Opinions on the South Poll Breed.

[LaurlaFarms]

From my experience with my first post about my "lowlines" I can see y'all have pretty strong opinions and are not afraid to express them. Respect there!

So what do think about the relatively new breed known as the "South Poll"?

 

[Ebenezer]

Frame score and color will kill you in a real market situation. New, to me = crossbred still to this point. What I saw of some over the years is that they are going to fatten quick enough for the cows to have short productive lives unless you withhold feed from them. More of a novelty or a homestead breed for direct sales.

 

[Little Joe]

From what I've seen and heard about them, if you get more of the foundation bloodlines they are cattle that will hold up well in the south and on fescue. If being red kills you in your area breed them to homozygous black bull with a little more frame. I would stay away from the real small ones and stay more in the 1000-1200 lb ones. I'd be careful where and who you bought them from. The foundation ones seem to be culled pretty heavy and those breeders want good quality cattle but there are too many selling every heifer and bull as a breeder and that's no good.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

I have some South Poll percentage in my herd. My heifers are 50% SP and Red Angus, and my cows were bred to a registered South Poll bull. We just had our first 50% calf on Christmas day out of the bred cows I bought. The cow that calved has some SP percentage in her but can't prove it by paperwork is what I was told. She has been a very good momma so far and this was her 6th calf, I'll keep her for as long as she breeds back. Still waiting on my other Red Angus cow to calf, which should happen in the next few weeks.

I'm going commercial, and have smaller acreage, so I thought I would try them out and see how they do. I was attracted to the smaller frame of them and the supposed heat tolerance and red hide they have. They are a very maternal bred, so most will be good moms, but like any bred there is some culling involved.

I had a local farm with purebreds that I went and visited prior to buying any SP influence want to sell me a purebred cow with calf at side and bred back. They called it a 3 in 1. They were waiting until the calf was born to bred it back. It had a little runt of a calf and the mom would reject the calf for nursing evening though it was her second calf. They didn't have a lot cow experience and didn't really "make" the cow nurse the calf and turned it into pasture for another mom to adopt it. It is still a runt to this day, and the cow was sent off to be processed. Can happen with any bred, just be cautious on purebred cattle.

As with any bred or "pet" purebreds/fullbloods are up there in price. Too rich for my blood. I plan on staying commercial, so I will likely rent a bull or pay AI for someone to bred my herd this year to a calving ease bull most likely a SP, but my long term plan is to get a terminal cross, potentially a Red Charolais, Simmental, or Limousin.

They will get docked at stockyards and local markets for their size and red hide, just is what it is. My long term plan is to either retain heifers if they check the boxes or feed them out with any steer calves I have. I'm not afraid to give my SP herd feed, not a grass fed disciple by any means. This will be for me to send calves off to butcher and sell beef.

Happy with my first heifer calf. Two weeks old now, seems to be doing great. Don't know how she will grow off, but if she turns out like her momma, I'll be very happy to keep her as a replacement.

I really didn't pay a market premium for them for being SP, so I thought I would give them a try.

 

[Allenw]

The ones I've seen on utube by a big internet guru have left me a bit unimpressed. The biggest problem is it's a breed that is mainly in the hands of hobby type people without the numbers for a good comparison or the knowledge or willingness to cull hard for improvement.

A lot like the lowline angus.

 

[MACVSOG]

just now read this, i was previously un
aware of south poll.
any thoughts on how they compare in size, disposition, etc.
to corriente?

 

[clarkmorefarm]

The ones I've seen on utube by a big internet guru have left me a bit unimpressed. The biggest problem is it's a breed that is mainly in the hands of hobby type people without the numbers for a good comparison or the knowledge or willingness to cull hard for improvement.

A lot like the lowline angus.

I'm not sold on all the methods that the youtube stars that promotes SP so much.

I think common practices like weaning whether it be fence line or however are important. I'm not opposed to vaccines or medicating cattle if needed either. I do think rotating pasture and letting the ground rest is important.

When you make a big presence online you literally can sell what you preach to your subscribers. In this case pure bred cattle via online auction or private treaty.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

just now read this, i was previously un
aware of south poll.
any thoughts on how they compare in size, disposition, etc.
to corriente?

The disposition on my small herd is great, but there are other factors like how much you interact with the cattle at play too.

 

[mwj]

The bad thing is it takes a long time to figure out that you spent a lot of money on a bad decision. The second generation shows up the faults and takes a lot of money for you to make an informed decision.

 

[MACVSOG]

The disposition on my small herd is great, but there are other factors like how much you interact with the cattle at play too.

i currently have four cows that eat out of my hand; however, i
do not play with them. we need another for a team.
don't think any south poll in my area anyway, will be asking.
thanks for the information

 

[Allenw]

When you make a big presence online you literally can sell what you preach to your subscribers. In this case pure bred cattle via online auction or private treaty.

The plan is to sell for most of them. If they're actively selling they have an agenda to promote to further themselves.

It doesn't mean you can't learn something from them but sifting the BS gets old after awhile.

 

[kenny thomas]

South Pole were "invented" in Alabama in 1989 by Teddy Gentry. A 4 way cross thsts supposed to be able to handle the heat in the south better. They are Angus, Hereford, Senepol, and Barzona, with Senepol being terribly hard to much more that give away here, then or now. There was 2 fairly big herds of Senepol here back then but they went away pretty fast.
I find the South Pole to be a fine boned smaller frame and smaller finishing breed. Not a terrible breed for 100% from home sales but they take a beating at the stockyards. If the cows can be bought for 1/2 to 2/3 what the mainstream breeds cost it might work for home sales.
For me personally, still way better than the lowline.

 

[MACVSOG]

kenny thomas: appreciate the good info!
i am now less ignorant

 

[kenny thomas]

kenny thomas: appreciate the good info!
i am now less ignorant

My comments are my opinion only, dont bet the farm on it.
I know some have done very well with them. But mainly are those selling to people getting started.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

i currently have four cows that eat out of my hand; however, i
do not play with them. we need another for a team.
don't think any south poll in my area anyway, will be asking.
thanks for the information

There are a few herds in TX and in Oklahoma, many in Missouri.

You can always check out the South Poll Association page for member search and look at their classifieds.

Home page

 

[wobbie1775]

I have South Polls and that is the direction I am moving my herd. Echoing some other thoughts on here: be wary of who you buy from. MANY small farms doing "seed stock" for the breed and they aren't culling for anything. So take a look at the animals on their farm and the bloodlines. Look at bags and feet etc. Also inquire about their actual operation...like if they send culls to the auction or keep to feed. I would say, if a seed stock operation doesn't ever cull then they are not doing the breed any favors. The price of South Poll critters is so high, these folks will sell bad lineage and that is a huge problem for the breed. And, to be honest, there are a lot of people raising them who don't know what good cattle from bad (I certainly still have a lot to learn!)

Also, I think the breed is well adapted to rotation/fescue....but so are many other breeds and whether your animals are successful in that environment is probably more a function of management than bloodline.

South Poll will usually not take a beating at the auction like a lowline would. The South Poll is a "normal" cow just trending on the smaller frame.

There are plenty of cattlemen/producers who have gone from black commercial herds to South Poll, and believe in the breed enough to keep going, so the money is there.

 

[MACVSOG]

There are a few herds in TX and in Oklahoma, many in Missouri.

You can always check out the South Poll Association page for member search and look at their classifieds.

Home page

thanks

 

[cowman82]

i usually stay away from anything I have to pay a premium for when I buy, then get the lowest price at the market when I sell.

I try to do the opposite of that. but i'm in this business to make money.. $$$$

 

[BFE]

Every major breed out there has lines or stabilized composites that handle heat, fescue tolerance, etc. that are proven. They are also more market accepted.

I'm sure there are some fantastic SP's out there that throw a good marketable calf, but why spend twice as much to do that? As Kenny says, my opinion only, that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

Every major breed out there has lines or stabilized composites that handle heat, fescue tolerance, etc. that are proven. They are also more market accepted.

I'm sure there are some fantastic SP's out there that throw a good marketable calf, but why spend twice as much to do that? As Kenny says, my opinion only, that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.

Agreed on that. No way I would have spent double money on them just to get South Polls.

Some farms want $4,000/head or more for purebreds or full-blooded heifers. I paid less than half of that for mine.

I find it hard to believe people line up to buy them, but they do. The cows/heifers bring good money. The steers don't seem to bring much at all even on private treaty.