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 elicious
Tender Beef!
Senepol beef has produced some of the industry’s best
Warner-Bratzler shear force tenderness values in
university and USDA studies. The study “Genetic
Effects on Tenderness in Heat Tolerant Composite
Cattle Breeds” showed that including tropically
adapted bos taurus breeds, such as Senepol, in
the development of composites may effectively reduce
tenderness problems in heat tolerant cattle.
Senepol History & Development
In
the 1800s N'Dama Cattle were imported to the Caribbean
Island of St. Croix from Senegal, West Africa. St.
Croix is
the largest and Southernmost of the U.S. Virgin
Islands, located roughly 1200 miles Southeast of
Miami, Florida. The N'Dama, a
Bos
taurus
breed, was well suited
for the
Caribbean because of it's heat
tolerance, insect & disease resistance and the ability
to thrive on poor quality forage.
By 1889 Henry C. Nelthropp's Grenard Estates
was one of the largest N'Dama breeders with over 250
head, which he maintained as purebreds. Nelthropp's
son, Bromley, wanted to develop cattle that would
combine the traits needed for superior levels of
production in the Virgin Islands' tropical
environment. Attempts to import higher producing
cattle from temperate regions had failed; the cattle
having broken down quickly from heat and nutritional
stress.
In 1918, Red Poll genetics were
introduced to the Nelthropp's N'Dama stock to improve
milking ability, fertility and make the polled. This
blending of genetics proved quite successful, and
formed the foundation of the Senepol breed. As more
Red Poll influence was added, strict selection
pressure was applied for:
In the 50 years since the Nelthropp
herd was dispersed to local breeders, the development
of the Senepol breed on the St. Croix has been
continued by four primary herds that still operate on
the island today. The largest two number 400 and 220
mother cows respectively. The isolation of St. Croix
sheltered the Senepol breed from the fads that have
constantly assaulted the U.S. purebred industry. While
other breeds chased certain trends, only to turn and
race just as fast in the opposite direction, Senepol's
route was characterized by continued selection for
animals that could perform and reproduce under the
harsh St. Croix environment. From their beginnings,
the island herds maintained genetics records, which
grew into the Senepol breed registry in the late 1960s
and the early '70s. On-farm performance testing began
in the mid-1970s with the establishment of the Virgin
Islands BCIA. In 1977 a plane carrying 22 Senepol cows
left for the U.S. mainland; 20 years later, the
Senepol Cattle Breeders Association recognizes over
500 breeders and more than 14,000 Senepol records.
Today Senepol can be found thriving in 21 states &
around the world in such countries as Venezuela,
Mexico, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Brazil and many others
where their tropically adapted production is needed.
Senepol
Production
Assets
Heat
Tolerance
USDA
research establishes the cooler temperatures
maintained by Senepol compared to Brahman, Angus and
Hereford cows while grazing during the summer months
in Florida. The same study revealed that F1
Senepol calves (both Hereford sired out of Senepol
cows, and Senepol sired out of Hereford
cows) maintained rectal temperatures almost identical
to fullblood Senepol.
Senepol possess Heat Tolerance, and they pass it on in
crossbreeding programs.
Grazing studies performed at the USDA Subtropical
Research Station, Brooksville, Florida, during the
summers of 1990-91 concluded that Senepol grazed an
average of 10.7 hours per day as compared to 9.3 hours
a day for Herefoed cattle.
A grazing advantage of 1.4 hrs/day. This adds
advantage to Senepol’s foraging ability and
easy-fleshing traits.
Disease and Insect Resistant
USDA research indicates that Senepol
have greater immunity 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.
USDA research indicates that Senepol
have greater immune response when compaired 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.
100% BOS TAURUS - NO BRAHMAN - NO ZEBU
With
the increasing importance of branded beef programs,
the absence of bos indicus breeding allows more
opportunities for making Senepol-influenced cattle.
Breed Characteristics
Disease and Insect Resistant
USDA research indicates that Senepol
have greater immunity 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.
Polled
Calving Ease/Calf Vigor
 Senepol
are similar to Angus in calving ease and light birth
weight. The huge advantage they offer is tremendous
calf vigor. Breeders everywhere are proud of the
increased survival of Senepol-sired calves because
they jump up and nurse quickly.
Maternal Efficiency
 Maternal
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.
Lifelong Success
Longevity
Every cattleman who visits St. Croix for the first
time is amazed at the number of 15-20-year-old cows
that are still in production. Often overlooked,
perhaps no characteristic is as "multiple-trait"
oriented, or as meaningful to the overall
profitability of a cow/calf operator as Longevity.
Foraging/Fleshing Ability
Udder Quality
Handling and
Quality
Easy Handling
Generation after generation of Senepol have been
selected for handling ease. This is an area where
Senepol can greatly compliment other Heat Tolerant
breeds.
Crossbreeding
Specialist
Senepol compliments many breeds and helps to bring
their advantageous traits to areas where heat
tolerance is needed. In USDA research, Senepol crosses
have expressed more heterosis than any Combination of
British x British or British x Continental crosses.
Senepol Cattle Breeders Association registers several
Senepol based composite breeds. Senepol and Senegus
are just two!
Feedlot Performance
Senepol continues to prove their
ability to perform in areas other than the subtropics.
Senepol, and Senepol cross steers, have performed well
repeatedly in Nebraska, Colorado, Virginia, Oklahoma
and Texas panhandle feedlots.
An example of their hardiness follows:
Jim
Barron's Spur Headquarters Ranch fed over 2000 F1
Senepol cross steers between October 1990 and May
1993. The collective averages for all steers were 146
days on feed, death loss of .28%, ADG of 3.62 lbs.
/day and average dry matter conversion of 6.74 (lbs.
feed/lb. gain).
For more information,
contact Yoko Tasukahara at the New Kids Farm, Santa,
Ilocos Sur.
Reference:
www.senepolcattle.com
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