Livestock and Aquaculture
Cattle
Australia is the largest exporter of quality livestock in the world, exporting around 1,000,000 cattle and 6 million sheep annually. Almost half of these cattle are exported through the Port of Darwin, positioning Darwin as the largest live cattle export port in the world.
Darwin’s strategic location is well placed to supply Indonesia, the Philippines and many other South East Asia markets. The Northern Territory cattle industry is worth in excess of $1 billion, over half of this is through live export trade. According to statistics from a 2016 ABARES report more than 85% of the Territory’s primary production value is generated by its pastoralists.
The Territory has a total cattle herd of around 2.2 million and is home to around 200 pastoral leases – some capable of running in excess of 50,000 head of cattle.
Due to the hot and humid conditions, most Territory cattle contain a high Brahman content, which adapt more easily to the climatic conditions of South East Asia.
More information on the Northern Territory’s cattle industry can be found on the NT Cattlemen’s Association website.
Buffalo
The Northern Territory’s Buffalo industry has been growing exponentially in recent years, with nearly 10,000 head exported last financial year. The industry is optimistic this number could soon grow to 20,000 p.a. through growing markets such as Vietnam, China and the Middle East.
It is estimated there is over 150,00 buffalo roaming within just Arnhem Land alone, which has the potential to offer employment opportunities to surrounding Aboriginal communities.
The growth of the industry can largely be attributed to the work of the NT Buffalo Industry Council, a part owner of the Riverine purebred herd based at Beatrice Hill Farm in close proximity to the new Sanctuary development. The Council has been steadily proactive for a number of years, conducting comprehensive research and launching initiatives such as registering the TenderBuff brand in promoting the many health benefits of buffalo meat. It has also recently focused its efforts into the emerging buffalo dairy industry, impregnating its Riverine heifers with semen from Italy, a country recognised as a world leader in this area. Milk from Riverine buffalo produces genuine and highly sought-after mozzarella cheese.
The purebred heard at the Beatrice Hill farm began with just eight animals in 1995, which has now grown to 150. They are sold across Australia as breeders and milking animals to support the country’s buffalo dairies.
Aquaculture
The Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm, located in close proximity to The Sanctuary development, is one of the Northern Territory’s greatest success stories.
From humble beginnings in 1993, this extraordinary family based enterprise has since transformed into Australia’s largest barramundi farm. Demand for its premium saltwater barramundi product continues to grow with customers that include Woolworths, Qantas and Costco as well as overseas export markets. In the past five years the farm has doubled its workforce from 50 to over 100 and continues its proud history of employing a diverse team that include local Aboriginal people.
At the present time, the business is set for further substantial expansion with their second Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan. Awarded in October 2020, the $24.2 million NAIF loan has been matched dollar for dollar with private bank co-funding to a hefty $48.4 million, which will be invested in state-of-the-art aquaculture infrastructure. The new construction works will support around 110 jobs and when complete, will provide an additional 160 jobs to the Farm’s operations.
It is the family’s willingness to embrace innovation that has underpinned their success. They pioneered the Territory’s first automatic aquaculture feed system, delivering feed from storage silos directly to the ponds, reducing the use of trucks. They also developed saltwater wetland technology to clean and circulate water throughout the farm enabling a sustainable reuse system, which has been recognised with numerous awards. Other improvements will include the construction of the Territory’s first purpose-built commercial barramundi hatchery as well as solar generation to power their operations.
In 2018, the Farm caught national attention by becoming the Northern Territory’s first recipient of a NAIF loan. The $7.18 million loan, which was also equally matched through the Farm’s commercial lender, was invested in pond and nursery facilities that were completed in 2020.
To date, the total investment amounts to over $60 million towards significant expansion. This is good news, not only for the business and the Territory’s economy, but it also translates to more employment opportunities for the local community.