29 September 2022
4 minute read
History
Red Poll cattle were developed as a dual-purpose breed in their native counties in England.
Breeders sought a type that would fatten readily rather than be of extreme size. A good milk flow was also considered important in selecting breeding stock in the development of the breed in its native land.
The counties of Suffolk and Norfolk in England are the original homes of the Red Poll. These counties, which lie in a low rather marshy part of England, border the North Sea and have soil that is generally lacking in fertility. The first general agricultural records of England record a great interest in dairy, particularly in Suffolk County. However, the farmers did not specialise in dairy animals but preferred cattle with a combination of milk production and high quality carcasses.
Photo courtesy of Lazy S Farm, www.lazysredpoll.com
No one knows when the first cattle were introduced into Suffolk, but it was thought that cattle were brought to that area by the Romans.
In discussing the cattle of Suffolk in 1794, Rev. Arthur Young, in his book The General View of Agriculture of the County of Norfolk, reported:
This breed is universally polled, that is without horns; the size small, few rise when fat to above fifty stones (fourteen pounds)... If I were to describe the points of certain individuals... a clean throat with little dewlap; a thin clean snake head; thin legs; a very large carcase; ribs tolerably springing from the centre of the back but with a heavy belley; backbone ridged; chine thin and hollow; loin narrow; udder large, loose and creased when empty; milk-veins remarkably large, and rising in knotted puffs to the eye... many of these beasts will fatten remarkably well; the flesh of a fine quality; and in that state will feel well enough to satisfy the touch of skillful butchers. The best milkers I have known, have either been red, brindle, or yellowish cream coloured... the quality of milk is very considerable indeed.
The cattle of Norfolk were described in 1782 by Marshall (as quoted in the Red Polled Herd Book, vol 1, American ed., 1891) as:
a small, hardy, thriving race; fattening as freely and finishing as highly at three years old as cattle in general do at four or five. They are small boned, short legged, round barrelled, well-loined, thin-thighed, clean chapped; the head, in general, fine, and the horns clean, middle sized and bent forward; the favorite colour a blood-red with a white mottled face... and if the London butchers be judges of beef, there are no better beasts sent to Smithfield market. The two qualifications, namely the superior quality of their flesh, and their fattening freely at an early age, do away with every solid objection to their size and form.
It is not definitely known when the two breeds were first crossed, or what infusions of blood may have been from other breeds. Galloway Cattle and Devons were brought into the area, and, no doubt, some of this breeding found its way into what later was called the Red Polled Breed.
The Red Poll In America
G.P Taber of New York State started importing Red Polled cattle in 1873. His first importation consisted of a bull and three heifers; two years later, he imported four more cows; in 1882 he brought over three bulls and twenty-three additional heifers. In 1882, Messrs. Mead and Kimball, Randolph, Vermont, imported a bull and ten females. Importation was a thriving business for a few years but after 1902 practically no more Red Polls were brought over. The breed was established in the United States on only about 300 head that were brought in from Britain. The breed spread from the United States into Canada.
Current selection criteria on Red Poll in the United States is primarily for beef production.
Characteristics
Red Poll cattle are a deep red colour with good eye and udder pigmentation (avoids sunburn)and naturally polled. They are medium size (similar to all British breeds) with strong legs and good walking ability.
Photo courtesy of Lazy S Farm, www.lazysredpoll.com
Both cows and bulls are very docile and so are easy to handle, they are easy calving and because of their milking ability they produce a low weight, fast growing calf. For these reasons the bulls are used as dairy beef sires plus the cows frequently produce calves at the age of 15 or more.
The beef is fine grained and has won the competitions in Australia for the most tasty and tender beef as judged by a consumer panel. Red Polls are still milked in England - the milk has a small fat globule so is the next best to goat's milk if people are allergic to cow's milk.
Statistics
Efficient converter of forage requiring little or no additional feed Easy calving Long lived thus fewer replacements needed Will adapt to single or multiple suckling Will calve to any terminal sire Will outwinter, however cold and wet, if properly fed Excellent quality beef Naturally polled Calm and easy to handle Excellent mothersWill adapt very well to either extensive (and organic) or intensive systemsComparative
Distribution
Due to Red Polls good qualities the breed has been exported from the UK all over the world including the USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe. References (the above information was cited from the following sites)
www.ansi.okstate.edu
www.redpoll.org
www.redpollcattle.co.nz
www.lazysredpoll.com
FAQs
House Finches, Purple Finches, and Cassin's Finches are all larger than Common Redpolls, have much heavier bills, and lack bold wingbars; unlike the redpolls' small patches of red, the males of these finches have red covering the whole crown and chest.
What is the difference between red poll and purple finches? ›
Purple Finches are larger with heavier bills than the tiny-billed Common Redpoll. Adult males also have more red on the head than the tiny patch of red on the crown of Common Redpolls.
What is the difference between a redpoll and a linnet? ›
What is the difference between a Linnet and a Redpoll? The Linnet is a larger finch than a Redpoll, and although both have a patch of red on their heads and typically a blush of red on their breasts (though both only on the male for Linnet), the Redpoll has a much more streaked appearance overall.
How do you identify a Common Redpoll? ›
How to identify. The Common (or Mealy) Redpoll is a small finch. It is larger and paler than the very similar Lesser Redpoll. It is streaky brown above and whitish below with black streaks, and shows two white lines on the folded wing.
How rare is a redpoll? ›
The European breeding population is estimated at over 13 million pairs. In comparison, very few make it to British & Irish shores, where winter numbers often struggle to reach three figures.
Do redpolls come to feeders? ›
These small finches of the arctic tundra and boreal forest migrate erratically, and they occasionally show up in large numbers as far south as the central U.S. During such irruption years, redpolls often congregate at bird feeders (particularly thistle or nyjer seed), allowing delightfully close looks.
Where do Common Redpolls live? ›
RANGE/HABITAT:
They live in open woods (pine, spruce, alder, birch, and willow). In locations where there are no trees, such areas of tundra, they will find hollows and sheltered areas where deciduous shrubs and conifers can gain a foothold. Common Redpolls will also live around more urban areas.
What is the rarest finch bird? ›
The mangrove finch C. heliobates, often called the “rarest of Darwin's finches,” is key to the study of speciation and conservation biology.
Do red finches turn yellow? ›
When a bird is molting, its diet will determine the colors of its new feathers. If a diet lacks certain pigments, then a House Finch may end up orange or yellow instead of its usual red. Project FeederWatch participants often keep track of interesting birds, including those with unusual color patterns.
Is a redpoll a songbird? ›
Redpolls are small songbirds that reside year-round in Alaska.
Nest Placement
They place their nests over thin horizontal branches or crotches in spruces, alders, and willows. Nests tend to be low to the ground or, on the tundra, placed on driftwood, rock ledges, or other low ground cover.
Do Redpolls flock? ›
Redpolls travel in flocks of up to several hundred individuals. They move frenetically, foraging on seeds in weedy fields or small trees one minute and swirling away in a mass of chattering birds the next.
What is the female red poll bird? ›
The Common Redpoll is slightly larger than the American Goldfinch. The male is heavily streaked and has a small, red crown and pink breast. The female is duller than the male and lacks the pink breast, but does have the same red 'poll' as the male.
What bird feeder does a Common Redpoll eat? ›
They will come to bird feeders for smaller seeds such as Proso millet, Nyjer thistle, and hulled sunflower seeds. Do not mistake them for the male House Finch which is much larger and their entire upper bodies are red. If you see Redpolls at your feeders, the first thing you will notice is how tame they are.
How do you attract Redpolls? ›
Feeder Tips for the Irruption
Your best bet for catching a wave in the siskin/redpoll irruption is hanging a thistle or nyjer seed feeder, either a plastic tube or a mesh sock. All finches love nyjer and thistle, but they're especially effective at attracting siskins and redpolls by the flockful.
How do you tell if a bird is a finch? ›
Adult males are rosy red around the face and upper breast, with streaky brown back, belly and tail. In flight, the red rump is conspicuous. Adult females aren't red; they are plain grayish-brown with thick, blurry streaks and an indistinctly marked face.
What is the difference between redpoll and Arctic redpoll? ›
The Arctic redpoll is similar in appearance to the common redpoll but generally paler. It may be distinguished from that species by the unstreaked pale rump patch and the uniformly pale vent area.
What is the difference between a red crossbill and a House Finch? ›
Red Crossbills are members of the finch family, and are slightly larger than a House Finch in size. Interestingly, plumage colors differ between adult males, adult females, and juvenile birds. Adult males are a dull red color, adult females are a yellowish green, and juvenile birds are a streaked brown.
What type of creature is a redpoll? ›
The common redpoll (Carduelis flammea) is a small brown and gray finch with a rosy chest and red cap that is abundant year round in open subarctic areas and northern forests. These tiny birds are known to survive extremely cold temperatures and have adapted to harsh winter conditions in a number of ways.
29 September 2022 
4 minute read 
