Belmont Red
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The Belmont Red breed of beef cattle was developed by the CSIRO during 1954 in response to the need in the Australian Tropics for a breed of cattle which would improve the fertility of Bos indicus cattle. These cattle were conceived at Belmont Research Station as a composite breed using Africander (African Sanga) and Hereford-Shorthorn (Bos Taurus) to fulfil needs for a more placid temperament, tick resistance and to be able to utilise the environment and the pastures in the most efficient manner to give higher weight gains.
Rigid selection for these traits required has resulted in the evolution of well adapted cattle to both a tropical and temperate environment. Belmont Red cattle are heat tolerant and tick resistant requiring little or no dipping and the cows have a good survival rate in times of drought and do not suffer from eye cancer.
Most of these cattle are red in colour. The breed was released to Australian breeders by the CSIRO in 1969.
Large commercial herds running on native pastures in both Queensland and the Northern Territory have calving rates above 90% achieved in large breeder groups containing 5000 head. The cows show good mothering ability with low levels of dystocia (calving difficulties).
Belmont Reds have achieved quite a few wins and placings in The Paddock to Plate Challenge.
'Belmont' is owned by AgForce Queensland and is leased to CSIRO as a research facility. Situated on the banks of the Fitzroy River just north of Rockhampton, the 3865 ha property runs about 2000 head of cattle including around 1000 breeders.
[edit] Reference
- Stephens, M (et al), Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Export Corporation, 2000 (4th ed), ISBN 1 74036 2160
"The Land Stock Types"
