Lee's onto a winning formula
Belmont Red-cross steers, which were being yarded up in the Lee family's paddock, ready for trucking to the ACC meatworks.
The Lee family has achieved stellar results with the Belmont Red-cross article they're producing on properties situated in Emerald and Capella. Derek and Ebony Lee run the business with Derek's mother, Carolyn, on their properties, Caroa and Yarran, which have been in the family since 1990 and 2008, respectively. The couple has personally owned these properties since 2019.
These properties consist of creek flats and softwood scrub soils, rising up to better forest country. "We had a dry winter and spring but a very blessed summer. Rainfall has been spot on for what our cattle have needed, with a recent inch having fallen in the past week, setting us up for a cool snap of winter."
While the Lee family has and continues to run Belmont Red bulls alongside polled Brahman, Senepol, and a few homebred bulls, they've honed their focus on the breed since 2019.
"The polled Belmont Reds we utilise provide fertility, weight gains, and a great temperament across our Brahman-cross cows. "The resulting article is a good-looking, efficient herd animal that is naturally parasite resistant, drought tolerant, maintains good fertility rates, and which grade well per MSA standards."
The Lees put the Belmont Red bulls in the paddock from December to March. "We're quite strict on culling. This process sees us achieve a fertility rate that generally sits around the high-80 percent range."
The Lees Belmont Redcross progeny are sold into the organic heavy cattle market at two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half years old, with Hewitt Foods being the primary receiver of consignments at present. "This has proven to be a profitable avenue for us, and we have the country to keep them on-farm for that amount of time." To improve their herd, the Lees have bought bulls from Seifert Belmont Red co-principals Ian Stark and Jeanne Seifert since 2020. "We're currently running 11 Seifert Belmont Red bulls.
The Lee's Belmont Red-cross maiden heifers for this year, which have been improved through bulls sourced from Seifert Belmont Reds.
"We keep going back to Ian and Jeanne due to the amount of detail they provide on each animal they sell, including EBV information and video footage of the animals. You can almost
guarantee the animal without having to see it in person.
"The time taken to compile all of the information and data on each animal shows how much they back their product. "In all of our dealings with Ian and Jeanne, they've been nothing but professional, informative, kind, and they have a family feel about them, which we appreciate."
The Lees usually buy bulls out of the annual Seifert Belmont Red on-property sale, but have also bought directly from the paddock. "We usually register for the online sale, but have attended the sale in person once. We'll certainly be attending in some manner for this year's sale." The Lees said the information brochure they receive before the sale is comprehensive. "You can do your research, have your pros and cons list, and find your favourites in preparation for the sale. "We make sure we watch the videos for each animal and have our list of bulls we'd consider purchasing for the season." For this year's sale, the Lees will be looking for polled bulls with good 600-day weight and corresponding birth weight, along with short days to calving. Looking ahead, the Lees will aim to keep meeting market expectations while providing a great product and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with it.