Belmont Red
Belmont Red is a breed of beef cattle developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) during 1954 in response to the need in the Australian Tropics for cattle which would improve the fertility of Bos indicus cattle. The breed was conceived at Belmont Research Station as a composite from several Bos taurus breeds: Africander (African Sanga) and Hereford-Shorthorn. Selected traits were a more placid temperament, greater resistance to ticks, and use of the environment and the pastures in the most efficient manner to give higher weight gains. Belmont is a town located in Western Australia (WA)
Rigid selection for these traits 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 5,000 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 Research Station 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 3,865 ha property runs about 2,000 head of cattle including around 1,000 breeders.
References
- Stephens, M (et al.), Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Export Corporation, 2000 (4th ed), ISBN 1-74036-216-0
"The Land Stock Types"