Sugar Creek
Well-known member
I few years ago I bought about 9 open Red Poll heifers and posted on this board for advise on what to breed them to. Replies were generally negative about the breed (not enough muscle, too much milk, etc. )
Went ahead and bought a Red Poll bull and used him on the heifers and some shorthorn and angus cross cows I already had. I think Red Polls offer some real opportunity in a crossbreeding program. They have proved to be very fertile and easy calving without exception. They do give lots of milk but not as much as say a Hereford X Holstien. The Red Poll bull on Angus cows really produced some nice growthy and market topping calves. I would think a Black Limo or Black Simmental on these Red Polls now they are older would be a good cross.
I am not as much up on the grid or epds as some of y'all are but I do have lots of experience here on my place and at selling at our local stockyards. To my mind nothing takes the place of fertility, calving ease and milk and they need to come first.
Some here would call me a "Hobby Farmer" but the cattle income has been critical to our family for years and I have learned in the experience. The value of living fairly independently on your own land and its effect on the kids has been priceless. Very few are actually making what passes for a good living today off the farm alone. Many who look down on smaller operators are actually living off the investment and work of their fathers and grandfathers.
Went ahead and bought a Red Poll bull and used him on the heifers and some shorthorn and angus cross cows I already had. I think Red Polls offer some real opportunity in a crossbreeding program. They have proved to be very fertile and easy calving without exception. They do give lots of milk but not as much as say a Hereford X Holstien. The Red Poll bull on Angus cows really produced some nice growthy and market topping calves. I would think a Black Limo or Black Simmental on these Red Polls now they are older would be a good cross.
I am not as much up on the grid or epds as some of y'all are but I do have lots of experience here on my place and at selling at our local stockyards. To my mind nothing takes the place of fertility, calving ease and milk and they need to come first.
Some here would call me a "Hobby Farmer" but the cattle income has been critical to our family for years and I have learned in the experience. The value of living fairly independently on your own land and its effect on the kids has been priceless. Very few are actually making what passes for a good living today off the farm alone. Many who look down on smaller operators are actually living off the investment and work of their fathers and grandfathers.