Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-12-11
OUR FARMERS.
RED POLLED CA TILE.

The following is copied from the
american CultiUator.
The first Importation to the United
States of red polled cattle was made
in 1873. Not until 1882, however,
did any considerable number of them
appear on this side of the Atlantic.
| The breed in this country is but little
known, and there are today many
farmers who have never seen them.
They are English cattle, and very
old breed; in fact, one of the Oldest.
We speak in relation to their being
little known in this country from actu
al experience. Farmers in this Sec
on seeing our Red Polled bull, Peter
A 12, have said they never heard of
such cattle. Again, others confound
them with the Polled Angus.
The claim is made by breeders of
Red Polled cattle that they are gen
eral-purpose animal. Specialists will
deride the "general-purpose" idea,
But we must all allow that there are
Or may be two sides to every question.
The meaning implied by the worlds
general purpose" as applied to Red
Polls, is that they will produce as
many superior mixers as any breed
in existence, and that those which are
not superior milk and butter pro-
ducers can be very profitably fed into
beef.
A general description of these cattle
is as follows: They are of uniform red
color; the tip of the tail and the I'D
der may be white; When crossed on
other breeds the color is generally
transmitted. They are hornless. When
crossed with horned cattle they i'm
part this quality so thoroughly that
so per cent, of their progeny are horn
less.
Out Of over 100 COWS bread to Peter
A - we have yet to find the first sign
of horns on any Of his get, and he has
been used for service on Jerseys,
Guernseys, Ayrshires and grades.
In size they are good, but because
of very short legs are deceiving in
weight Mature bulls weigh 1900 to
1900 pounds, some up to 24O0 and $500.
Mature COWS weigh 100 to 1900 pounds,
and will average 1900 pounds or over.
Our Atoka 1916 at twelve months of
age weighed 800 pounds
They are easy keepers, being smooth
and fine in bone and muscle, hardy
and thrifty, mature early, fatten kind
ly, and make beef of the very best
quality. Their dressed carcass is about
IS per cent. OF their live weight. They
are gentle, dooile and intelligent A
bull of this breed that ever became
cross is exceedingly rare.
They are superior mixers. They
give gooo quality of very rich milk,
and many of them never go dry. The
COWS have good udders with teats of
good size. Average milk yield is 5000
pounds, with individuals running as
high as 1900 pounds in one year.
Red Polls are very easily kept AS
some breeder has put it: "Red Polls
will thrive on what some others breeds
of cattle would starve on" We only
state very few OF the good qualities
of this useful breed.
A farmer who is dissatisfied with
small, scrawny and scrubby cattle,
can by the use of Red Polled bull
soon develop his herd into a "thing
of beauty and JOY forever. Gin other
words, he can have in a few years
time a herd of red cattle all alike, all |
without horns, all of good size. A
large percentage Of them will be good |
mixers and butter producers.
Here then are the points of the Red |
Polls: Beautiful appearance, good size,
healthy, hardy, gentle and docile, in
telligent, easily kept, good milk and
butter producers, fatten quickly, and
dress two thirds of their live weight.
w. A. SARGENT.
Maplemont Stock Farm, Albany, VT.