Australian mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has struck two agri-related deals in the beef and dairy sectors.

Rinehart, chairman of Hancock Prospecting, is Australia’s richest person, with a personal fortune estimated at $14bn.

On 19 December, she agreed to buy a 3,000-strong herd of wagyu beef cattle and two grazing properties near Dubbo in New South Wales for about A$25m.

She made the second deal on 23 December, agreeing to invest A$25m in Bannister Downs Dairy, to help it expand its output.