Piggery GROWventure sold to South Australian operator for $2.7 million

A commercial piggery in South Australia has sold for $2.7 million amid increased interest in the sector, driven by a rise in pork prices.

GROWventure piggery at Brownlow, near Eudunda in South Australia, was bought by an existing SA-based piggery operator.

“The increase in the pork price over the past six months has resulted in surge of enquiry for piggeries, particularly farrow-to-finish assets that have long-term contracts with processors,” said Colliers International’s Jesse Manuel, who along with Tim Altschwager sold the property. 

“An increase in the consumption of both pork and chicken as people move to these more affordable meats is the main reason for the price increase and this is flowing on to farm values as demand for the assets has also increased.”

With its regular and consistent cash flow, existing management structure and possible expansion potential through the acquisition of a neighbouring property, Manuel said the GROWventure asset represented an attractive prospect to increase a company's footprint in the sector.

He said the GROWventure piggery was a high quality intensive livestock operation that complied with industry and government regulations. 

It has been described by an industry auditor as “the cleanest piggery in Australia,” said Manuel.

The piggery is near the major regional centre of Gawler and an hour’s drive from Adelaide.

GROWventure comprises both breeder and grower complexes with a combined total land area of nearly 228.48 hectares.

“The two operations are in close proximity of one another and produce high quality porker and baconer pigs under contract with one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains.”

The breeder complex is a 500-sow operation consisting of a farrowing shed, weaning shed, mating shed, three dry-sow sheds, feed mixing shed, AI laboratory and effluent ponds.  

The property includes a four-bedroom stone cottage for a manager.

The grower complex consists of four grow-out facilities and a capacity to hold up to 3,600 pigs. 

“The farm is modern compared to many other piggeries recently offered to the market, and is very well located within close proximity to the Port Wakefield Primo abattoir,” said Altschwager.