Episode Details

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Angus Table, Scott Wright sits down with Ben Dwyer, COO of Harvest Road Group, for a conversation about building Australia's longest integrated cattle and beef supply chain across Western Australia.

Ben shares how Harvest Road Group operates 2.4 million hectares across Western Australia, navigating the challenge of seasonal diversity requiring 12-month supply chain integration. The operation stretches from East Kimberley's through the Pilbara to feedlotting and processing near Perth, deliberately designed to meet consistent customer demand domestically and internationally rather than producing yo-yo volumes during seasonal flushes.

Ben and Scott discuss what genetic programs Harvest Road runs across its properties to target the eating quality index customers demand, as well as how the new Koojan Downs Feeding Facility operates, with three main programs serving different market segments and customer requirements

Ben explains the Harvey Beef brand positioning, reflecting geographic advantage in SE Asia, and his supply-chain philosophy that emphasises the importance of every participant understanding where they fit and how to maximise their phase.

Scott and Ben finish their conversation discussing the long term vision driving Harvest Road for sustainable quality protein supply and ensuring generational sustainability, supported by leadership that invests in human capital and agile decision making.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation about integrated supply chains, Western Australian beef production, and building relationships across the supply chain.

Key topics covered:

• How Harvest Road Group operates 2.4 million hectares across an integrated supply chain stretching from East Kimberley's through the Pilbara to feedlotting and processing near Perth.
• The challenge of seasonal diversity across Western Australia, which requires year-round supply chain integration to deliver a consistent quality product to customers
• What genetic programs Harvest Road runs: Springvale Ultrablack herd (23.5% Bos indicus), Jubilee transitioning to Minderoo composite, and the Minderoo composite itself comprising Red Angus, Droughtmaster, Bonsmara, and Senepol.
• How the new Koojan Downs Feeding Facility operates, with three main programs serving different market segments and customer requirements.
• The importance of Harvest Road deliberately enabling WA beef producers through feedlot entry and backgrounding partnerships despite supplying only 12-14% of the 200,000+ annual processing capacity.
• How the Harvey Beef brand positioning in Southeast and North Asia—leveraging proximity, time-zone advantage, and WA's mining-trade relationships—drives a market strategy of consistency over volume.
• Ben’s integrated supply-chain philosophy: every participant adds equal value regardless of size or position; producers must understand how they fit as "cogs in the wheel" and hand the baton over when they've maximised their phase.
• The Angus growth opportunity in WA through organic producer specialisation (breeding, backgrounding, or feeding) combined with a genetic focus on higher-end marbling animals for longer feeding and premium markets.
• Ben's values and leadership approach: investment in human capital and soft-skills development, agility in decision-making, and a long-term vision for sustainable quality protein supply ensuring generational sustainability.

Contact details:

Find more information about Harvest Road brands at https://www.harvestroad.com/

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia