Against a backdrop of turbulent international markets and record cattle prices, Goondiwindi's Sapphire Feedlot has completed its visionary expansion to accommodate 20,000 head of cattle.
Purchased by Smithfield Cattle Co four years ago, it has operated at capacity throughout 2020.
During this time, Smithfield has increased Sapphire's numbers from 6000 standard cattle units to 19,999 SCU, introduced shade cloth and installed a new state of the art feed mill.
Last week, Sapphire Feedlot hosted the Macintyre Ag Alliance field day which included presentations from UNE's Dr Peter McGilchrist on eating quality, Sarah Strachan from MSA, and Andrew Wilkie from Objective Livestock Marketing, and a presentation about the Four Daughters branded beef program.
Smithfield Cattle Company's chief executive officer Andrew Shearer-Smith said the field day was well received by the 90 visitors, with many commenting on what they described as a world class facility.
Mr Shearer-Smith said the expansion into the Goondiwindi district was something the family had been strategically working towards for some time.
"Currently, the feedlot is filled to capacity and we feed cattle for the 100-day grain-fed, a 120-day Angus program, a 170-day mid-fed Angus program, and the 400-day F1 Wagyu/Angus program," he said.
"Sapphire Feedlot is in a good geographic area and it allows us to source cattle from southern and western Queensland plus northern New South Wales."
He said Sapphire fed a completely different class of beast, as opposed Smithfield's original feedlot at Proston.
The Proston facility draws feeder cattle from areas further north and west, including those from within the tick line.
"Our expansion was completed in three stages and included two new feed mills which can mill 240 tonnes of grain a day," Mr Shearer-Smith said.
"Total ration made annually is approximately 110,000t/year at Sapphire and Smithfield, giving an annual total of 220,000t/year.
"We have upgraded from a dry rolling mill to a tempering mill that uses water to soak the grain to 20 per cent moisture overnight before milling.
"This improves the grain's digestibility, palatability and consistency within the feeding rations. Once a boiler is added, we have the capacity to steam flake grain which will be done in 2021."
Other improvements include shade cloth allowing for 4.5 metres of shade per beast, which is almost double the industry standard, erected at a cost of $80/beast.
Sapphire covers 3716 hectares with 415ha for irrigation cultivation, 2100ha dryland cultivation and 1201ha for grazing.
The property enjoys river frontage to the Dumaresq River, which serves the irrigation development as well as providing ample supply for feedlot stock water.
The recently-harvested dryland wheat returned 3.2t/ha, while barley yielded 3.6t/ha.