Moruya feedlot between Goondiwindi and Moonie.

THREE Queensland grazing families have purchased Moruya feedlot between Goondiwindi and Moonie, to secure feedlot space for their operations.

The feedlot was originally put on the market last July as a fully operational 5960 Standard Cattle Unit (SCU) yard, which had been continuously used by the Cook family.

Beef Central researched the status of the Moruya feedyard, as part of our Feedlot Expansion series running this week (see links to all articles so far at the base of this page).

Settling on 15 October, Moruya has been bought by three families – James Speed and his son Stuart own 50 percent of the yard, Trent and Anna Radel own 25pc and Tom and Emily Blackley own the remaining 25pc.

“Custom feeding space is hard to find these days – as is service kill space – so buying a feedlot helps with both of those things. We just wanted access to a feedlot, so we decided to buy one,” Mr Speed said.

Beef Central wrote about the declining access to custom feeding space in Australian feedlots in this earlier article.

The Moruya feedlot will be used to grain-finish the shareholders’ own cattle, which are predominantly Angus cross, with some Wagyu.

Mr Speed owns properties at Springsure, Bauhinia and Barcaldine, while the Radels run cattle near Augathella and Taroom and the Blackleys have country near Taroom and St George.

“Our number one priority is putting shade over the whole feedlot and then if we can get more water, we will expand it,” Mr Speed said.

“We have applied for more water and if we can get another bore, we might be able to expand by another 4000 head, but that is down the track.

“There is a very good mill already there that would handle 10,000 head, if required.”

The feedlot is surrounded by 841ha of Freehold title farming country, previously known as Belvedere, which is the name the feedlot will now adopt.

Mr Speed would not comment on the price paid but said it was a walk-in, walk-out deal which included land and machinery.

Feedlot expansion series:

Feedlot capacity continues to surge, driven by grainfed branded beef demand

Recent feedlot expansion projects happening across Qld, NSW, SA

Demand to expand feedlots colliding with water availability