Calving & Weaning %
At Mt Eugene, Central Queensland, in a Brahman-cross herd, pregnancy rates of daughters from Belmont bulls, were more fertile than those from Santa Gertrudis, Droughtmaster and Brahman bulls. The differences in fertility between the Belmont’s and the Brahman derived breeds were due to the higher fertility in both the females and the bulls.
The largest advantage in fertility in favour of the Belmont occurred in the 2 yo lactating heifers which conceived earlier than the other breeds.Even in the milder environments of the Burnett (Narrayen Research Station) and Callide Valley (Brigalow Research Station) regions in which ticks were controlled, calving weaning rates of Belmont’s, were higher than Herefords and Simmentals. At the Brigalow Research Station, the higher weaning rates of the Belmonts reflected their much higher pre-weaning calf survival.
The much higher reproduction of the Belmont as compared to other breeds comes from a combination of shorter inter calving interval, lower lactational anoestrus, higher bull fertility, and higher survival of calves and adults.
