CHAPTER XII 

 THE RED POLLS 



The Ked Polled cattle are of ancient English origin. 

 Whether the foundation stock came from the continent with the 

 Scandinavian settlers of Suffolk in the fifth century a.d., or 

 from some native aboriginal wild stock, will probably never be 

 known. They were developed, however, at a very early period 

 in the two counties of A^orfolk and Suffolk in eastern England. 

 In JSTorfolk they were beefy and poor milkers, dark red in color 

 and hardy. In Suffolk they were of indifferent beef value, but 

 considered as very good dairy cows and were without horns. 

 The present breed is the resiilt of an amalgamation of the two 

 types which was accomplished more than a hundred years ago. 



Home Conditicns. — The home of this breed was on low hills 

 and marshes. AYhile the soil was not always of the best, the 

 climate was mild and moist, thus encouraging ample pasturage. 

 It is natural, indeed, to expect from such conditions, coupled 

 with good care, that the animals should grow large, mature 

 early and be generally responsive. Such is found to be the case. 



Importations to America — While it is thought that animals 

 of the Red Polled stock were brought to this continent with the 

 early English colonists at Jamestown, Virginia, because of the 

 prevalence in the eastern states of a red muley cow, it is known 

 that better developed animals of this breed were imported in 

 1847 to Massachusetts. From 18Y3 to 1887 large numbers were 

 brought over. The Eed Polled Cattle Club of America was 

 organized in ISTovember, 1883. 



Body Characteristics. — The color of the Red Polls is a 

 solid deep red with an occasional white patch on the udder, 

 belly or switch. The size is medium to large, mature cows 

 weighingfrom 1200 to 1600 potmds or more, and bulls from 1800 

 to 2400 pounds. As their name indicates, the breed is entirely 

 without horns (Fig. 37). In general bodily make-up they are 

 not so thick in the neck, back or leg as the beef breeds nor as 

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