Yarraman family joins feedlot boom cycle in Qld

摘要

A MAJOR development at the Cullen family's Nooroomba feedlot, near Yarraman, is typical of the sort of explosive feedlot industry expansion being seen across Queensland at present. Ron and Vicki Cullen, their sons Scott and Dean and their partners, are driving a development which will see feedlot numbers grow from a modest 1000 head on feed currently to 9000 head within 15 months.The expansion will occur in three stages, with the first pad currently under construction, taking the capacity to 3250, followed by a second, planned for December/January expanding the number to 5000, and the final 4000 added towards the end of next year. Ron Cullen started feeding on a small scale at Nooroomba almost 20 years ago, growing to 1000 head after son Scott returned home from school. About two years ago, the decision was made to expand further and after extensive consultation with DPI&F overthe relevant intensive livestock issues, council approval was granted in November last year. However, opposition to the development from local district residents (one of which operated a farmstay enterprise) on the basis of traffic and odour concerns delayed the process until it was settled in court in May, paving the way for construction to begin.