HCA Beef Cattle Herd Management Project (Revoked)

HCA Beef Cattle Herd Management Project (Revoked) was a beef cattle herd management project located in the Emerald region of Central Queensland, approximately 270km west of Rockhampton. It was registered in June 2016, and while the exact project area is unlisted, the proponent managed around 85,000 head of cattle across 1.85 million acres of land at the time.

Beef cattle herd management projects involve adopting new agricultural practices to reduce the emissions intensity of cattle production, specifically lowering the amount of methane emitted per kilogram of liveweight produced. Standard requirements include tracking herd data, establishing a baseline emissions intensity, and proving continuous improvements in efficiency through a new management practice.

The Emerald region is known for extensive beef cattle grazing, broadacre cropping, and mining operations. The area is considered semi-arid with an average annual rainfall of approximately 550mm. The region's soils are highly productive, predominantly featuring fertile dark cracking clays (vertosols) and basalt-derived profiles.

This project aimed to achieve its abatement by increasing the ratio of weight to age of the herd, allowing cattle to reach market weight sooner and reducing lifetime emissions. Interestingly, the project was revoked in December 2017 under section 33 of the CFI Act, with zero Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) issued. Following this, the proponent, Hewitt Agribusiness Pty Ltd (formerly Hewitt Cattle Australia), shifted its strategic focus towards organic beef production, acquiring significant stakes in organic meat companies.