sapphire Feedlot

Smithfield Cattle Co - Yelarbon, QLD

Smithfield Cattle Company is a specialist beef cattle lot feeding business. Their original feedlot, Smithfield Feedlot, is based in Proston, QLD. In 2016, they expanded by adding Sapphire Feedlot in Yelarbon, QLD to their operations.

In 2021, we designed and constructed a loadout facility at Sapphire Feedlot. This facility is unique in its design, which enhances cattle flow. The design features a large semi-circle shaped bugle that leads to a 360° manual crowding yard and a double-deck dual-lane loading ramp.

The shed is an 18m x 14m truss shed with a ¾ wall on one side and gables. The core centre includes a Monarch MKII restrainer, a pneumatic 5-way draft, an adjustable curved lane, a 360° pneumatic crowding yard, and pneumatic slide and yard gates. The pneumatic gates are operated by a PLC-based auto drafting control system, which integrates with herd management software to selectively separate animals based on predetermined criteria. This system allows operators to pre-draft cattle into their exit weight categories efficiently, requiring minimal staff.