Red Poll Cattle
The Red Poll is a dual‑purpose heritage breed developed in eastern England in the early 1800s by crossing the Norfolk and Suffolk cattle breeds. The Norfolk, now an extinct breed, was known for the high quality of its beef. The Suffolk, also extinct, was a polled dairy breed. Breeders selected their cattle for beef and dairy qualities, creating a breed that was consistent in appearance, dark red in color, and always polled. The Red Poll was recognized as a breed in 1846 and imported to America in 1873. They were known as a dual purpose breed (meat and milk) that was efficient, productive and long lived.
Due to the Holstein breed dominance in the dairy industry during the 1950s and 1960s, the Red Poll went through a period of transition to a single purpose beef breed which was officially declared in 1972. The breed is listed as "threatened" on The Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority List and it's population is declining worldwide.
The Red Poll is a dual‑purpose heritage breed developed in eastern England in the early 1800s by crossing the Norfolk and Suffolk cattle breeds. The Norfolk, now an extinct breed, was known for the high quality of its beef. The Suffolk, also extinct, was a polled dairy breed. Breeders selected their cattle for beef and dairy qualities, creating a breed that was consistent in appearance, dark red in color, and always polled. The Red Poll was recognized as a breed in 1846 and imported to America in 1873. They were known as a dual purpose breed (meat and milk) that was efficient, productive and long lived.
Due to the Holstein breed dominance in the dairy industry during the 1950s and 1960s, the Red Poll went through a period of transition to a single purpose beef breed which was officially declared in 1972. The breed is listed as "threatened" on The Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority List and it's population is declining worldwide.
