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Belmont celebrates 50 years of cattle research
12 Jun 2003
Belmont Cattle Breeding and Research Station is celebrating its 50th birthday on June 12th. The station, near Rockhampton, began in 1953, with a research program to develop new tick-resistant cattle breeds to replace the British Hereford and Shorthorn cattle herds, dominant in northern Australia at that time. The program aimed to produce tick resistance by cross-breeding existing herds with the American Brahman and the Africander.
Belmont also produced a new breed, the Belmont Red, which is used in crossbreeding to increase herd fertility and meat quality, as well as tick resistance.
Current research projects include genetics and beef tenderness, tick resistance, cross breeding, grazing management and bull fertility selection.
Belmont is owned by AgForce and leased to CSIRO. The 3,865ha property runs about 2,000 head of cattle, including 1,000 breeders.
CSIRO Media Release, 11/6/03.
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