RED POLL CATTLE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 14

RED POLL CATTLE

Big Development in Breed

New Zealand farmers arc well advised to take notice of the 'big developmeut that is taking place in that wondenully adaptable and truly dual purpose breed, lied Poll cattle, under widely varied conditions in Canada, the United States of America, SouUh Africa, and Australia. Au interesting review on the Red Pod breed is contained in an article appearing in the January issue of the “'New Zealand Dairyman,” by Mr. A. C. T. Hewitt, dairy herd manager of the State Research Farm, Werribee. He emphasises that the Red Poll, from the point of view of quantity and quality of milk produced, has borne a good reputation, and that iu Australia this reputation has been strengthened by the performance of the Victoria herd of Red Polls belonging to the Government Research Farm, where R has been in existence for 24_ years. The average production of the 195 cows tested iu this herd during the last five years has been 78741 b. of milk, 4.38 test, and 3431 b. butterfat, equivalent to 4221 b. butterfat after adding the allowances for heifers. . Iu making a strong point of the early maturing and prime beef producing qualities of the Red Poll, Mr. Hewitt makes mention of the success of the 'breed, at the 1960 Melbourne Royal Show; the carcase class open to all breeds was won by a pair of two-year-old Red Poll steers. “Australian Farm and Home,” in its account of the Red Polls at the Sydney Royal Show, says: “A feature of the exhibit which is very pleasing to note was the nice balance of dairy and beef charActeristics. Of course, this is as it should be, for the breed is a dual purpose one. The Red Poll is well equipped with the desirable points of modern efficient cattle, with the advantage of the. possession to a very high degree of both milking and fleshing qualities. The latter is a particularly convincing attribute, and should not be neglected for the lure of the pail.” “Nothing that has happened in the annals of the Red Poll breed at home or overseas is hardly comparable with the really astonishing developments that are taking place in 'South Africa and Australia?’ states the September number of the English Red Poll journal. “Practically every mail brings home fresh records of progress in these far-off lands within the Empire. More and more stock breeders are buying Red Polls to start new herds, and in so doing are replacing other cattle. Others are using Red Poll bulls for cross breeding in order to grade their cattle into pure Red Polls. This change over from other breeds of stock to Red Polls is not the outcome of a sudden impulse or fancy for another breed. It is due to Red Polls having been tried and not found wanting.” The forthcoming consignment sale of stud and grade cattle -to be offered at the Feilding saleyards on July 31, will afford those interested in the breed an excellent opportunity to form tb/'ir own opinions of representative New Zealand-bred Red Polls.