Breed Spotlight: South Poll Cattle

In the 1990s, Teddy Gentry – musician for the band Alabama – developed the South Poll breed of cattle with a focus on creating heat-tolerant beef cattle suited to southern climates. The mix of Red Angus, Hereford, Senepol and Barzona genetics resulted in a cattle breed that thrives in grass-based production systems.

Known for their calm disposition, high fertility rates and ability to maintain condition with relatively low inputs, South Polls are well-suited for rotational and regenerative grazing operations. Today, the South Poll Grass Cattle Association (SPGCA) has member farms across the country as this moderate-framed, slick-hided breed continues to grow in popularity.

South Poll cattle take center stage September 18-19 at Unity Farms in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, during the 2026 South Poll Grass Cattle Association Field Day. Hosted by Unity Farms owner and SPGCA board member Nathan Hahn, the event is expected to draw around 500 and will include a farm tour, grazing and livestock management education, vendors and a cattle auction.

It’s About Performance

Hahn has raised South Polls for about five years and knows firsthand why the breed has attracted so much attention.

“I really love how these cattle perform,” Hahn says. “We initially ran them side by side with other cattle and it was pretty obvious that our South Polls were outperforming our other cattle.”

A Place to Cool Off

South Poll genetics are selected for heat tolerance, but even heat-adapted cattle benefit from shade during Kentucky’s hot and humid summers. At Unity Farms, Hahn moves his cattle through paddocks with little natural shade – sometimes four or five times a day – making mobile shade a natural fit for his grazing system.

“We get pretty miserable heat and humidity here, It can be 98 degrees with 90% humidity and our cattle will still go out and graze,” Hahn says. “Though they are heat tolerant, they still need a place they can come back to and lie down, ruminate and cool off a bit.”

Two SH1200 Shade Haven mobile shade systems provide that refuge from the sun. And as Hahn moves the shades with the cattle, his pasture benefits as well.

“You get cattle under there and they are dropping a lot of manure and nutrients,” he says. “The beauty of it is we can hook up the Shade Haven and move it to another spot and do it again.”

For Hahn, mobility is key. The Shade Havens can follow the herd throughout the grazing season, then be folded up and stored for winter.

“And they are super durable, even with cattle around them and moving them as much as we do,” notes Hahn. “And Shade Haven’s customer service is off the charts. When you make an investment into a product like this, it’s phenomenal to have that kind of customer service.”

Nathan Hahn, South Poll Grass Cattle Association board member and owner of two SH1200 Shade Haven mobile shade systems, is hosting the 2026 South Poll Grass Cattle Association Field Day, September 18-19, 2026, at his farm in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. We’re excited to be part of this upcoming event.

If you are interested in South Poll cattle, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Unity Farms, learn about the breed, and see a Shade Haven in action.