Red Poll
Crossing the milky suffolk dun with the meaty norfolk red in the early part of the 19th century produced the red poll.
In 1874 the red poll herd book was published and the colour was established as deep red with white tail switch. The breed society was established
in 1888.
The breed is an early maturing dual-purpose breed and was ideally suited to the production of veal or 'baby beef', slaughtered at less than
15 months, in the mid 1900s. The red poll was popular in its native East Anglia where it adapted well to thriving on low quality grazing. Its
popularity was adversely affected by the arrival of the commercial friesian and by the 1960s numbers had fallen significantly.
The breed society has worked hard over the years, creating a high profile for this adaptable breed. In doing so, red polls have risen in
popularity & in 2007 came off the RBST Watchlist & onto the Mainstream breds list.
Red poll meat is of high quality, even from low protein foodstuffs, due to the excellent food conversion ratio of the breed. Being early maturing
the breed is suited to both intensive and extensive systems.
Mature bulls weigh an average 620kg and cows 520kg.
Leeds City Council runs a breeding herd of 20 red polls, plus followers.
www.redpoll.org
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