- Senepol
The Senepol breed of
beef cattle were developed on the Caribbean Island ofSt. Croix by Henry C. Nelthropp in the early 1900's by crossingRed Poll cattle andN'Dama cattle. The Senepol breed combines the N'Dama characteristics of heat tolerance and insect resistance with the extreme gentleness, good meat, and high milk production of the Red Poll. They are polled. shorthaired, and comes in the colors of red,black ,and brown.Heat ToleranceSenepol cattle are known for their tolerance of heat. These animals thrive in the warm summer months and are ideal for tropical climates. USDA studies prove this and you can see it in pastures. On hot summer days, Senepol cattle will not seek the shade, but will continue to graze
Other CharacteristicsDisease and Insect ResistanceUSDA research indicates that Senepol have greater immune response when compared to other beef breeds. This is due greatly to the N'Dama influence in Senepol, and is also aided by generations of natural selection being applied on the island of St. Croix. In the 1950s with sugar cane becoming less economic the United States Department of Agriculture put resources into the teaching of scientific breeding under
Richard Marshall Bond . This was covered in an article on the Virgin Islands in the February 1956 National Geographic.Calving Ease / Calf VigorSenepol are similar to Angus in calving and light birth weight. The huge advantage they offer is tremendous calf vigor. Everywhere people are proud of the increased survival of Senepol-sired calves because they jump up and nurse quickly.
Maternal EfficiencyMaternal Efficiency is aided by the moderate size, fleshing and foraging ability of the Senepol cow. Adult cows average 1,000 to 1,200 lbs., and consistently wean off 50% or better of their body weight while maintaining an efficient calving interval.
LongevityNo characteristic is as meaningful to the overall profitability of a cow/calf operator as longevity. These cows stay in production upwards of 15-20 years!
External links
* [http://www.senepolcattle.com/regsystem/index.cfm/ Senepol Cattle Breeders Association]
* [http://www.senepolcattle.com/welcome]
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