Andrew Forrest planning cattle rest stations between Kimberley and south west to improve animal transport

Billionaire Andrew Forrest’s private agriculture company is planning to build cattle rest depots in WA’s northern outback to help improve the gruelling 30-plus hour journey for the thousands of cattle it trucks south each year. Harvest Road, which operates the Harvey Beef abattoir, sources some of its cattle from the Kimberley, from both its own cattle station Jubilee Downs and via other pastoralists. Last financial year it carted about 9000 cattle south. The rests, called “spelling yards” would enable cattle to be offloaded from the trucks for food, water and rest, making the 2400km journey less stressful. It is understood one of the yards will be based near Newman in the Pilbara. The other would be 12 hours further south. Ben Dwyer, who joined Harvest Road in October as chief operating officer pastoral, backgrounding and feeding facilities, is leading the project. The spelling yards would require significant capital investment, through the purchase of property near the highway in Newman, construction of the yards and staff to run the facilities. A pastoralist, who asked not to be named, said the move was being applauded by the industry, and would be welcomed by customers given animals would be under far less stress. “Andrew Forrest holds himself up as the gold standard in animal welfare. This is a good example of him doing exactly that and leading with big improvements throughout the supply chain,” the pastoralist said. During Brazilian meat giant JBS’s takeover of Huon Aquaculture late last year, Mr Forrest said he had established a clear No Pain No Fear framework for the critical stages of cattle processing as part of his ambition to exceed animal welfare standards. It is not clear whether the spelling yards will be available for use to other businesses transporting cattle, and Harvest Road declined to provide further information. A spokesman for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said under transport regulations which came into effect in October 2020, cattle and sheep over six months of age, that are not pregnant, can be off water for a maximum of 48 hours.