Breed widespread throughout world

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 22

Breed widespread throughout world

Although New Zealand has only a small population of Red Poll cattle, the breed is widespread throughout the world. Red Polls originated in England in the early eighteenth century and can now be found in America, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, New Guinea, Mexico, Rumania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, of “Otahuna,” near Tai Tapu, introduced Red Polls to New Zealand in 1898 and the New Zealand Red Poll Cattle Breeders’ Association was formed in 1921.

The main beef breed in Jamaica is based on Red Polls and in Brazil 500,000 cattle, bred from Red Polls, form the Pltanguera breed.

The red colour of their coat allows Red Polls to withstand tropical heat. The breed carries also a degree of tick resistance. New Zealand Red Polls have been exported to Tahiti where they are reported to be the best cattle tried in the tough tropical conditions. In Australia, Red Polls compete successfully in

steer carcase competitions against other breeds and crosses, and last year a Red Poll steer sold for more than $lOOO at the Addington market in Christchurch. New Zealand Red Poll breeders say there has been a good demand recently for Red Poll bulls

to mate with dairy herds to produce easy-calving dairy beef. Red Polls were originally dual purpose cattle and many people still regard them. as milking cattle as well as beef producers. Red Polls are still milked in Northland, but most herds in New Zealand use the breed’s milking ability to rear early maturing calves. The breed’s standard

states that "the breed was evolved to combine the production of the very highest standard of beef with a superior milk yield. Judging should alm at deciding the best combination of these qualities;

moreover, an obviousdeflciency in one cannot be counterbalanced by superlative excellence in the other.” Red Polls originated

from a cross between the Norfolk Red (a deep red polled beef animal) and the Suffolk (a dun coloured dairy type). The ability of Red Polls to survive in tough conditions stems from the breed’s background of evolving in East Anglia, an area noted for cold winds which sweep in from the North Sea.

Cropping rotations of barley, clover, wheat and turnips were developed in Norfolk and the cattle became used to living outdoors and existing on crop residues. This has contributed to the breed’s hardiness. , In New Zealand, Red Polls thrive under a wide range of conditions — from Northland to the drier Canterbury Plains, the steep hills of Taihape and Taumarunui, and the tussock hill country in Middlemarch and Southland.