Evaluation

The Belmont Red has undergone extensive scientific and commercial objective comparative evaluations against many breeds in a wide range of environments, both domestically and overseas. Comparisons were based on reproduction, growth, carcass and meat characteristics, environmental adaptation and survival. At the National Cattle Breeding Station “Belmont”, from which it derives its name, the Belmont has been comprehensively scientifically evaluated over three decades, in comparison to Brahman Cross (representing Brahman Infused Breeds) and British cross (representing the British Temperate breeds).

The results have been extensively documented in Scientific Journals and popular publications. It has also been extensively evaluated under commercial management over a wide range of environments in comparison to a number of Tropical and Temperate breeds. All the information presented has been summarised from documented research and commercial trials.

Cattle production under grazing conditions is affected by environmental stress factors such as level (quality) of nutrition, temperature and humidity, and parasite burdens. These stresses vary across regions. Under certain circumstances stresses can be ameliorated by management practices. Supplementary feeding can alleviate the effects of poor nutrition, and dipping and drenching can reduce the effects of high parasite burdens. Other stressors such as high temperatures and humidity cannot be reduced. However, what is certain, is that reducing environmental stress is always costly and in many circumstances cannot be economically or environmentally sustained eg. tick control.

The main evaluation locations and environments are summarized below:

1. "Belmont" (Research) Station
   Environment: Coastal Tropical; High summer temperatures and humidity; cool dry winters; Native pastures moderate to poor nutrition, high parasite burdens.
   Management: No supplementary feed, No dipping or drenching.
2. “Narayen” (Research)
   Environment: Sub-tropical sub-coastal; High summer temperatures; cold dry winters; Improved and Native pastures, nutrition – moderate to good; parasite burdens – moderate. Management – tick control through dipping.
3. “Mt Eugene” (Commercial)
   Environment and Management: Similar to “Narayen”, pastures predominantly improved.
4. “CRC (co-operative research centre) for Meat Quality
   Research and Commercial Nationally.
5. “Animal and Dairy Research Institute” Republic of South Africa
   Research and Commercial Nationally.
   Four diverse environments ranging from:
   a. High Mountain Country (1500m altitude); winter snow, cool summers.
   b. HighVeld (1000m + altitude); Cold dry winters, hot to moderate summers.
   c. Low Veld; Mild dry Winters, Hot humid Summers. High tick burdens.
   d. Arid semi Desert; Cold winters, hot summers.
   Under South African Management tick control is very important and all herds are regularly dipped.