Editor’s note: Since this item was published yesterday, we’ve become aware of three more significant projects that are being progressed:
Darling Downs based Morgan Pastoral Co has completed expansion of its Kurrawong feedlot near Quinalow, not far from Dalby, growing from 20,000 to 25,000 head. MPC’s second Whaka feedlot, not far from Kurrawong, has received development approval to expand from 20,000 to 30,000 SCU.
The North Australian Pastoral Co has a development application in place with Toowoomba Regional Council to expand its Wainui feedlot near Bowenville, from the current capacity of 14,240SCU to 24,750SCU.
MORE than a dozen commercial feedlots across Eastern and southern Australia have recently completed, or are about to undertake significant expansions in yard capacity.
AS outlined in yesterday’s separate introductory article to this series, the Australian grainfed beef sector is experiencing another surge in growth, for a variety of reasons.
Listed below are a dozen new feedlot expansion projects that have recently been completed, are underway, or are soon to start.
Combined, they account for about 130,000 head of new capacity, with a list of ‘possibles/probables’ included in yesterday’s introduction likely to add another 50,000, if they all go ahead.
Ravensworth Agriculture, Ravensworth Feedlot, Hay, NSW
Ravensworth Agriculture is one of the biggest growth stories of this feature, growing from 15,000 to 50,000 standard cattle units.
Situated in a prime grain and hay growing area on the Hay Plains in Southern New South Wales, the feedlot is ideally located with close proximity to processors in Victoria, South Australia and Central NSW.
The feedlot is owned by Ron Harris and family, who have appointed Emily Perkins as the general manager – formerly of JBS Prime City. The Harris family has a long history of growing wheat, cotton, sheep and cattle across NSW.
While custom feeding has been a big focus of Ravensworth over the years, its website also highlights three branded beef programs – 120 Angus, a 120-day HGP-free and 100-day HGP.
Ravensworth feedlot was ranked number 16 in Beef Central’s 2015 Top 25 Lotfeeders list with an operating capacity of 15,000 head.
At the time Ravensworth held one of the largest feedlot licenses in Australia, at 60,000 head, however the yard had only ever been built to a capacity of 15,000 head. For this reason it did not feature on the 2023 Top 25 list.
Since then, Ravensworth has expanded to 50,000 SCU and Beef Central understands the yard has plans to expand to 100,000 head, starting in the next six months.
Teys Jindalee feedlot, Jindalee NSW
Teys Australia’s Jindalee feedlot in southern NSW has just completed a significant expansion, growing from 17,000 head to its 30,000 head licensed capacity.
The additional 13,000 head of pen space will be occupied mostly by Angus cattle heading into Teys’ grainfed and Angus-specific brand programs.
The additional pen space is part of a much larger development program, including the installation of new and expanded milling infrastructure (two roller-mills) and the construction of eight enormous Entegra Ridgeback shed structures, with capacity to house 13,000 head. That project is possible the largest permanent shed investment project yet seen in the Australian grainfeeding industry, designed to lift feedlot cattle performance, improve pen conditions and simplify pen maintenance.
The feedlot expansion also required securing additional water access, as well as ‘harvesting’ and storing rainwater from the eight shed structures.
The Jindalee site was originally owned by US joint venture partner Cargill, which, as of this week, take over full operational management of the Teys Australia business. The Teys business name will remain.
The Jindalee expansion will take Teys overall lotfeeding capacity at Condamine (Qld), Charlton (Vic) and Jindalee to 80,000 head.
At different times of year, Jindalee can supply the company’s Beenleigh processing plant in southern Queensland, as well as Naracoorte, in addition to the primary focus on the nearby Wagga export plant.
Beef Central asked Teys management about potential expansion plans during our 2023 Top 25 Lotfeeders feature.
Given that Teys is basically feeding the same number of cattle it did eight years ago, is there an expansion phase coming? we asked.
“Potentially,” Teys feedlot general manager Grant Garey said two years ago.
“We have the ability to expand further at some of our sites. We’d be more likely to expand at current yards, rather than seek to buy a new yard, at present.”
Beef Central will circle back for a closer look at the Jindalee project before the end of the year.
Angus cattle on feed at Teys Jindalee feedlot
TFI Southern Cross feedlot, Tintinara, SA
Beef Central recently profiled the 11,000 head expansion at Thomas Foods International Southern Cross yard near Tintinara in this earlier report. Under the proposal submitted to the Coorong District Council, TFI will increase the Tintinara feedlot’s capacity from 27,000 to 38,000 Standard Cattle Units. TFI’s last expanded Southern Cross in 2023, which brought the company to Number 12 in Beef Central’s Top 25 Lotfeeders feature published in 2023.
The latest expansion, which could take 18 months to complete, includes the construction of 66 new shade-covered pens, each accommodating 160 head, and the addition of a third 56-inch roller mill, taking milling capacity (cold tempered) to 60 tonnes per hour.
The additional 11,000 head capacity will be 100pc filled with company-owned cattle – all Angus fed for 150-day minimum and some 200-day and 270-day programs.
With those extended days on feed programs, annual yard turnover is around two cycles, adding to the need for greater future capacity.
Most of the production will go into TFI’s successful Angus Pure HGP-free grainfed program. processed at TFI Murray Bridge, plus several other sub-brands. The Southern Cross yard is 100pc no-HGP.
Originally known as Iranda feedlot, the Great Southern site has undergone a series of expansions over the years, firstly from 2500 to 15,000 around the time of TFI’s purchase, then to the current-day 27,000, and now the proposed 38,000.
TFI Southern Cross manager James Sage
Macquarie Downs, Leyburn, Qld
The Macquarie Downs feedlot near Leyburn on Queensland’s southern Darling Downs has plans in place to expand capacity by another 1000 head, taking operations from the current level of 3900 head to 4900 – the current licensed capacity.
Macquarie Downs is a substantial 6900ha property with a commercial feedlot dedicated to Wagyu production currently across 32 pens, plus a large irrigated and dryland cropping area for hay, silage and grain production.
The Macquarie Downs feedlot and Wagyu genetics business was established in 1995 by the Suzuki family from Japan, whose primary business is in real estate development. In February this year, they sold the feedlot component to large Japanese meat trading business Starzen.
Starzen, which handles large quantities of Australian beef imported to Japan, as well as small quantities of Japanese A5 Wagyu beef exported to Australia, has been indirectly connected with the Macquarie Downs feedlot for some time, via a third party which was custom-feeding Wagyu at the site and on-selling its production to Starzen.
Capacity at the site may expand further, if the new owners go ahead with plans to install permanent shedding infrastructure, which under license regulations can see pen densities reduce to about 9sq m per beast.
Condabri Beef, Miles, Qld
Southern Queensland-based Condabri Beef is currently in the final stages of one of the bigger expansions on this list.
The Drury family-owned operation is taking its feedlot to a capacity of 32,000 standard cattle units (SCU), which is a 12,000 head increase on the yard’s capacity in Beef Central’s 2023 Top 25 lotfeeders list.
Located between Miles and Condamine, Condabri operates feedlot, backgrounding, irrigation, dryland farming and grain and a fast-growing cattle trucking enterprise.
Most of the cattle are fed for 100-120 days for the boxed beef market, with the balance fed for opportunistic markets such as 150-day Angus trade.
Beef Central understands the expansion is in its final stages.
Packaderinga Pastoral, Nanango, Qld
Packaderinga Pastoral in the South Burnett region of Queensland is currently working through a two-staged expansion that will double the capacity of its feedlot.
The 4000 head feedlot is in the first stage of the expansion that will take it through to a capacity of 6000 head, with that expansion expected to be finished by Christmas, with stage two to take it through to 8000 head.
Primarily feeding 100-day cattle for custom feeding clients, Packaderinga has expanded its mill in recent years – with the mill and grain tempering facility automated and able to accommodate for the expansion.
General manager Lachlan Brown said while the expansion of the yard will require more investments into grain storage, the main ingredient for expansion was water.
“We have a few opportunities around us that allow us access to more water, which gave us the confidence to put more cattle on feed. If there was no chance of improving our water holding ability, there would not have been any talk of making the feedlot bigger,” he said.
Mr Brown said the past year has been a particularly profitable time for lotfeeders, which also gave a good chance to increase scale and make the feedlot more efficient.
“At 4000 head, we had a livestock team with three people and they are really busy. But we didn’t have enough work for four employees. We are now going to double in numbers and put on another three-or-four people eventually,” he said.
“The exciting thing for us is that once you get to a certain size you can go looking for those expert roles and it creates a lot of opportunities for the current team to step up into leadership roles.”
Construction at Packaderinga in September.
MDH, Wallumba Feedlot, Condamine, Qld
MDH developed Wallumba feedlot, near Condamine in 2001 to finish cattle from its northern properties.
The feedlot has been developed in stages since 2002 when it was a 5000 SCU yard, it originally expanded to 7500 and then onto 10,000 SCU reasonably quickly.
A licence was then granted to take the site to 20,000 SCU, with stage one completed in 2022 seeing Wallumba’s capacity reach 13,000 SCU.
Construction equipment is now on site ready to commence the final stages of the project to increase capacity from 13,000 to 20,000 SCU.
The expansion is expected to be complete in 2026 and the feedlot will continue to finish MDH cattle as well as be used for custom feeding.
Camm Agricultural Group, Wonga Plains, Bowenville, Qld
Since 2023 Wonga Plains feedlot has been undertaking an expansion and facility upgrade project, which has recently been completed taking the yard from a 10,000 head yard to a 25,000 head capacity.
Camm Agricultural Group CEO, Bryce Camm said the pen expansion was complete and the team was now working on a substantial mill redevelopment with FlakeBoss and Davey Group.
“With growing demand for grainfed beef and increasing requirements to feed more cattle in our supply chain, we are now working on the next licence expansion for the facility,” Mr Camm said.
“We envisage the process to obtain required licensing will take around two years with construction to take place thereafter.”
Australian Agricultural Co, Goonoo feedlot, Comet, Central Queensland.
The Australian Agricultural Co will share details about another upcoming expansion phase at the company’s Goonoo feedlot near Comet in Central Queensland at the company’s upcoming half-year shareholder update.
This is separate from the previous expansion completed last year, which saw operating capacity grow from 18,000 to about 25,000 head, mostly Wagyu derived. More details on the project after the AA Co shareholder briefing on 20 November.
The Grove, Condamine, Qld
On the smaller end of this list is the Morgan family, who are more well-known for their highly successful Shorthorn stud, The Grove.
Owned by Spencer and Sophie Morgan and Godfrey and Megan Morgan, the company runs a 1250 head feedlot alongside the grazing operations. The feedlot is mostly used for an F1 Wagyu X Shorthorn program.
Spencer Morgan told Beef Central that the earthworks had already been done for an expansion to 3000 head, which will give them the opportunity to feed some of their Shorthorn steers.
“From a business perspective, it just makes so much sense to even out the cash flow. We send the F1 steers to a processor and check comes in every month,” he said.
“We grow all our grain, we grow all our own silage and we do barley straw off the grain. It makes sense to utilise that on farm.”
Mr Morgan said the company had recently received a license to take the feedlot to 6000 head, with no immediate plans to grow that much.
Shaw Family, Elbow Valley, Warwick, Qld
In early 2025 the sixth and final permanent shed structure was completed at Canning Downs South, owned by the Shaw family since 1998.
In 2004 the family began construction of a 999 head feedlot to supply cattle for export and domestic markets. Ten years later, the feedlot was expanded to 2500 head, followed in 2019 with an increase to 9400 head capacity and a major shift to producing and feeding Wagyu and Angus genetic beef cattle.
2019 also saw the completion of the first housing shed, and through to 2021 another three sheds were constructed including an industry first 480-metre-long structure.
The fourth shed became fully operational in mid 2023 and the fifth and shed filled up in the first half of 2024, with the final shed being completed earlier this year.
Shed structures have allowed the business to run considerably more cattle under its existing license.
“We have been encouraged by positive customer feedback on the improvements in meat quality. Quality coupled with best-in-class animal welfare and minimised environmental impacts means we are now committed to a 100 per cent shed system as we continue to grow,” the Elbow Valley Beef website states.
McIntyre Agriculture, Mooramanna, St George Qld
McIntyre Agriculture is working with a consultant to expand its St George Mooramanna feedlot which is licenced to 3100 SCU currently.
Having invested in a new feedmill and commodities shed, McIntyre Agriculture would like to expand to 12,000 SCU but is still in the process of applying for licences.
Given the feedlot is off the Castlereagh Highway, one of the major costs anticipated for the expansion is construction of a turning lane off the major highway.