Red Polls prove versatile and make economic sense.

An article from the Farmers Guardian - 8 March 2012

Starting up a rare breed dairy herd from scratch may be too much of a challenge for some, but for John Butler and owner of Avenue Farms, Michael Jarmon, it is a dream which is paying dividends. Olivia Midgley reports.

They had their heyday in the first half of the last century, but as better performing breeds were introduced in the 1960s and 1970s, the Red Poll lost its appeal.

Red Poll herds in the UK are now few and far between, but several farmers including John Butler, who milks 120-head just outside Milton Keynes, are doing their bit to bring the breed back into the public eye.

Farm manager John Butler, who lives on the farm with his wife and four children, is passionate about the breed and it is not hard to see why.

With their glossy, conker-red coats, Red Polls have good visual appeal, while their gentle temperament means they are easy to handle.

The full article can be seen here (pdf version), or at the Farmers Guardian website here.