Characteristics
Size – Medium – Cows – 550kg, Bulls – 850-1000kg
Looks – A classic dual purpose breed with a characteristic deep red colour. Similar in appearance to several of the “English Reds” (Lincoln Red, Devon, Sussex etc.) but the most slender of them all reflecting the Red Poll’s dairy origins.
Use – Dual-purpose – Beef and milk
Long lived, fertile and maternal – good suckler cows
Milking ability – The average milk yield is around 5000 litres at 4.2% butterfat and 3.5% protein although milk records from various herds have some cows averaging 7-8000 litres per lactation.
Most milking Red Polls average around a 300 day lactation with a steady yield throughout. The breed is known for its longevity