In the feed bunker of a South Australian cattle station sits 10 tonnes of chocolate, smelling something like cheesecake mixed with dung.

Mayura Station in Millicent in the state’s south-east uses leftover chocolate from a nearby factory to feed its wagyu herd.

“What we’ve got here is a bit of a proprietary blend,” Mayura Station’s Scott de Bruin said.

“We’ve got a few M&Ms, some Smarties, a few blocks of chocolate broken up, crushed chocolate, and biscuit meal.”

High-fat products such as molasses are usually used by cattle farmers to help in the fattening process.

Instead, Mr de Bruin sourced chocolate from a closer factory and says they have not looked back.

Wagyu cattle on Mayura Station are fed chocolate as part of a fattening strategy for fat marbling and taste. Photo: Mayura Station

“Our customers started to tell us that our beef had this really unique flavour and was different to anything else they were tasting in the marketplace,” he said.