“Wahroonga”, the home of the Sherry family, is on the western slopes of the Connors/Broadsound range about 180km south of Mackay, also the home of the Wahroonga Belmont Reds stud established in 2015.
Having been raised in a commercial crossbreeding operation with multiple breeds, we gave Belmont Reds a try in 2008, wanting to find a breed that would give us an efficient breeder that would produce a calf for us annually despite the vagaries of the central Queensland seasons.
A breed that would give us a more consistent article when it came time to sell, whether it be through yards or direct to processors.
A breed that would stay calm and be easy to handle in all situations, with three young children wanting to help their safety was important.
We had found the complete package, Belmont Red, the most underrated breed available to cattlemen and cattlewomen on the market, in our opinion.
Fast forward to 2025, we are preparing our 10th offering of bulls to the market, hoping that someone who is looking for the same complete package solution for their herd finds that at CQLX Gracemere, on 1 September.
We will offer 30, 21- to 22-month-old bulls we think people will look back on years later and say: “He was a good buy, he made a difference to our herd” every time they handle their daughters or sell the steers.
Half of our draft is ranked in the top 25 per cent on the self-replacing index. This index combines the EBV traits to give you one number to rank their genetic merit.
In all, 22 of the bulls are better than the breed average for days to calving, some high-growth and some low birthweight bulls for heifer matings.
Thirteen are homozygous polled and lots more polled with a few scurred bulls.
All are quiet and easy to handle, sound both structurally and fertility-wise having passed a semen morphology test, are vaccinated and prepared for a long working life not just for sale day.
We are also offering nine PTIC yearling-mated heifers out of our cohort of 180.
These heifers for the sale will calve out during December and early January.
All are polled with five homozygous polled and are vaccinated.
The heifers will be presented in paddock condition and will have a few months at their new home before they calve.
Contact me if you have any questions about the heifers or bulls for September.
Greenhills Belmont Reds: Sustainable Reds for greener pastures
Situated in the fertile Brisbane Valley, Greenhills Belmont Red Stud operates from Graceview — a property combining productive creek flats for haymaking with undulating scrub country suited to breeders and grower cattle.
The story of Belmont Reds at Greenhills began in 2008 with the purchase of a foundation herd from the owner’s parents, who had bred stud Belmont Reds since the early 1980s.
This step not only continued a family tradition but also laid the groundwork for the stud’s future.
Greenhills expanded in 2010 by leasing a property at Linville, furthering their commitment to quality breeding.
Early on, the operation faced a shortage of pure Belmont females, so commercial females were introduced and bred with select Belmont bulls, building a resilient herd well-suited to the environment.
Belmont Reds quickly proved their strengths: a calm temperament, low-maintenance care, ease of calving and adaptability to market needs.
A defining moment came during the 2017–2019 drought. Despite harsh conditions, the herd achieved an impressive 90pc calving rate, demonstrating the breed’s hardiness.
By the end of the drought, the Greenhills herd had become predominantly Belmont Red, underscoring the breed’s superior adaptation.
Belmont Reds at Greenhills consistently outperformed other breeds, notably in tick resistance, which reduced reliance on chemical treatments and lowered operational costs.
Their ability to thrive on native pastures with minimal intervention further enhanced the sustainability of the operation.
This year, Greenhills has selected six top bulls for the National Sale in Gracemere, chosen for their growth, confirmation, temperament, fertility and strong Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), all detailed in the sale catalogue.
These bulls were raised on pasture and only introduced to grain in May to ensure a smooth transition to their new environments.
Greenhills Belmont Reds are known for their fertility, docility, premium carcass quality and tick resistance, making them a valuable asset for producers seeking resilient, high-performing cattle.
