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Media Release 03 February 2025

Institutional-scale regenerative grazing opportunity with established carbon projects

SLM Pastoral Portfolio

The SLM Pastoral Portfolio, spanning 284,924* hectares across southwest Queensland and northwest New South Wales, presents a rare opportunity to secure a turnkey, institutional-scale regenerative grazing enterprise with established carbon projects.

Efficiency of management is exceptional with each of the five proximate aggregations making up the Portfolio – Willacora (47,901* ha), Amenda (43,712* ha), Padua Park (43,135* ha), Garrawin (79,298* ha) and Eureka (70,877* ha) – being within a 100-kilometre* radius in the Cunnamulla and Bourke regions.

Global asset managers and regenerative agriculture investment pioneers, SLM Partners, has strategically developed the Portfolio as a grass-fed beef breeding and growing enterprise within its SLM Livestock Fund, which is nearing the end of its term and is the catalyst for the sale.

Extensive development delivers positive environmental and productivity outcomes

Over the past 13 years, the Portfolio has undergone extensive capital development to implement a regenerative cell grazing system that optimises production capacity while delivering independently verified positive impacts on biodiversity and land condition.

Approximately 4,000 kilometres of fencing across the five aggregations has created 1,100* new paddocks to facilitate stock rotation, supported by 500* kilometres of new piping to supply 150* water points. Each new water point has sufficient flow to provide water for approximately 4,500 adult equivalents (AE) at any time, representing a major improvement in water across the Portfolio.

SLM Partners’ General Manager in Australia, Graham Finlayson said SLM was an industry leader in commercial beef breeding and land regeneration, with its rotational grazing making the Portfolio resilient to weather events.

“Cell grazing has allowed us to ride out dry spells and make the best use of rain when it arrives,’ said Mr Finlayson.

“The land is in terrific condition now and we see plenty of room for further improvement.

“SLM has had a strong focus on increasing the perennial grass base across the aggregation over the past 12 years, which has improved the drought resiliency of the production system immensely.

“The commercial breeding program, high standards of animal welfare and stock-handling, policies, procedures and efforts in regenerating the land-base are second to none in the industry. And in a world where these things are often talked about but rarely done properly, we have been leaders in these fields for over 12 years.”

In addition, SLM Partners was an early proponent of carbon project methodologies approved by the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. The Portfolio has two carbon projects generating and selling ACCUs until at least 2039. These projects will be sold and transferred to the new owner as part of the transaction and align with the regenerative grazing system, allowing for simultaneous cattle production.

With more than US$750 million in assets under management in Australia, the USA and Europe, SLM Partners Global Managing Partner Paul McMahon said the firm was proud of what they had achieved in Australia.

“We are proud to have helped scale up regenerative grazing and carbon storage in this unique Australian landscape,” Mr McMahon said.

“Well-managed, pasture-based livestock production has the potential to produce highly nutritious food with a low or negative carbon footprint.”

Genetics key focus in cattle production

With the Portfolio’s average historical carrying capacity of 15,000* AEs, approximately 13,000 cattle, which have benefited from a focus on genetic optimisation, are being offered as part of the sale.

SLM has predominantly used Pharo Australia Angus bulls, with Rangelands Angus/Composites also in its program, and incorporated some Lasater Beef Master genetics from the United States through an AI program.

Nutrien Harcourts Managing Partner, Greg Seiler, currently manages the livestock transactions for the Portfolio and said an outstanding and experienced management team was in place.

“Each aggregation is led by a separate management team responsible for anywhere between 2,500 to 4,000 cattle at a time, depending on season conditions and stocking rate,” Mr Seiler said.

“All operational staff are trained in low stress stock handling techniques, and the cattle are renowned for their extremely calm temperament given how frequently they are rotated through the grazing system.”

Productive soils, water security and strategic capital expenditure

The Portfolio comprises a range of productive soil types and topographies supported by summer-dominant annual rainfall of approximately 370 millimetres.

Artesian groundwater bores feed multiple watering points via an extensive underground polyethylene pipe network. Further water security provided by frontage along the Thurrulgoonia, Eunama, Owangowan, Tuen and Werri Creeks and Ledknapper watercourse allows the aggregations to benefit from low level flooding.

Custom designed cattle yards were installed across all properties between 2013 and 2015, with further improvements including shade installations, water points and hydraulic cattle crushes to assist with the safe handling of large numbers of animals.

Significant capital has been invested in fencing, including extensive internal and external exclusion fencing, to support cell grazing and mitigate risks posed by feral animals and pests. All aggregations are fenced to boundaries with internal fencing comprising a mix of plain and barbed wires on steel and timber posts.

The aggregations are supported by high-quality and often new infrastructure, including workshops, storage and machinery sheds and two aircraft hangars situated at Padua Park. A variety of accommodation is located across the aggregations, including several large homesteads, cottages and a range of workers’ quarters.

Flexible options for sale and ample future growth opportunities

The Portfolio has several opportunities for future growth and is being offered for sale in one-line or as any combination of individual aggregations, which LAWD Senior Director, Danny Thomas, said would draw a diverse buyer pool.

“The current Portfolio is an extraordinary asset as it stands following the significant capital investment made by the vendors, however there remains scope for the new owner to further grow the enterprise by stocking at higher rates and accessing higher-value, regenerative grass-fed market channels,” Mr Thomas said.

“The vendors recognise the significant size of the Portfolio and are willing to split the aggregations to meet market demand. Each has its own experienced management and operational team in place, making this an outstanding turnkey offering.

“It’s not often a portfolio of this scale and calibre comes to market, and we are expecting significant interest from domestic and global institutional investors, corporates and large family enterprises looking to expand their livestock operations.”

The SLM Pastoral Portfolio is being offered for sale in-one-line or as any combination of individual aggregations by Expression of Interest closing at 12pm (AEST) Wednesday 19 March 2025. For further information, please contact LAWD Senior Directors, Danny Thomas on +61 438 349 977 or Jaclyn Hope on +61 424 596 858, or Nutrien Harcourts Managing Partner, Greg Seiler on +61 429 701 136.

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