Breed Data

Although several UK breeders make use of the SIGNET beef breeder system and others have used the IGENITY DNA based tests for beef quality and milk, more comprehensive comparative breed data is available from the United States and Australia.

Members and prospective Red Poll breeders may therefore find the figures (albeit dated) from the US Meat Animal Research Center, University of Nebraska as well as various carcass championships at Sydney and Adelaide Royal Shows in Australia of interest.

The figures for the USA are quoted in pounds avoirdupois, those from Australia in kilograms

The MARC comparative data was compiled over a period of three years over a range of 24,342 cows of all breeds and their cross bred calves

MARC Table 3 -- Effect of Breed upon measures of Output and Input over three years:
BREED	TOTAL FEED CONSUMED Mcal	TOTAL WEANING WT OVER 3 YEARS (lbs)	EFFICIENCY (lb/Mcal)
Angus	22,435	1,078	0.049
Braunvieh	22,624	1,243	0.057
Charolais	22,600	1,243	0.055
Gelbvieh	22,036	1,170	0.055
Hereford	20,890	985	0.048
RED POLL	20,119	1,130*	0.058*
Pinzgauer	20,186	1,102	0.056
Simmental	20,975	1,047	0.050

COMMENTARY
Some examples relative to the performance of Red Polls
The Herefords consumed 4% more and weaned 12.8% less kilos
The Angus ate 11.5% more and weaned 4.5% less kilos
The Limousin consumed 8.29% more and weaned 6.1% more

Percentage of Dam Weight Produced as a 200 Day Calf
	1st calver	all ages
RED POLL	31%*	32%*
Hereford	18%	24%
Angus	26%	29%
Limousin	17%	26%
Braunvieh	31%*	32%*
Pinzgauer	30%	33%*
Gelbvieh	31%*	30%
Fleckvieh	30%	30%
Charolais	23%	20%

Table 28 : Breed Group Means for Reproductive Traits - All Ages
Breed Group	Number tested	Pregnancy %	Calves born %	Calves Weaned %	200 day calf wt per cow bulled (lb)
RED POLL	1710	86.6%*	81.3%	76.2%*	356
Hereford	1835	78.9%	76.3%	68.2%	280
Angus	2723	84.6%	81%	72.6%	320
Limousin	1958	74.8%	73.4%	66%	306
Braunvieh	1696	85%	82.4%	73.9%	400
Pinzgauer	1066	86.3%	83.7%*	74.8%	401
Gelbvieh	1365	85.2%	83.2%	75.5%	413*
Fleckvieh	1718	83.1%	80.8%	70%	382
Charolais	1804	83.2%	80.8%	73.7%	387
AVERAGE		83.1%	80.3%	72.3%

Table 37 : Meat Quality Traits
Breed	Shear force	Sensory Panel(lb)
Breed	Shear force	Tenderness	Juiciness	Flavour
RED POLL	10.41	5.07	5.25	4.87
Hereford	11.16	5.10	5.25	4.96*
Angus	9.92	5.55*	5.38*	4.92
Limousin	12.39	4.88	5.01	4.82
Braunvieh	11.22	5.06	5.12	4.90
Pinzgauer	9.86*	5.43	5.20	4.96*
Gelbvieh	12.74	4.63	5.04	4.75
Fleckvieh	12.08	4.80	5.14	4.83
Charolais	11.38	4.95	5.12	4.88
AVERAGE	11.2	5.07	5.17	4.87

RESULTS : Carcase competitions - Sydney Royal Show
Breed	1994		1995		1996
Breed	Points	Place	Points	Place	Points	Place
Angus	242	2=*	239	4	255	1*
Charolais	232	8	151	12	226	8
Hereford	235.5	6	219	8	233	3*
Limousin	242	2=*	253.5	2*	226	9=
Murray Grey	262.5	1*	261.5	1*	226	9=
Hereford	234.5	7	212.5	7	227.5	5=
RED POLL	240	4	246.5	3*	247.5	2*
Santa Gertrudis	213.5	10	222.5	7	227.5	7
Shorthorn	237	5	161	11	225	11
Fleckvieh	223	9	198	10	227.5	5=

RESULTS : Carcase Competition - Adelaide Royal Show 1999
Breed	Carcass points	Points on hoof	Total	Placing
Group of three steers Champion : Limousin Runner-up : RED POLL
Angus	214	71	285	5=
Galloway	176	69	245	11
Charolais	201	68	269	10
Limousin	263*	75	338	1*
Murray Grey	198	80*	278	9
Hereford	208	72	280	7
Red Angus	211	74	285	5=
RED POLL	244*	78*	332	2*
Shorthorn	225*	70	295	3*
Devon	204	73	277	8
Fleckvieh	216	76*	292	4

Class 407 : Trade Steer Carcasses - Royal Adelaide 1999 - 18 entries
Winner	Murray Grey	80 points
2nd	Angus	75 points
=3rd	RED POLL and Hereford
4TH	RED POLL	69 points

Class 408 : European Union Steers Carcasses - Royal Adelaide 1999 - 19 entries
Winner	RED POLL	86 points (Wilson)
2nd	RED POLL	85 points (Dunn)
=3rd	RED POLL	83 points (Malone)

Class 508 : EU steers (milk teeth) Carcasses - Royal Adelaide 1999 - 45 entries 9 breeds
Winner	Limousin	90 points	440kg	59.7% yield
2nd	South Devon	87 points	530kg	57.7% yield
=3rd	RED POLL	86 points	490kg	54.4% yield
4th	RED POLL	85 points	530kg	57.5% yield

* Top scoring breed

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