RED POLLED CATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20098, 8 November 1928, Page 5

RED POLLED CATTLE.

"SELDOM SICK OR BAD DOERS"

" After forty years' experience for the first part of which I kept a large herd of non-pedigree cows, and for the last twenty years a herd of pedigreed Red Polls, my opinion is that Red Polls pay best in the long run because they are very hardy, are seldom sick or bad doers, will thrive and maintain their condition on food on which others would Jose flesh, and will produce as much or more milk than other breeds .per ton of food." Thus writes Mr. A. H. Cobbald, of Acton Hall, Sunbury, in Suffolk, one of the most resourceful of East Anglian farmers, who has done exceedingly well as a stock breeder with the Suffolk Punch horses, Red Poll cattle and Suffolk sheep. " The quality, too. of the milk of the Red Poll is generally very good, very often 4 per cent, or more of butter fat.'' Following this further testimony to the value of Red Poll cattle, Mr. Cobbald goes on to say:—"Red Polls are good breeders, seldom running over or aborting. If the heifer calves from heavy milkers are retained in the herd, and bulls used from heavy milking stock, one can soon attain a useful milk average. Mine last year, 1925-26, was 8.7941b. per cow. This I know is not a high average, but I am a low feeder, almost always using food produced on the farm. No linseed cake is used for the herd, which now numbers 65 head, out of which 63 were bred on the farm, but I make an exception in the case of young calves, which have linseed cake until six months old. One of my heavy milking cows has produced in her twelve years seven heifer calves, and in one case, twins, both heifers. These twins have both bred and are milking well and all her cow stock, are as good or nearly so as their mother, one having surpassed her in one lactation, and the steers fatten well, too. While I like to breed for milk, I know that the butcher wants nothinpf better than a Per] Poll steer, and will give a good price for it at market."