Belmont Red is a breed of

beef cattle Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production (as distinguished from dairy cattle, used for milk production). The meat of mature or almost mature cattle is mostly known as beef. In beef production there are three main stages: cow-calf opera ...

developed by the

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research. CSIRO works with leading organisations around the world. From its headquarters in Canberra, CSIRO ...

(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 near

Rockhampton, Queensland Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

as a composite from several '' Bos taurus'' breeds:

Africander The Afrikaner, also known as the Africander, is a breed of taurine-indicine ("Sanga") cattle indigenous to South Africa. Huge herds of Sanga type cattle were herded by the Khoikhoi (Hottentots) when the Dutch established the Cape Colony in 1652 ...

(African Sanga), Hereford and

Shorthorn The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late eighteenth century. The breed was developed as dual-purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however, certain blood lines within the breed always emp ...

. The breed was released to Australian breeders by the CSIRO in 1969. Selected traits were higher fertility, high resistance to ticks, superior heat tolerance, good growth, better meat quality, a placid temperament, and feed efficiency on grass or in the feedlot. Rigid selection for these traits of economical importance has resulted in the evolution of well adapted cattle to both a tropical and temperate environment. Large commercial herds running on native pastures in both

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

and the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...

have calving rates above 90% achieved in large breeder groups containing 5,000 head. Belmont Reds have achieved many wins and placings in Carcass competitions. In 2021, the Belmont Red Breed Society bemoaned the fact that the breed was not yet represented in the series of Big Bulls scattered throughout the city of Rockhampton, near where the breed was developed. President of the Belmont Red Breed Society, Jeanne Seifert said a statue of a Belmont Red bull would not only be a good focal point for visitors to the city but also a tribute to the contribution which had been made by scientists and the CSIRO. Her father was Dr George Seifert, a principal scientist based at the Belmont Research Station credited with helping develop the breed composition.

References

*Stephens, M (''et al.''), ''Handbook of Australian Livestock'', Australian Meat & Livestock Export Corporation, 2000 (4th ed), {{ISBN, 1-74036-216-0

External links

Belmont Australia website
Cattle breeds Cattle breeds originating in Australia