SP Pastoral
SP Pastoral
SP Pastoral is a developing multi-farm cattle operation on the NSW Mid North Coast, focused on building calm, resilient and data-driven pastoral operations that work in real-world conditions.
Operating across diverse landscapes — from flood-prone creek flats to permanent ridgelines — SP Pastoral applies a systems-based approach to livestock, fencing, water, energy and handling. The aim is to reduce stress on animals and people, support accurate lifetime traceability, and build long-term operational resilience.
Systems Pastoral (SP)
Systems Pastoral is the systems framework behind the operation — this is what SP stands for.
It integrates:
- livestock handling and crush-based data capture
- NLIS-compliant traceability workflows
- fencing strategies matched to land and flood risk
- resilient water, power and fire-preparedness systems
- biosecurity controls, signage and visitor management
- digital livestock systems and objective performance measurement
Rather than treating infrastructure or technology as standalone solutions, Systems Pastoral focuses on how each element works together as part of a complete operating system. This approach supports animal welfare, compliance, productivity and confidence across the supply chain.
Currently in a build and demonstration phase, Systems Pastoral is being developed and tested on working farms, with a focus on practical demonstration, training and knowledge-sharing to help lift capability across the industry.
Built on trust. Bred for strength. Powered by MGT.
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 continuing the commercial deployment of a magnetic gear technology that has been proven in real-world agricultural, industrial and remote infrastructure applications over many years. Andrew French continues to lead technical development, system design and application engineering, drawing on decades of hands-on deployment experience to ensure MGT solutions deliver measurable reductions in maintenance, energy consumption and mechanical wear.
Andrew also operates Snowy River Station, a large-scale and remote cattle operation running approximately 1,200–1,500 head, including around 600 breeders, which serves as a reference environment for MGT systems under demanding operating conditions.
The station reflects the types of environments in which MGT technology has historically been deployed — characterised by harsh weather, long run hours, limited access and high mechanical loads.
Systems operating at Snowy River Station provide ongoing confirmation of long-term reliability and performance at scale, reinforcing the suitability of MGT solutions for agricultural, water and energy infrastructure where uptime, resilience and service life are critical.
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.
Higher Ground Farm
Clayton Jackson - Infrastructure & Fabrication | Higher Ground 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 Higher Ground 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.
Higher Ground 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.
Higher Ground 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
Delivery & Implementation Approach
SP Pastoral will self-perform a substantial proportion of installation and integration works across the program. This includes pump and piping installation, water distribution and firefighting systems, concrete slab preparation, yard roofing, infrastructure assembly and on-farm system integration.
This approach reflects the practical capability within the project team and enables tighter sequencing, cost control and scheduling flexibility, particularly in regional and seasonal operating conditions.
Licensed and specialist works — including electrical installation, system certification and heavy earthmoving — will be undertaken by appropriately qualified contractors in accordance with regulatory requirements.
By combining in-house delivery with targeted specialist contractors, SP Pastoral maintains momentum, reduces delivery risk and ensures compliance, safety and long-term system integrity.
SP Pastoral – Staged Implementation Timeline
Indicative dates subject to funding, seasonal conditions, livestock readiness and contractor availability.
Stage 1 – Livestock Transition & Breeding Commencement
Late February 2026
This stage initiates the next biological cycle and provides early system momentum.
Sale of Finished Steers
Timing: Late February 2026
Number: 6 steers
- 4 steers @ ~480–500 kg
- 2 steers @ ~400 kg
Method: Saleyard or feedlot pathway (market dependent)
Indicative Gross Return: ~$10,000
Purpose:
- Clear existing inventory
- Generate working capital
- Create capacity for breeding intake
Introduction of Breeding Stock
Timing: Immediately post-sale (late February 2026)
Supplier: Riverview Brahmans
Livestock Added:
- 1 bull
- 4 heifers
Purpose:
- Commence SP Pastoral breeding program
- Transition from trading-only to breeding + finishing
- Establish genetic and performance baselines for long-term data collection
Stage 2 – Energy, Water & Resilience Foundations
February – April 2026
These works underpin automation, livestock systems and on-farm demonstrations.
Solar & Battery System
Specification: 10.56 kW solar + 30 kW battery storage
Timing: Late February – Early March 2026
Purpose:
- Energy independence
- Reliable system and pump power
- Operational resilience
Cost: $25,890
Pump & Header Tank Installation
Timing: April 2026
Purpose:
- Reliable stock water
- Gravity-fed distribution
- Fire readiness
Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
Firefighting Hoses & Irrigation Setup
Timing: April 2026
Purpose:
- Bushfire resilience
- Demonstration of integrated water systems
Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
Stage 3 – Partner Farm Readiness
March 2026
Preparation of SP Pastoral partner sites to enable 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
Cost: $XX,XXX (TBC)
Paul’s Farm – Bore Pump Installation
Timing: March 2026
Purpose:
- Secure water supply
- Additional MGT application point
Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
Stage 4 – Yard Infrastructure Preparation
August 2026
Cattle Yard Pad & Groundworks
Timing: August 2026
Purpose:
- Prepare site for Red River yard installation
- Drainage and all-weather access
Cost: $X,XXX (TBC)
This stage is deliberately separated to allow:
- Cashflow management
- Seasonal flexibility
- Final system design confirmation
Stage 5 – Yard & Handling System Installation
November 2026
Red River RRR48 Cattle Yards & Crush
Timing: November 2026
Purpose:
- Low-stress cattle handling
- Integrated weighing and scanning
- Foundation for automation and data capture
Cost: ~$XX,XXX (confirmed quote)
This stage marks the transition from infrastructure build to full operational capability.
Stage 6 – Transport Capability Upgrade
Late 2026
SP Pastoral Livestock Truck Upgrade
Purpose:
- Increase cattle carrying capacity
- Enable 100% internal livestock movements
Outcomes:
- End-to-end control of livestock transport
- Consistent welfare and handling standards
- Clean, known transport conditions
- Removal of third-party dependency
This stage completes the physical control loop of the SP Pastoral 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)
Modular Demonstration Displays
- Portable, reconfigurable system
- Rapid setup and pack-down
- Clean, repeatable branding
Indicative Events:
- AgQuip (Gunnedah)
- Primex (Casino)
- Regional agricultural 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
- Staged filming across SP Pastoral and partner farms
- Focus on 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 in operation
- Yard handling, weighing and scanning
- Industry demonstrations and field days
Purpose:
- Grant acquittal and reporting
- Education and adoption support
- Council, processor and investor confidence
- Long-term archive of system proof