Wahroonga Belmont Reds ideal for producers wanting low maintenance herds

THIS IS BRANDED CONTENT FOR WAHROONGA BELMONT REDS

With the popularity of the breed on the rise, Robert and Jane Sherry, Wahroonga Belmont Reds, Marlborough, will be offering drafts of ready-to-join heifers at two sales later in the year.

Mr Sherry said the Wahroonga Belmont Red female is a great mother with high levels of parasite resistance.

"Our purebred breeder herd isn't generally treated for ticks, whereas our crossbred commercial breeder herd, which has been decreasing in numbers over the years to make way for our expanding registered herd, is regularly treated," he said.

Mr Sherry said this natural resistance along with the ability to handle the heat and humidity, and foraging ability make the Belmont Red "an ideal choice for any breeder chasing a low maintenance herd".

The majority of Wahroonga heifer drops are mated as yearlings at 13 to 15-old yearling bulls in single sire mobs.

Through their involvement with the Northern Genomics program, the Sherrys have found the weight of these heifers is 280kg when 50 per cent of the mob is cycling.

"We try to have them around that weight when we introduce the bulls in early January for a restricted joining period. We've cut down this join over the years to 63 to 70 days at present."

Last year the Sherrys held underweight heifers over for the season and conducted a fixed-time artificial insemination program in mid-December using some of the semen they'd collected from bulls sold at the Belmont Red Association of Australia sale.

A mop up bull was in with them for 42 days.

Lighter or younger heifers that have failed to conceive or have not been joined are the only animals that may be given a chance the following summer if the Sherrys can carry them.

"Once a heifer has calved they're expected to reconceive and raise a calf, any wet breeder that is empty when the herd is annually preg tested is culled."

For several years the Wahroonga herd had sat at 400 to 450 registered females being joined each year.

The Wahroonga breeders are run in open Ironbark forest country with natural grasses and are supplemented with a urea block containing phosphorus from weaning until the season breaks, to have them in a body condition score of three before calving.

"Last year's preg testing results were back by 15pc with no easy answer as to why. An article written by Dr Geoffry Fordyce during the year suggested it was a widespread occurrence in the Northern parts of the state."

A conversation with long-time Belmont Red breeder Peter Schmidt, Alawoona Station, Wyandra, saw the Sherrys purchase 112 Alawoona registered cows with young calves at foot.

"This will boost our numbers significantly. We'll need to sell off most of the remaining commercial females to make room for the new additions."

The Sherrys will offer registered heifers at the Central Coast All Breeds Sale at the Mackay Showgrounds on Saturday, August 23, and at the Belmont Red Association of Australia Belmont Annual Bull and Female at CQLX, Gracemere, on Monday, September 1

The heifers selected for these sales will be ready to join and will be fully vaccinated with 7-1, botulism, Pestigard, and 3-day vaccine.

THIS IS BRANDED CONTENT FOR WAHROONGA BELMONT REDS