What are Red Poll Cattle
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Sir Edward Coke was one of the leaders of the Agricultural Revolution in the England of the late 18th early 19th century, and his estate at Holkham in East Anglia was a centre of innovation at the time. He introduced Devon cattle to the estate. However, many of his tenants were dissatisfied with them. In 1808 James Reeve crossed two local breeds, the polled Suffolk and the horned Norfolk, to produce the progenitors of one of the most successful of composite breeds. The Suffolk was noted for it's milk production and the Norfolk for beef qualities. The result was what eventually became the Red Poll breed, for many years used as a dual purpose animal producing both quality beef vealers and steers and a good supply of milk.

Since the emphasis on specialist dairy breeds like the Freisian, Red Polls have been bred for their beef production.The cows have good production of quality milk, essential for rearing good calves, and the generally gentle disposition of dairy cattle. In particular, the muscling has been developed and most strains of the breed in Australia are economic and efficient beef producers. As pure breds they are early maturing animals for beef production and are particularly useful in cross breeding programs.

Red Poll cows raise excellent calves with a minimum of fuss

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