In an era of specialized livestock known for either meat or milk, the Red Poll breed stands as a proud rebel. Bred to do two jobs exceptionally well — producing both tender beef and rich milk — the striking red British native has earned a quiet, fierce admiration from homesteaders and sustainable farmers looking for the ultimate all-in-one farm cow.

Dr. Tim Montague of Lost Creek Farm near Covington in Tipton County acquired his first Red Poll heifers roughly 10 to 12 years ago after spotting a herd near Big Sandy. He was intrigued by the breed after studying its characteristics in school and was thrilled to start a herd of his own. He now manages approximately 55 females, runs a cow-calf operation, and feeds out steers at an additional farm in Middle Tennessee. Since his operation is spread across multiple counties, he works closely with various Co-ops, including the Stockdale’s store in Selmer, First Farmers Cooperative in Lexington, and Perry Farmers Cooperative in Linden, for feed solutions and delivery.

“Red Poll cattle were developed in England during the 19th century by crossing Norfolk Red beef cattle and Suffolk Dun dairy cattle to produce a dual-purpose animal,” says Tim, who recently joined his wife, Dr. Sandra Montague, in retiring as small animal veterinarians after 43½ years in the field.

“They are known for their fertility, calving ability, milk, and strong maternal instincts. In fact, they produce significantly more milk than other beef breeds, averaging 4.8 to 5.25 gallons per day compared to roughly 2.4 to 2.6 gallons for Angus.”

“Their meat is fine-grain, high-quality beef that’s comparable or superior to Certified Angus Beef as well,” adds Tim. “It contains intramuscular fat and marbling that’s found in cuts not typically associated with marbling, which has consistently impressed both my butcher and beef customers.”

In addition to their superior milk and beef qualities, Tim says Red Polls are efficient, moderate-framed cattle that can turn grass into pounds without demanding excessive inputs. They are naturally polled, eliminating the need for dehorning, and have a striking appearance — a deep, rich, reddish-mahogany coat that looks stunning in the pasture.

“One of the traits I like best about them is their gentle disposition,” says Tim. “I broke my two 8-month-old show bulls to halter in less than a week and had kids leading them around, showing them. Their calm, docile nature makes them easy and enjoyable to handle.”

Red Poll cattle arrived in the United States in 1880, and the American Red Poll Association (ARPA) registry was formed three years later in 1883, Tim says. However, the breed’s numbers have declined over the years, due in part to a lack of organized promotion.

Because of his love and dedication to the breed, Tim is the current ARPA president. His goal, he says, is to raise the breed’s profile and make it a household name.

The American Red Poll Association currently has 400 members and is growing. Active Red Poll breeders and association members are concentrated primarily in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, with additional herds in Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia.

As president of the association, Tim is concentrating not only on promoting the breed but also on trying to broaden and strengthen the American Red Poll bloodlines. Currently, the Red Poll is listed as a threatened heritage breed by The Livestock Conservancy. It is facing population declines globally due to crossbreeding and commercial specialization.

“We are working to modernize breed registration by incorporating genomic testing through ear-tissue DNA samples, which will verify parentage scientifically rather than relying solely on paperwork,” says Tim.

Concerned about the genetic sustainability of the small American population due to repeated names appearing across pedigrees, Tim imported semen from three bulls in Australia.

Two bull calves from this program, Luke Skywalker and Jesse James, won champion and reserve champion bull titles at the 2026 Red Poll Junior Preview Show held in Kankakee, Illinois — Tim’s first cattle show entries. Six of his Red Poll calves were shown by his neighbors and garnered four first-place and two second-place finishes, including junior champion heifer and reserve senior champion heifer.

“As president of the American Red Poll Association, I’ve been coaxing the membership to support youth in agriculture,” Tim says. “So, when I saw that the show was for youth only, I thought that would be a great way to reach out to some of the youth in our area. I contacted Terri Turner, a neighbor whose family members were featured in the August 2025 edition of The Cooperator. Her kids are familiar with showing sheep but had never shown cattle before. They helped us break them to halter and then fit them to get ready to show. Then four of them traveled to Kankakee with us. It was quite an experience.”

In addition to the Junior Preview Show, the association uses the North American International Livestock Exhibition (NAILE) at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, for its Red Poll National Championship. The 2026 national show is scheduled for November 18.

For those interested in seeing Red Poll cattle or starting their own herd, the American Red Poll Association will host its 2026 Annual Meeting and National Sale Event October 22-24 at the First Farmers Co-op Livestock Center in Lexington, 16219 Highway 22 North, Lexington, TN 38351.

On Thursday, October 22, cattle participating in the auction will arrive from noon to 6 p.m., followed by a consignor meeting and board meeting. On Friday, October 23, the annual membership meeting will be held at 10 a.m., followed by the evening banquet at 7 p.m. On Saturday, October 24, lunch will be served at 11 a.m., followed by the national auction sale starting at noon. The sale, expected to feature around 50 head of cattle, is one of only two Red Poll sales held in the country annually, the other being the Kentucky Beef Expo in the spring.

For more information, visit www.americanredpolls.com or contact Tim at utvolsvet@aol.com.