Red Poll Cattle were developed in England from Norfolk and
Suffolk cattle. The resulting cattle were selected for both meat and milk
qualities and became very popular as a dual-purpose breed producing both good quality
milk and beef. Red Poll offspring are highly predictable and uniform. Because
they are only distantly related to many other commercial beef breeds, the Red
poll can impart significant hybrid vigor when crossed with other breeds. Red
Polls were used in the development of the Senopol breed in the Caribbean
beginning in the 1920's
Red Polls are known for their fertility, mothering ability,
rapid calf gain, calving ease, forage efficiency, gentle disposition, and lower
fat content. They can vary from light red to dark red and they are always
polled. Red polls are a good choice for small farms because of their easy
manageability.
Red Polls were first imported to America in 1873 and the
American Red Poll Association was founded in 1883.