 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear	Unclear
Horns:	Polled	Polled
Temperament:	Docile and easy	Docile and easy but should be watched at all times when handling or around them
Matures at age:	6 to 8 months or 9 + months	6 to 8 months or 9 + months
Puberty Age:	6 to 15 months	9 to 1o months
Breeding Age:	13 to 15 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Cow breeding & Milking Info	Cover 25 to 30 Cows in 1 season

COW BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. They are good mothers with great maternal instincts and will protect their young. They are quite fertile and tend to breed easily. They are good birthers with little to no need of aide. They are used for milk specifically for making of cheese as they do not have a very good milk yield but are perfect for a small farm or homestead.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 6 to 24 hours Most ave. 12 to 16 hours Cows usually come on heat every 21 days.
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days to 24 days Heifer – usually ave. 20 days Cows – usually ave. 21 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 days. Cows that are carrying bull calf’s their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves.
No. Calves/Litter:	1 calf at a time. Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen
Lactation Period:	Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days.
Milking From:	1 to 6 weeks after Calving
Drying off Period:	The cow should have a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. Drying off period for around 60 days before she can calve again.
Milk Quality:	Good , High in Butterfat
Milk Ideal for:	Calves and cheeses such as RedPoll English cheese
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CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Red Poll cattle do have a good quality of meat with good meat to bone ratio and marbling for tender beef cuts. They grow quite fast and their meat quality is consistent through the carcass

Meat Production?

Yes, Quality: Good

CATTLE ⇒	VEAL	BEEF
Ave. Maturity Age:	6 to 8 months	9 months up to 4 years

CATTLE SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide. As a meat producing breed, the Red Poll breeds hide would be a by-product and could possibly be used in leather products.

Skin Production?

No, Quality: Good

Skin is used to Produce:

Calf/cow skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, handbags, belts, furniture, rugs, etc.

CATTLE ⇒	CALF	ADULT
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months for Calf skin	1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

HISTORY

The breed was developed in England in the 1800s and was a cross between two, now extinct breeds of cattle. These were the Norfolk Red beef-type cattle breed and the Suffolk Dun dairy cattle. The Suffolk breed was polled but the Norfolk breed was horned with the horned gene being bred out of the Red Poll breed.

The Red Poll was originally called Norfolk and Suffolk Red Polled cattle and was named as such in 1863. The first documented standard for the breed was derived in 1873 and the first herd book was started in 1874.

In 1883 the breeds name was changed to Red Polled and became Red Poll in 1888 the same year the Red Poll Cattle Society was founded.

The breed is known to be a part of the “Suffolk Trinity” along with Suffolk sheep and Suffolk Punch heavy horses.

The breed was imported to America in 1873 by G. P. Taber of New York State.