SP Pastoral
SP Pastoral is a developing multi-farm cattle operation on the NSW Mid North Coast, focused on building a lower-stress, data-driven and transparent livestock production and supply chain .
Currently in a build phase, we are investing in infrastructure, digital livestock systems and improved handling to support animal welfare, traceability and long-term performance — with a clear vision for where the operation is heading.
SP Pastoral
Building a smarter, lower-stress, data-driven cattle supply chain on the Mid North Coast
What is SP Pastoral
SP Pastoral is a small but growing cattle operation based on the NSW Mid North Coast, operating across multiple properties with a shared vision:
to reduce unnecessary cattle movement, improve animal welfare, and use real data to sell livestock more efficiently.
We are currently in a build and implementation phase, investing in infrastructure, systems and partnerships that will support a staged transition beyond traditional saleyard-only selling toward direct supply relationships with feedlots, and ultimately processors, as scale and data maturity are achieved.
This is not an overnight change — it is a deliberate, staged plan being rolled out over several years.
Why We Are Taking a Different Path
After becoming involved in cattle production, it quickly became clear that the traditional system relies on:
- Repeated transport and handling
- Limited transparency for buyers
- Stress on animals through unnecessary movement
- Saleyards acting as the primary price-setting middle layer
While saleyards will continue to play an important role — particularly during our build-up phase — our long-term goal is to use verified data, traceability and consistent performance to sell cattle more directly and more efficiently.
This approach benefits:
- Animal welfare
- Producers
- Feedlots
- Processors
- The integrity of the supply chain
Our Current Phase: Build, Prove, Scale
SP Pastoral is currently in an infrastructure and systems build phase, which includes:
- Gradual herd expansion
- Sale of cattle through saleyards while reputation is established
- Installation of improved yards and handling systems
- Introduction of weighing, scanning and digital record-keeping
- Multi-farm NLIS traceability
- Centralised data management
This phase is expected to take several years, and that is intentional. We are building foundations first.
Technology & Systems Being Implemented
Centralised Data Management
All livestock data for SP Pastoral will be managed centrally from The Gallery Farm, allowing:
- Consistent record-keeping across farms
- Reduced admin burden on non-technical producers
- Better decision-making using shared data
- Clear animal histories from breeder to finisher
Farms involved in SP Pastoral use simple on-farm processes, while data, reporting and system management are handled centrally.
This map shows the planned SP Pastoral operating footprint, with all partner farms located within a maximum 21.5 km radius.
The end goal is to move cattle through the system in two short, calm movements before direct delivery to processors, minimising transport stress and improving consistency and animal welfare.
Implementation is staged and aligned with infrastructure rollout and partner readiness.
Livestock Pro & NLIS Integration
Livestock Pro & NLIS Integration
SP Pastoral uses Livestock Pro to manage:
- NLIS identification
- Animal movement between properties
- Health treatments
- Breeding records
- Weights (as infrastructure is added)
- Performance tracking over time
This creates a single source of truth for our cattle.
Yards, Handling & Weighing (In Progress)
We are progressively upgrading cattle handling infrastructure, including:
- New yard layouts designed for low-stress flow
- Improved crush and handling systems
- Future integration of weighing and scanning
- Reduced handling time per animal
While not all infrastructure is installed yet, design, quoting and staging are underway.
MGT Solar Water Pump System
Water, Power & Resilience Systems
Across participating farms we are implementing or planning:
- Automated water systems for livestock
- Off-grid and solar-powered pumping solutions
- Fire-fighting and irrigation capability
- Systems designed for drought, flood and fire resilience
These systems are also being developed as demonstration sites for other producers and councils.
Multi-Farm Collaboration
SP Pastoral operates across multiple properties, each serving a different role in the supply chain:
- Breeder properties
- Finishing property
- Technology demonstration sites
Cattle are tracked between properties using NLIS and digital records, allowing us to prove provenance, management and performance.
Industry Collaboration & Demonstration
SP Pastoral works alongside technology partners and producers who share the same vision for smarter agriculture.
Some partner farms also act as validation and demonstration sites, helping prove systems at different scales and conditions.
We are committed to:
- Hosting demonstrations
- Participating in agricultural field days
- Showcasing systems at major ag events
- Sharing real-world learnings with other producers
The Long-Term Vision
As systems mature and verified data accumulates, SP Pastoral aims to:
- Progressively reduce reliance on saleyards for finished cattle
- Sell direct to feedlots as the initial step, using verified weight, health and performance data
- Transition over time to direct supply relationships with processors as consistency, scale and specification alignment are achieved
- Minimise cattle transport and handling, improving animal welfare and meat quality
- Provide buyers with confidence through transparent, data-backed production systems
- Build a reputation for consistency, welfare and integrity across the supply chain
This is a long-term strategy, not a shortcut — and one we believe represents the future of livestock production.
Where We Are Now
- Herds are small and growing
- Infrastructure is being built progressively
- Systems are being tested and refined
- Saleyards remain part of the process
- The vision is clear and underway
SP Pastoral is open about where we are and where we are heading.
MGT Demonstration Site
Additional Information
This site is being developed as an MGT demonstration farm, integrating magnetic gearing, pump systems and water infrastructure within a fully operational agricultural setting.
At The Gallery Farm, MGT technology is demonstrated under real farm conditions — supporting livestock water supply, irrigation and fire resilience while reducing energy consumption, mechanical wear and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Learn More
As the system is progressively rolled out, the site will support live demonstrations, field days and industry engagement, providing farmers, councils and stakeholders with the opportunity to see MGT solutions operating at scale on an active working farm.
Snowy River Station
Andrew French - Founder – MGT | Owner – Snowy River Station
Andrew French is the inventor and founder of Magnetic Gear Technology (MGT) and one of Australia’s most experienced and awarded mechanical innovators. His work spans more than three decades, with MGT technology proven across agricultural, industrial, defence and aerospace applications.
Origin and development of MGT technology
MGT was invented and developed by Andrew French in Australia, with the first basic prototype built in 1987 in Jindabyne, New South Wales. Early concepts demonstrated the potential of magnetic gearing, however it was not until the advancement of rare earth magnet technology in the late 1990s that high-torque, practical transmission became achievable.
With these developments, MGT began to demonstrate significant real-world capability, leading to its first major public recognition at the National Field Days Farm Invention Competition in 2000.
In 2001, MGT entered the international stage, exhibiting at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland, followed by presentations at the Hannover Messe in Germany, one of the world’s leading industrial technology expos. In the same year, MGT was awarded the BBC Tomorrow’s World / HP Invent Award at Earls Court, London — recognising the technology’s innovation, practicality and commercial potential.
Proven international and industrial application
Following international recognition, MGT technology was taken to South Africa through the World Health Organisation, where it was used to develop a portable solar water pump for hostile and remote environments. This pump design has since been further refined and miniaturised and is now progressing toward broader production, particularly as solar adoption accelerates globally.
MGT has since been developed and tested across a wide range of industrial applications. Andrew French attended Hannover Messe in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009, supporting ongoing engagement with global industry leaders.
Following the 2009 exhibition, prototype systems supplied by MGT were tested by major international organisations including Grundfos, Alfa Laval, MAN Diesel and General Electric, producing consistently strong technical results.
MGT holds a NATO Cage Code, enabling supply to NATO military forces worldwide. Among its most notable applications, MGT supplied specialised magnetic gear components to NASA, including components used on the first Mars Rover, representing one of the technology’s highest-profile validations.
Current focus and agricultural deployment
Today, MGT Australia Pty Ltd is bringing this mature and proven technology to broader commercial markets, including agriculture, water infrastructure and energy systems. Andrew French continues to lead technical development, system design and application engineering, ensuring MGT solutions deliver tangible reductions in maintenance, energy consumption and mechanical wear.
Andrew also operates Snowy River Station, a large and remote cattle operation that serves as a real-world validation site for MGT systems under demanding environmental conditions.
The current MGT product range includes solar pumping systems and magnetic drive components, with further development underway in mechanical energy storage systems in collaboration with Greenlab Energy, focused on micro-grid and distributed energy applications using frictionless magnetic gearing.
The Gallery Farm
Brett Patterson -Project Lead – SP Pastoral | Owner – The Gallery Farm | Investor – MGT
Brett Patterson is the Project Lead for SP Pastoral and the owner of The Gallery Farm, which is being developed as the central coordination hub and primary demonstration site within the SP Pastoral and MGT demonstration network. The site will be delivered in stages, with implementation timing dependent on capital availability and funding support.
Brett is a long-term investor in MGT, having invested over ten years ago after recognising the strength, durability and long-term potential of the technology through real-world application. This dual role as both investor and end user ensures strong alignment between technology development and practical on-farm deployment as systems are progressively rolled out.
Systems, governance and delivery experience
Brett brings more than three decades of senior operational and management experience across manufacturing, construction, design, logistics, events and agriculture. He is highly systems-oriented, with a proven track record of designing, scaling and governing complex operations in high-pressure, capital-intensive environments.
During his 18 years in senior management at SOS Print & Media, Brett worked closely with IT and production teams to improve automation, workflows and systems integration. Over this period, he grew the digital print department from two machines into the largest digital print operation in Australia, managing a mixed fleet of Xerox, Kodak, Océ and Xeikon cut-sheet and web-fed systems operating in a 24/7 production environment.
Brett led two major factory relocations — initially from the Sydney CBD and later from Alexandria into a larger, purpose-built facility in Alexandria. The final relocation involved more than $500,000 in construction works to design and build a facility configured specifically for high-throughput digital production, efficient workflows and staff safety.
In addition to construction works, Brett was responsible for the evaluation, justification and commissioning of major capital equipment investments, including a Kodak Prosper inkjet press valued at close to $1 million, alongside multiple additional digital print systems representing several million dollars in total equipment investment. These projects required disciplined governance, supplier negotiation, risk management and long-term performance accountability.
Technology evaluation and continuous improvement
A core strength of Brett’s career has been the ability to evaluate emerging technologies and integrate them into real-world operational systems. He regularly attended major international trade exhibitions such as Drupa (Düsseldorf) and EuroCucina (Milan) to assess emerging technologies, design trends and market direction, and visited leading international manufacturing facilities including Blum (Austria), Silestone (Spain) and print suppliers worldwide to inform long-term investment decisions.
This same discipline underpins Brett’s early investment in and continued commitment to MGT, recognising its capacity to reduce mechanical wear, lower energy consumption and improve reliability — particularly in agricultural environments where resilience, low maintenance and long service life are critical.
Commercial delivery and stakeholder coordination
Following structural change in the printing industry, Brett transitioned into the construction and design sector by joining and later taking over The Renovation Broker, a business originally established by his father. Brett was drawn to the concept because it challenged inefficient, commission-driven industry models and prioritised transparency, fairness and strong systems.
Under Brett’s leadership, the business refined its governance, procurement and delivery processes, introducing transparent pricing, fair remuneration for designers and streamlined coordination across designers, joiners, builders and specialist trades.
The business achieved 15–20% year-on-year growth, consistently delivering projects 20–30% below traditional retail pricing through disciplined systems, workflow design and delivery control rather than cost-cutting.
Alongside operational leadership, Brett developed deep hands-on design capability, progressing through multiple CAD platforms before specialising in Pytha, an advanced CAD system combining extensive libraries with highly detailed custom design capability. This allowed complex projects to be resolved accurately at design stage and communicated clearly through detailed documentation. Brett has received multiple industry design awards, including HIA Kitchen Design of the Year, one of Australia’s most significant residential design accolades. This disciplined design approach underpins his system-led thinking across industries, including the design and implementation of SP Pastoral’s livestock, infrastructure and biosecurity systems.
Brett also has extensive experience coordinating public-facing projects, including participation in major trade shows such as Grand Designs Live and the Sydney Home Show, as well as earlier experience delivering large-scale public events with thousands of attendees at The Entertainment Centre, Homebush Stadium and other outdoor fixtures. This experience directly supports his role in managing demonstrations, field days, tours and industry engagement activities as part of the SP Pastoral program.
Role within SP Pastoral and MGT integration
As owner of The Gallery Farm, Brett is progressively applying his governance and systems experience to agriculture, integrating cattle operations, water infrastructure, energy systems, data capture and resilience planning into a single working farm model as funding and infrastructure are staged.
Within SP Pastoral, Brett is responsible for:
- Overall project governance and delivery coordination
- Staged integration of MGT technology into farm infrastructure and water systems
- Centralised data coordination and reporting across participating farms
- Promotion, industry engagement, demonstrations and agricultural show participation
- Coordination between demonstration farms, installers and technology partners
Brett’s role bridges technology, delivery and industry engagement, ensuring MGT systems are implemented, tested and demonstrated under real farm conditions as sites come online, and that learnings are documented and translated into practical, scalable outcomes for producers, councils and regional stakeholders.
Bulls Run
Paul Plummer - Cattle Operations Specialist | Owner – Bulls Run
Paul Plummer operates Bulls Run and brings extensive experience managing cattle across some of Australia’s largest and most demanding pastoral operations. His background includes senior roles on properties associated with Kerry Packer, Gina Rinehart, Kidman, Macquarie Bank and Colonial.
Paul contributes deep expertise in stock handling, breeding programs, paddock layout and operational efficiency. He is also an active RFS volunteer and former Army serviceman, providing critical insight into fire preparedness, emergency response and large-scale logistics.
In The Dam
Paul Patterson - Mechanical Systems & Maintenance | Owner – In The Dam | Investor – MGT
Paul Patterson is the owner of In The Dam and a highly experienced mechanical tradesman and business owner. He operates Thornleigh Car Care, a long-established and top-performing mechanical workshop known for precision workmanship, reliability and long-term customer trust.
Paul is an investor in MGT and will play a key role in the local distribution, installation and servicing of MGT technology across the Mid North Coast. His extensive mechanical experience ensures MGT systems are installed to a high standard, correctly commissioned and maintained for long-term reliability and performance.
In The Dam operates with bore water infrastructure, presenting a different set of operational and technical considerations to surface and creek-fed systems. This makes the property an important MGT demonstration site, allowing magnetic drive and pump technology to be evaluated under bore pumping conditions alongside other nearby farms using alternative water sources.
The farm’s differing terrain, water source and layout provide a valuable comparison point within the local demonstration network, showing how MGT systems perform across multiple real-world agricultural environments.
Jack & Jill's Farm
Clayton Jackson - Infrastructure & Fabrication | Jack & Jill’s Farm | Investor – MGT
Clayton Jackson is a builder, fabricator and former shipwright with a background in highly technical, precision-based construction. His experience includes shipwright work in Australia and China, where accuracy, durability and strict adherence to specification were essential in demanding marine environments.
Clayton operates Jack & Jill’s Farm, a stand-alone cattle enterprise currently focused on Angus breeding, with plans to introduce Brahman genetics sourced locally within the group to produce Brangus cattle.
Jack & Jill’s Farm presents a number of real-world challenges that make it an ideal MGT demonstration site, including no access to mains power and public roads dividing the property into three separate fields. These constraints require reliable, low-maintenance and energy-efficient infrastructure solutions, providing a strong test environment for MGT pumping, water and mechanical systems.
Clayton is an investor in MGT and will play a key role in the local distribution, installation and servicing of MGT technology across the Mid North Coast. His combined experience in fabrication, construction and marine-grade engineering ensures MGT systems are installed to a high standard and designed for long-term reliability.
Jack & Jill’s Farm will operate as a live MGT demonstration site, allowing farmers, councils and industry stakeholders to see MGT technology performing under constrained and off-grid farm conditions alongside nearby demonstration properties.
Practical biosecurity by design
SP Pastoral recognises that biosecurity is critical to livestock health, welfare and market access — but it must also be practical, understandable and consistently applied to be effective.
Across the industry, biosecurity plans often exist as compliance documents rather than operational tools. Lengthy procedures, signage and paperwork alone do not reduce risk if they are not embedded into everyday systems.
SP Pastoral has deliberately taken a risk-based, operational approach to biosecurity, designed to be:
- simple to understand
- easy to implement
- proportionate to actual risk
- and integrated into normal farm operations
Our focus is on doing the right things, consistently, rather than over-documenting actions that are unlikely to be followed in practice.
Key principles include:
- higher controls where livestock handling and movements occur
- lower controls in general viewing and demonstration areas
- clear expectations set before visitors arrive
- simple on-site measures that people will actually use
- accountability embedded into systems rather than reliance on signage alone
During SP Pastoral demonstration days, visitors and stakeholders are shown how biosecurity is implemented in practice, not just described on paper. This includes:
- pre-visit acknowledgement and communication
- clear movement zones
- practical hygiene measures at livestock handling areas
- and calm, consistent enforcement by staff
By demonstrating a balanced, real-world approach, SP Pastoral aims to:
- improve understanding of effective biosecurity
- reduce “tick-the-box” compliance behaviour
- and help other producers adopt measures that genuinely reduce risk without unnecessary burden
Good biosecurity is not about doing everything — it is about doing the right things, well, every time.
SP Pastoral – Staged Implementation Timeline
Dates are indicative and subject to funding, seasonal conditions, livestock readiness and contractor
Stage 1 – Livestock Transition & Breeding Commencement
Late February 2026
This stage triggers the next biological cycle and funds early system momentum.
Sale of Finished Steers
- Timing: Late February 2026
- Number: 6 steers
- 4 steers @ ~480–500 kg
- 2 steers @ ~400 kg
- 4 steers @ ~480–500 kg
- Method: Saleyard or feedlot pathway (market dependent)
- Indicative Gross Return: ~$10,000
Purpose:
- Clear existing inventory
- Generate working capital
- Create space for breeding program
Introduction of Breeding Stock
- Timing: Immediately post-sale (late Feb 2026)
- Supplier: Riverview Brahmans
- Livestock Added:
- 1 Bull
- 3 Heifers
- 1 Bull
Purpose:
- Commence SP Pastoral breeding program
- Shift system from trading-only to breeding + finishing
- Establish genetic and performance baseline for long-term data collection
Stage 2 – Energy, Water & Resilience Foundations
February – April 2026
These works underpin all automation, livestock systems and demonstrations.
Solar & Battery System
- Specification: 10.56 kW solar + 30 kW batteries
- Timing: Late Feb – Early March 2026
- Purpose:
- Energy independence
- Pump and system power
- Resilience for farm operations
- Energy independence
- Cost: $25,890
Pump & Header Tank Installation
- Timing: April 2026
- Purpose:
- Reliable stock water
- Gravity-fed distribution
- Fire readiness
- Reliable stock water
- Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
Firefighting Hoses & Irrigation Setup
- Timing: April 2026
- Purpose:
- Bushfire resilience
- Demonstration of integrated water systems
- Bushfire resilience
- Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
Stage 3 – Partner Farm Readiness
March 2026
Preparation of SP Pastoral partner sites to allow controlled livestock flows.
Paul’s Farm – Boundary & Internal Fencing
- Timing: March 2026
- Purpose:
- Enable intake and finishing of SP Pastoral cattle
- Maintain livestock control and traceability
- Enable intake and finishing of SP Pastoral cattle
- Cost: $XX,XXX (TBC)
Paul’s Farm – Bore Pump Installation
- Timing: March 2026
- Purpose:
- Secure water supply
- Additional MGT application point
- Secure water supply
- Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
Stage 4 – Yard Infrastructure Preparation
August 2026
Cattle Yard Pad & Groundworks
- Timing: August 2026
- Purpose:
- Prepare for Red River yard installation
- Drainage and all-weather access
- Prepare for Red River yard installation
- Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
This stage is deliberately separated to allow:
- Cashflow management
- Seasonal flexibility
- Final system design confirmation
Stage 5– Yard & Handling System Installation
November 2026
Red River RRR48 Cattle Yards & Crush
- Timing: November 2026
- Purpose:
- Low-stress handling
- Integrated weighing and scanning
- Foundation for automation and data capture
- Low-stress handling
- Cost: ~$XX,XXX (confirmed quote)
This marks the transition from
infrastructure build → operational capability.
Stage 6 – Transport Capability Upgrade (SP Pastoral)
Late 2026
Upgrade of SP Pastoral Livestock Truck
- Purpose:
- Increase cattle carrying capacity
- Enable 100% of cattle movements to be conducted internally
- Increase cattle carrying capacity
Outcomes:
- End-to-end control of livestock transport
- Consistent animal welfare and handling standards
- Clean, known transport conditions
- Removal of third-party dependency
This stage completes the physical control loop of the system.
Stage 7 – Systems Integration & Operational Demonstration
Late 2026 – 2027
Progressive integration of:
- Weighing systems
- Handheld ultrasound scanning (fat depth + EMA)
- Livestock Pro workflows
- NLIS tracking across farms
- MGT system optimisation
Commencement of:
- Buyer and processor engagement
- On-farm demonstrations
- Field days and guided tours
Stage 8 – Mobile Demonstration & Industry Engagement
Late 2026 – 2027 (Parallel Stage)
Re-jigged Demonstration Displays (Brett)
- Modular, portable display system
- Rapid setup and pack-down
- Clean, repeatable branding
Target Events (Indicative):
- AgQuip (Gunnedah)
- Primex (Casino)
- Regional ag shows and council field days
Purpose:
- Demonstrate real, installed systems
- Support innovation and resilience objectives
- Provide tangible proof to councils, producers and buyers
Stage 9 – System Documentation & Knowledge Transfer
2026 – 2027 (Progressive)
Professional Film & Content Capture
- Book film crew for staged capture across SP Pastoral and partner farms
- Document real operations, not staged scenarios
Captured Content:
- Calm cattle handling and loading
- Short-haul transport under SP Pastoral control
- Solar, battery, water and MGT systems operating
- Yard handling, weighing and scanning
- Industry demonstrations and field days
Purpose:
- Grant acquittal and reporting
- Education and adoption material
- Council, processor and investor confidence
- Long-term archive of system proof
