Sustainable Pastoral Development in Yougawalla Pastoral Company

About

Yougawalla Pastoral Company (YPC) is one of Australia’s largest pastoral enterprises, operating across approximately 3 million hectares in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia—an area comparable to the land size of Belgium. The aggregation includes seven pastoral leases and five Indigenous sub-leases, set in a remote landscape of rugged sandstone ranges, dramatic gorges, and vast savannah plains. YPC is committed to sustainable cattle production, Indigenous employment, and environmental stewardship. Through partnerships with Aboriginal corporations and research institutions, the company actively contributes to regenerative agriculture outcomes, carbon reduction strategies, and the transition toward more ethical and resilient production systems.

Key Initiatives

One of the most significant environmental restoration projects at YPC is the construction of swales on degraded land. Swales are small contour banks carved into the soil to slow water runoff, allowing water to pool and activate soil microbes. This process promotes the germination of grass seeds, followed by shrubs and trees, gradually restoring vegetation and improving soil health. Over time, as the land rehabilitates, there swales help to increase the carrying capacity of the land and create a more resilient landscape. Although there is currently no recognized carbon methodology for this technique, YPC and New Agriculture are working with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries to develop frameworks for measuring carbon benefits.

In addition to land restoration, YPC invests heavily in infrastructure to improve carrying capacity and animal welfare. These investments allow for enhanced grazing management and expand the amount of usable land by allowing cattle to move further from existing water points. These projects aim for a 30% increase in carrying capacity. YPC is also transitioning away from live export by developing irrigation and feedlot facilities with the goal of producing cattle more suitable for domestic processing, further aligning with evolving ethical standards. Animal welfare is a core principle, guided by the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and the Five Freedoms, and supported by the use of pain relief treatments such as Meloxicam.

Social initiatives are equally important. YPC supports the Kimberley Aboriginal Pastoral Academy, a program designed to create employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The company initially supported three Aboriginal men through the program and later hired three Aboriginal women, strengthening its commitment to community engagement and workforce development.

Finally, despite the Beef Herd Management Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) methodology being discontinued YPC is implementing a comprehensive Emissions Reduction Plan that focuses on herd management, genetics, pasture resilience, and feed efficiency. The goal is clear: produce more kilograms of beef from fewer kilograms of carbon.

Impact

These initiatives collectively strengthen employment opportunities for Indigenous communities in remote regions, support the transition to more ethical and locally integrated cattle production systems, and enhance land regeneration and biodiversity through innovative farming practices. YPC’s efforts contribute to regional research and development in sustainable beef production and aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improved herd and pasture management.