Charlie Mort, Mort & Co, looks across the feeding pens at the company’s Grassdale feedlot

THE nation’s largest privately-held lotfeeding company, Mort & Co has placed all of its remaining assets including the enormous Grassdale feedlot near Dalby on the market, hoping to ride the recent wave of investment interest in the lotfeeding sector.

Low-key rumours of a possible sale have circulated for the past week, and Mort & Co staff were informed of the decision this afternoon.

Beef Central foreshadowed the imminent sale in last week’s property review, looking at progress in recent feedlot transactions and prospects for more to come.

Charlie Mort, Mort & Co

Founder Charlie Mort established Mort & Co in 1997, initially custom-feeding cattle in other yards and later adding investors to tackle the enormous Grassdale feedlot development project, completed to stage one level around 2009. The state-of-the-art yard has since grown in several stages to its current capacity.

Grassdale stands today as a national showcase of best practice in animal welfare, feedlot management and technology and efficiency and innovation in the Australian beef industry.

The Mort & Co business turns over more than 215,000 head of cattle annually, mostly higher quality Angus and Wagyu programs.

The sale decision has nothing to do with the current challenges facing the industry from fuel prices and access, or consumer uncertainty, but is geared around the high level of interest currently in Australian feedlot assets, from institutional and corporate investors both in Australia and overseas, Beef Central was told.

In the back half of last year, Mort & Co announced it would sell two of its secondary feedlot assets – Yarranbrook feedlot neat Inglewood and Pinegrove feedlot near Millmerran. Both have since, or are about to find new owners.

The primary remaining asset is Mort’s enormous Grassdale feedlot near Dalby, currently regarded as the largest feedyard in Australia, with capacity of 78,000 head.

Early estimates suggest Grassdale alone is worth well north of $300 million bare, with 80,000 Angus & Wagyu cattle on feed worth another $200 million, if valued at $2500 a head, or $240m if valued at $3000.

Also for sale in the company’s vertically integrated supply chain are the associated Mort & Co Transport business, which includes a fleet of 45 prime movers; the Mort meat marketing division, selling high quality grainfed product under five award-winning Angus and Wagyu beef brands into more than 40 export markets around the world; and a cotton seed dehulling and de-oiling plant.

The deal does not include the Mort & Co fertiliser business.

Mort & Co employs more than 300 people across its diversified operations.

In a brief statement, Mort & Co said it will actively pursue a sale of the company following a decision by its board of directors. The decision to sell the company was driven by the current strong growth within the industry and the ongoing demand for high-quality grainfed beef.

“The Board has decided that the company, at one of its most successful points, will be best taken to the next level under new ownership – a decision which clearly has not been made lightly,” chief executive officer Stephen O’Brien said.

Charlie Mort and CEO Stephen O’Brien in front of the new Grassdale Fertilisers business

“It’s almost 30 years since Charlie Mort decided to open his own business and custom-feed for beef producers – it’s incredible to stand back and look at what has been established in that time,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This is all possible with the partnerships of more than 2000 vendors supplying cattle directly to Mort & Co,” he said.

“It is, without a doubt, a company built on strong relationships. We go to market today as a highly respected Agricultural business – one of the best in Australia, with a reputation for quality and trusted values.”

“Mort & Co is known as a leader in the industry – built through innovation, courage and resilience – but most importantly through the commitment from our people and our partners,” Mr O’Brien said.

The business was underpinned by sustainable practices and a strong circular economy – including the successful manure granulation factory – which put it in an ideal position for future opportunities in the growing industry.

“As we move through this transition, our priority is to maintain the strong and consistent operations Mort & Co is so well known for, while supporting our loyal and skilled team,” Mr O’Brien said.

A sale process will begin immediately, through LAWD agents Jaclyn Hope and Danny Thomas.

• Mort & Co principal Charlie Mort is speaking as part of a lotfeeding panel session at the Wagyu Edge 2026 conference in Brisbane on Thursday. Joining him are JBS Northern livestock general manager Edwin Cooke and Lotte Sandalwood Feedlot managing director Geoff Cornford.