Willeroo Station surplus to Agri International's requirements

Agri International, is a related company of one of the major lot feeding operations in Sumatra, Indonesia who have been importing Australian live cattle for almost thirty years, to supply their two Indonesian feedlots with a capacity of over 35,000 head.

Director of Agri International, Josep Lay, was eager to point out that the sale of Willeroo was in no way, a sign that they would not continue to be involved in the Northern Australian cattle industry as a principal.

Willeroo Station, is primarily a breeding property and the company had spent over $4 million AUD in extensively improving and upgrading the property in their time of ownership. This had been by way of significant water developments, a fencing and cattle yard program, as well as staff facilities.

However, given the numbers of cattle that Agri International’s related company has historically imported, and hopes to in the future, providing prices are affordable for them, then a breeding property of Willeroo’ s scale does not produce the numbers desired.

The alternative is to increase breeder production or increase the existing backgrounding operations which to date has been done on lease and agistment properties.

Mr Lay went onto say that, the trials in 2016 of backgrounding feeder cattle and the current pregnant heifer programs on external properties would be expanded and even other potential locations across Northern Australia would be investigated.

The breeder program was commenced well prior to when the Indonesian government’s breeder quotas were introduced due to the significant farmer breeder program undertaken by the company in Indonesia. This program in Australia was to support the Indonesian program over the last three years. The feeder background program focusses on supplementing supply during the wet season.

Mr Lay said Willeroo Station had been a fantastic opportunity for the principals to understand and participate in the Northern Australian cattle industry.

Agri International and the parent company is committed to its continuing involvement in the industry and sees the focus on backgrounding, and the pregnant heifer program, as a better use of our resources.

Mr Lay also wished to acknowledge the fine service of management and staff on the property during their tenure.

Willeroo will be offered for sale with an expected 21,000 head of branded cattle and a full working plant.

The Willeroo cattle have a fine reputation in the NT and are horse mustered, high grade, principally grey Brahmans.

Mr Lay advised that further details on the property sale would be available from their appointed agent,  livestock Peter Watkins who has worked and been involved in the real estate industry in the NT for over 25 years.