Beef Cattle Teaching Farm - FINCA MONTAÑA

Senepol Purebred Herd

The Senepol purebred herd consists of 150  cows and heifers. All animals are registered in the Senepol Cattle Breeders Association were  estimates of the animal true genetic worth or EPD’s (“Expected Progeny Difference”) are calculated for selection purposes.

 

Senepol Breed

Brief history of the Senepol cattle in Puerto Rico

 

The Senepol originated in the Island of Saint Croix (USVI) in the early 1950’s by crossing and selecting animals of the Red Poll (English/maternal) and N’Dama (African/Senegal) breeds. The two breed composite is a Bos Taurus Taurus tolerant to heat, humidity and  external parasites. Other important traits are maternal efficiency, foraging ability, early maturity, medium frame size, very docile and easy to handle, and polled with short red hair. 

 

The first Senepol bulls (Bulls # 42KN and 18K) and heifers (Heifers # 13KN, 12KN, 433 and 8N) were introduced in the year 1983 by the Department of Animal Industry, College of Agricultural Science, UPR at Mayagüez. Table 1 shows the pedigrees of the two Senepol bulls first imported. The objective of this introduction was to evaluate the Senepol, under the production conditions of Puerto Rico, as a substitute for the Zebu breeds used in the Island. Today many beef producers are using the Senepol for crossbreeding in their commercial