Cattle company's own tip-off revealed biosecurity breach

The DPI says Biosecurity Queensland investigated reports of livestock being moved across the border. (ABC Rural: Brandon Long)

It has been revealed a biosecurity investigation into a cattle company was triggered when the company contacted the DPI with an enquiry.

Argyle Foods Pastoral Pty Ltd, operated by two brothers, received the largest-ever biosecurity fine under a Queensland law.

In the same year of the penalty, creditors moved to bankrupt the brothers.

A NSW company tipped off authorities to the illegal movement of its cattle, triggering the investigation that led to the largest-ever biosecurity fine under a Queensland law.

Argyle Foods Pastoral Pty Ltd, based in New South Wales and the ACT, was fined $45,000 in November 2025 for moving livestock into Queensland without the required records.

The company is operated by directors Bryce and Lachlan Graham, who are brothers.

Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said the penalty was the largest recorded under the state's Biosecurity Act 2014.

It has been revealed the investigation was triggered when the company contacted the DPI with an enquiry.

"DPI identified a range of offences and subsequently undertook an investigation," a department spokesperson said.

On behalf of the company, Lachlan Graham pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to 22 offences, including failures to provide prescribed livestock movement information, maintain accurate records, and register as a biosecurity entity.

In sentencing, Acting Magistrate Maryanne May said the prosecution had accepted Mr Graham had not "deliberately disregarded" the act, and that he had genuine welfare concerns for the animals being moved.

The cattle were moved along stock routes in southern Queensland. (ABC Rural: Brandon Long)

Between June and September 2023, the company engaged a drover to move several thousand head of cattle along various stock routes in Queensland before trucking them to agistment properties.

The court found the company failed to notify the appropriate entities, including the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), a key tool used to trace livestock during disease outbreaks.

The cattle were later found not to be carrying any diseases, but DPI chief biosecurity officer Rachel Chay said the threat of outbreaks was serious.

"There is risk of carrying cattle tick, there is risk of disease and parasites, there is also risk of movement or carriage of weeds and seeds," Dr Chay said.

During sentencing, Magistrate May said the prosecution accepted that Lachlan Graham did not "deliberately disregard"