LECTURE NO. 39. 



RED POLLED CATTLE THEIR ORIGIN AND HISTORY, 



CHARACTERISTICS AND STANDARD POINTS. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. The Red Polled cattle are the outcome of 

 the amalgamation of two types which inhabited the 

 counties of Norfolk and Suffolk respectively. 



(1) The former of these, which was the smaller, was 

 usually of a blood-red color, except the head, which was mot- 

 tled, and it was possessed of fair milking and beef-making 

 properties. 



(2) The latter had more of the dairy form, and was origi- 

 j nally a sort of mouse dun in color, but 



(3) The colors in both were more or less broken far on 

 into the present century, although a whole red continually 

 grew into favor. 



(4) Both types were polled and both have been freely 

 inter-crossed for more than a century. 



(5) They have been recognized as one breed since the 

 year 1846. 



II. Other breeds, as the Galloways, West 

 Highland cattle and Shorthorns, have to some extent 

 been used in crossing upon the Red Polls. 



(1) A dark nose, which occasionally appears, would seem 

 to indicate Galloway blood, but 



(2) These crosses, introduced many years ago, have prob- 

 ably played an unimportant part in the improvement of the 

 breed. 



III. Improvement has been chiefly brought 

 about by a most rigorous selection, breeding to a 

 certain standard, improved care and liberal feeding. 



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